Page 15 of His Fate

I blink. Then blink again.

It never occured to me I would have to explain how I healed her hand. I simply couldn't stand the idea that she was hurt and needed to fix it immediately. Not to mention the fact that she was able to absorb the healing qualities of my venom so successfully only adds to the growing list of proof that she is indeed my mate.

It was a risk, sure.

Had Posey not been my mate, my venom would have immediately entered her bloodstream and at the very least made her incredibly ill, if not killed her thus proving we are not mates. So yes, healing her was a risk but I somehow knew it was one I had to take.

"You know what, never mind. I really just wanted to thank you but the more I thought about it the more confused I got."

"Confused?"

She nods. "I just… nevermind. Thank you for healing my hand." Then Posey smirks. "I don't have to go get tested for some rare Slovakian disease now, do I?"

I shake my head because now I'm confused.

"You know… something that will kill me or at least drive me insane since you licked an open wound on my hand?"

The chuckle that rolls through my chest and right out of my mouth surprises us both so I quickly stop it.

"You should do that more often." Posey beams at me. "I like the way it sounds."

I make a mental note of that—to try to laugh more around my mate because it makes her happy. I haven't had much of a reason to laugh over the last few decades, even less in the last few months but I'll try for her.

I clear my throat. "I can assure you, Posey, that you have not contracted some rare Slovakian disease from the way I healed your wound."

"Well, that's a relief. I can't afford to get sick."

"If there was risk to your health I would not have done what I did."

She nods as if everything makes perfect sense.

I like that about her too.

Posey seems to take things in stride. My or my brother's presence didn't seem to faze her despite our unique and very out of place appearance against the relatively normal population. She didn't panic or recoil when I licked her, even seemed to crave a little skin to skin contact shown by the way she stroked my cheek. She handled that irritating blonde well, despite her inner turmoil, and the chaos of the town's only coffee shop and bar doesn't seem to fluster her.

It makes me curious.

How is she able to just roll with all the punches, so to speak, without letting it affect the way she conducts herself?

Yes, my mate is strong and I have a feeling that is something that was bred into her from a very young age.

"So, you're back."

I nod and reach out to brush what I can see is flour from her forehead. "I am."

"And you brought your brothers."

"Begrudgingly." I move to her cheek, brush the flour away with my thumb and when Posey leans into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed, I have the overwhelming need to kiss her.

"I knew you'd be back." She sighs as I stroke her soft as silk skin. "Those pinwheels are hard to resist."

"They were delicious but they are not the only thing that is hard to resist."

Her eyes snap open as a blush crawls up her neck. She gives me a tight smile before ducking out of my reach.

"I'm glad you liked them." She clears her throat and doesn't meet my eyes. "There's a fresh batch of blackberry chocolate tarts set to come out in about ten minutes. I can have Ronny bring you one since you're a self-proclaimed chocolate fiend."

The sudden change in Posey's demeanor has me worried. She liked my hand on her, liked me touching her, liked my presence and our talk. Why she suddenly put physical and emotional distance between us doesn't sit right with me. My stare narrows on her and though I don't want to, I listen to her thoughts.

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