I smiled, though my cheeks burned.

“I don’t know a lot about beagles, so I don’t know how long until the next one. Or if this is a reprieve and not the end. But…whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”

“Together.” I loved the sound of that.

“Together,” he said, and the word warmed me deeper than any blanket ever could.

“I love the sound of that.” Now that I’d found my mate, I refused to hold back and keep my emotions to myself.

I started to get up, and he looked at me with a questioning tilt of his head.

“I just need to use the bathroom,” I explained. “Then I think I want to come back to bed and take a nap.”

“You weren’t ready to get up yet?”

“I thought I was.” I bit back a yawn. “But I’m not.”

I took care of business in the bathroom then climbed back into bed and snuggled up close to him. I fell asleep quickly and easily, like my body knew it was safe.

The next time I woke, the smell of meat tickled my nose. My mate was cooking, but I couldn’t figure out what exactly. I grabbed a pair of his sweatpants and joined him at the stove.

“What are you making?”

“Well, hello, mate,” he said, glancing at me with a smile. “I didn’t have much, but I had some canned corned beef hash. That’s what there is for breakfast. I can go hunting later. Or we can go to the store soon, but not today. Today’s be-a-lazy-slug-with-you day.”

“Works for me. As long as we are doing it together, I am there for it.”

The hash was amazing. Would it have been better with a couple of eggs? Maybe. But it was the first breakfast my mate made for me and honestly, nothing could beat that.

We sat outside after, taking in the scenery as we ate. It was stunning here. I could see why his dragon loved it.

I loved it too.

“What do you want to do today? As far as meals, I mean. I really don’t have much.” He listed off the minimal ingredients he had. It was plenty.

“I’m not picky. We can even go hunt.” My beagle perked up at that. If I let him out again, would I be stuck? Would Nolan be able to help me out of it?

“Are beagles good hunters?”

“Well…we’re good finders. I can locate amazing prey. Doing something with that prey? Not so much.” When Jonah and I hunted, I tracked and he killed. We were a good team like that, and I sensed that’s how it would work with my mate as well.

“Then we’re going to have to hunt together like a team,” he said. “You’ll be shocked by this, but my dragon tends to scare creatures I’d prefer eating.”

“No way. Your big, scary dragon intimidates wild forest creatures? I never would’ve guessed.” I scrunched up my nose and made a face, and he laughed before pulling me in for a kiss.

I loved how easily he touched me, how comfortable he was with closeness.

Food eaten, I stood up, taking his plate with mine. “I’m gonna go wash these.”

“I can wash the dishes,” he countered.

“I know you can, but you cooked. Whoever cooks gets out of dishes. It’s the law.”

“The law? Really?” he teased. “And in what book is this sacred law recorded?The Beagle Handbook?”

“I know I don’t look it,” I teased, “but I’m actually the child of wolves. I have a pack.”

“So you’re badass?” That was not the takeaway I’d have expected.