Page 41 of Monster's Mistake

A breeze comesin off the sea, reminding me that we’re on an island. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that, especially when I’m so consumed by what’s going on at the academy.

Nati reaches out and takes my hand in hers, giving me a shy smile.

I know exactly what she’s thinking. Despite the fact we’ve been acting like we’re together inside the academy grounds where all the people who know us are, being outside feels different. Like the world is ready to know about us.

“This is it,” I say, coming to a stop outside the local pub. “They do good food,” I add quickly in case she thinks it’s weird that I’ve brought her to a place like this.

“I know. I came here with my parents when they visited the island.”

“Oh, I had no idea.”

She shrugs. “It never came up. But they met at Blackthorn, so they like to come back here on their anniversary. They’d come even if I wasn’t here.”

“Now you have me worrying about running into your parents,” I murmur. I know I’m old enough that I shouldn’t be too concerned about that, but there’s a part of me that is and can’t help it.

“They’re not here now,” she assures me.

I push open the door to the pub and hold it open for her. The chatter of people in the bar fills the air, making it feel warm and inviting.

I head up to the bar and smile at the bartender. “I’ve got a table booked under Davies.”

She nods and gestures to the restaurant side. “It’s the one with the reserved sign on it. Someone will be over to take your order.”

“Thanks.” I put a hand on Nati’s back as we make our way there, enjoying the subtle way she leans into my touch. Every time she does something like that, my heart constricts. I know she doesn’t like people touching her, and having experienced the snake bite and turning into stone first-hand, I can understand why. But to me, she’s responsive.

Veryresponsive. I try to banish the memories of how she falls apart from my mind. This isn’t the place.

Nati slides into one side of the booth, and I take the other.

“It’s nice to be going on a date outside the academy,” Nati says.

“It is,” I agree.

“Not that I haven’t been enjoying hanging out in the secret rooms with you, because I have.” She bites her bottom lip. “A lot.”

I reach out and put a hand over hers, giving it a squeeze. “Me too.”

“Even if we haven’t had sex?” It’s hard to read the expression on her face, making me wonder if she’s trying to work out why we haven’t yet.

“The time hasn’t been right,” I murmur, not wanting her to know how nervous I am about it. It’s going to be great, but I also know that using my knot is going to be unavoidable, and I don’t want to scare her away with that.

“What does that even mean?” she asks curiously.

I’m saved from answering by the appearance of one of the wait staff. We give them our order, which is impressive when I’ve barely had a chance to look at the menu. The man disappears into what I assume is the kitchen, leaving the two of us blissfully alone once more.

“I actually had something I meant to ask you,” I say.

She raises an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Would you be my girlfriend?”

She frowns. “Was I not already?”

“We hadn’t really defined things,” I point out.

“You told me that you were my fated mate,” she says. “Well, actually, you told me that I was your fated mate. I wasn’t under the impression that this was something casual.”

“Well, no. I never meant casual.” I let out a sigh. “I just wanted to do things properly, and not make you think you had to accept the fated mate bond straight away.”

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