Page 49 of Guarded By a Monster

“Does two work?”

“Yes, I think that’s fine.”

“I can send a car for you—“

“No, that’s not necessary. I’ll have a friend drive me. I’ll see you then.”

“Take care, Jade.”

“I will.”

I hung up and faced Thurl and my grandmother, who both stared at me with worried expressions. “Detective Chambers says the D.A. wants to talk to me. I’m going in at two.”

I kissed the side of Thurl’s muzzle when he started growling. “I’m going to text Luna and tell her to pick me up.”

He dipped his chin, but I could tell he wasn’t happy. Nanna took his hand and led him into the kitchen, telling him she needed help to bring out the dishes. In minutes, the house was once again full of wyrfangs, and I was grateful for the distraction.

Luna was a short, curvy woman with a bright smile and shoulder-length black hair. Her brown skin was flawless and her deep brown eyes sparkled with mischief. She stepped away from the black SUV she’d driven to the compound, her hand outstretched.

“Hi, you must be Jade. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Luna, but the boys call me Trouble.”

I laughed and shook her hand. “I’m sure they do. You’re gorgeous.”

Her eyes widened and skittered away. “Oh, thank you, but that’s not the kind of trouble I’ve ever been known for.”

She was blushing, and so was I. “I didn’t mean to imply that you’re … I just meant that …” I stumbled to a stop, not sure how I could dig my way out of that hole. I shook my head and decided not to try. “Sometimes my mouth says things before my brain tells it not to.”

She snorted and it put me right at ease. “Now that, I understand.” She tilted her head to the car. “Get in. We can talk on the way.”

She didn’t seem fazed by Thurl standing behind me. I gave him a hug and whispered reassurance that I’d be fine before getting into the passenger seat. I watched him in the side mirror as we drove away. Before we disappeared, he gave a small wave.

I didn’t realize how much of a security blanket he’d become until I could no longer see him and my anxiety skyrocketed. I picked at a loose thread on my jeans and tried to tell my brain to settle down. Luna’s voice made me jump.

“They are really impressive, aren’t they?”

It took a minute for me to catch up. “The wyrfangs? Yes, they are.”

“Is this the first time you’ve been apart since you bonded?”

Cripes, crackers and crickets, did everyone know? “Yes, it is. Will I always feel like this?”

She looked at me in surprise. “I have no idea. Fated mates have only just started happening again.”

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot.”

She nodded and we fell silent for a while.

“Can I ask you a question?” Her voice was timid, which didn’t match her appearance at all.

“Of course.”

“What’s it like? Having a fated mate?”

I laughed. How could I possibly answer that? “Well, I’ve only been one for about a week, so I’m no expert. But it’s like having part of yourself walking around outside of your body. I know people say that about kids, but this is different somehow. When I’m with him, there’s a sense of peace, of rightness, that I’ve never felt before. I was terrified of being tied to him forever, but now that I am it seems silly for me to think there was ever another choice.”

She nodded and parked in front of the police station. “Thank you. So many of us never dared to dream about finding a mate. It’s been so long… but now there’s hope.” She grinned. “And a lot of questions and nerves to go along with it.”

I smiled back. “I can imagine.”

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