Page 12 of Dewitched

He had been around long enough to know that not all mated pairs lived happily ever after. Fate only brought them together. The rest was up to them.

“For starters, you don’t even know me.”

“And you tried to eat me.”

Oh, for the love of… “I didnottry to eat you.”

“Sure seemed that way.”

“Owen,” he growled in warning.

His mate blinked up at him innocently. “Yes, pookie?”

Fenix stared at him for a long time. “Go get dressed. I need to return to the castle.”

“Oh.” His face fell, and his shoulders slumped forward. “Yeah. Okay.”

“You’re coming with me.”

Owen’s head snapped up, and his eyes lit with hope. “You’re not mad?”

Actually, he was amused as hell, but his mate didn’t need to know that. It would only encourage his mischievous behavior. Which wouldn’t normally be something he’d wish to curb, but he hadn’t been lying. He really did need to get back to the princess.

“I’m not mad,talei.” To prove it, he gently caressed Owen’s cheek with the back of his hand, loving the way the male leaned into the touch. “I have to return to my duties, though.”

Owen nodded. “I can stay here.”

“No.”

“It’s not a good idea for me to be around that many people.”

Few Otherlings had the ability to block unwanted magical theft. Even those who did likely wouldn’t be on guard for an attack at the Manor. Not that Owen had or would assault anyone on purpose, but without some level of control, things could go wrong quickly.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about.”

Fair enough. “Do you trust me?”

To his credit, Owen didn’t answer right away. Eventually, however, he nodded, just a single dip of his head.

“Then get dressed and come with me to the castle.”

He didn’t have all the answers, but did know one thing for certain. Owen belonged by his side, and anything less was unacceptable.

Chapter five

Clean, dry, and dressedin a pair of black jeans with a gray hoodie, Owen followed his mate across the south lawn to the Manor.

His mate. Holy fucking hell. He had a mate.

While he had known it was possible—even humans had mates—he hadn’t really thought it would be in the cards for him. Not only had fate shined on him, though, but it had blessed him with a big, gorgeous Guardian who actually seemed to like him.

Furthermore, he’d been able to feel the connection. Being basically human himself, he hadn’t thought it possible. Some humans were more perceptive than others, but as a whole, they kind of sucked at recognizing destiny, even when it stared them in the face.

After experiencing it for himself, that made him kind of sad.

It had been the single most exhilarating thing he had ever felt. At first, unaware of the meaning, it had scared the hell out of him. In fact, he’d been worried that he had accidentally syphoned magic without meaning to, and he’d kind of panicked.Once he had recognized it for what it was, though, it had been like bathing in pure sunlight.

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