Page 33 of Chev's Mate

Charlie smiles and subtly shoves Aziel away as I open the door. Something about him is off, and I step back when the full extent of his power reaches my nose. He’s not trying to hold it in as usual, and the crazed look in his eye is concerning.

What’s gotten him so worked up?

“Vanessa,” Charlie says. She sounds somber. “I should’ve come over sooner. I’m sorry.”

I shrug and gesture for her to come inside. She’s got her own things to deal with.

She spins and whispers something to Aziel, and I pretend not to notice how her fingers creep under his shirt and press against his bare chest. His eyebrows furrow as he listens to her, and after a tense few seconds, he bends and kisses her cheek.

I’ve never seen him show affection before, and I do my best not to look too surprised. Who knew the stoic demon could be so soft? I sure didn’t.

Aziel pats Charlie’s butt, and she turns away and enters my house a second later. I make brief eye contact with Aziel, not sure if he wants to come inside. He remains on theporch, though, so I shut the door. Through the window, I can see he’s still standing on the porch. I have a feeling he’ll be here until Charlie returns to his side. Everybody knows of his possessiveness over her.

Charlie and I make idle chitchat as we walk into the kitchen. I know she’s here because of Chev, but I don’t want to be the one to bring him up first.

Eventually, Charlie clears her throat. “I wanted to apologize for Chev’s actions today.”

I gulp, tracing the marbling on the countertop with my finger. I’m fully aware she and her mates are close with Chev. It’s often joked that he’s practically a part of their harem, which bothers me more than I’d care to admit.

Chev has publicly said he’s not intimate with them several times.

“Chev is an amazing person, and I know he means well, but he took things too far today,” Charlie continues. “I allowed him to enter Wrath and stay in my home, and that was wrong. I’m sorry for putting you in such an uncomfortable situation, Vanessa.” She sounds genuine. “He’s leaving tomorrow morning after his head heals, and—”

“What happened to his head?”

Charlie blinks, clearly shocked by my outburst. I’m a bit embarrassed, but my concern for Chev outweighs that. I didn’t know he was injured. Why didn’t he say anything when he came to visit me earlier? He seemed to be okay.

“He fell down our stairs, broke our front door, and busted through the property fence when he felt your shoulder pain this morning,” Charlie explains. “The front door was solid wood, and the fence’s metal tore up his scalp. It gave him a few bald spots, but the skin should heal soon enough.”

I shake my head, my bond burning. Tears fill my eyes, and I place a hand over my chest as the burning spreads up my throat. Chev is hurt.

Charlie looks frantic. “He’s okay. I swear.” She quietly curses before hurrying toward the front door. Aziel is still standing on the porch, and she orders him to acquire a photo of Chev’s head. Her voice is quiet, but her tone leaves no room for question.

Chev seemed fine earlier, but Charlie’s words have me panicked. He tore up his scalp? Does it still hurt? My fingers twitch, my nymph blood urging me to check his injuries for myself.

I wipe at my cheeks, angry and frustrated for crying.

Aziel makes a quick call before handing Charlie his phone. She brings it to me. I don’t care if I seem impolite as I snatch it from her hand and bring it to my face. A video call comes through from Gray, and I answer.

The camera faces Chev, and I immediately relax. He’s sitting on the ground across from a small child, his legs crossed, as he plays some sort of card game with her. He’s not paying the camera any attention, and the person holding the phone walks closer. The video calms my racing thoughts.

“Show me your head,” Gray orders from behind the camera.

Chev grumbles something I can’t quite make out, his voice low, before he lowers his head. He looks upset. It’s written in his poor posture.

Charlie wasn’t lying about the bald spots. Several areas are missing hair, but the skin looks almost entirely healed. Gray fingers through Chev’s hair, moving the thick strands so he can show all the injuries. Chev remains quiet, but my heart lurches when Gray touches one of the still-healing wounds.

Chev winces. “Don’t do that.”

He pushes Gray away and resumes his game with the young girl. She must be one of Charlie’s children, and she looks contentwith the shifter. I try not to think too deeply about whether or not Chev is good with children. It shouldn’t matter to me.

“Smile at the camera,” Gray orders, stepping back.

Chev looks confused. He clearly doesn’t realize I’m on the other side of the phone, and he rolls his eyes before lifting his middle finger.

“Fuck off, Echo,” he says moments before the video ends.

I laugh. I can’t help it.

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