Page 103 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

“Stop looking at me like that or I won’t be leaving anytime soon.” He shakes his head again before leaning over me.

I bite my lip and watch his eyes darken. “Maybe that’s my plan.”

“Well then maybe I shoul—”

“Car is ready to go.” Cash clears his throat once more before his steps quickly move away from us.

Hook places a kiss on my head before taking a step back. But that warmth blazes to life in my chest. My hand starts rubbing it if only to ease the strange feeling as it expands, overwhelming me once more.

I frown as Hook stares at me, his brows falling. “We’ll talk later, and I’ll explain everything.”

“Explain what?” I ask as the feeling pulls outward making me look down at where it is.

“Later. I promise.” His voice is strained, making me look back up at him but he’s not looking at my face, he’s looking at my hand as it rubs small circles into my chest where the strange warmth is.

“Do you… do you know what this is?” I glance down at my chest as if I can see the warmth light up from inside it. But I can’t, making my frown deepen.

“Hook?” I question, still staring at my chest.

“My other half… it’s Fae,” he reveals.

I freeze, my hand pausing over my chest as I glance up at him.

But he’s already gone.

* * *

Fae.

Hook was Fae. Or at least half.

The minute he told me, I realized what the warm feeling inside me was.

We were mates. We had to be. There was nothing else that explained it. Nothing else that explained this feeling inside me or this tether between us.

I never questioned Hook being my mate because it was never a possibility before. He was human and possibly something else. I never sensed Fae from him, so I assumed it was a weakened bloodline from a warlock or witch. Especially with his unique ability.

My true mate couldonlybe Fae. Even if he had one drop of Fae blood.

I still couldn’t understand how he was able to block it from me for so long.

After his little reveal, I’ve been trying to track him down all day. But anytime I get close to finding him, he somehow disappears.

For the last few hours, distractions have come in the form of gifts. And each and every one of them had my name on it.

Everything from dresses and clothing to jewelry and books. The last couple were handwriting notes promising lessons or trips to different parts of this Realm.

They keep coming until the end of the day, with there being nineteen given in total. Why Hook was sending me so many gifts didn’t make any sense. He knew I didn’t need any of these things.

I had to admit; they were pretty and most of the jewelry and clothing was stunning. While the books must have been hand-picked with most of them looking like something that would interest me or I could learn from. But I needed none of it.

Just when I thought the strange gift giving day was over, a twentieth gift arrives as I walk into my room.

Only this time it’s the room itself, filled with hundreds of flowers. Nearly every surface is covered in some vibrant or sparkling color.

Most I don’t know the name of, but it doesn’t matter. They’re all breathtakingly beautiful.

I glance down at my bed—the only surface clear— to find a red dress and shoes laid out with a note on top of it.

---