Page 22 of To Hell and Back
Killian didn’t like hearing that, but he realized his friend did have a point.“This mating stuff is hard.”
“It seems so.”
“Neely is going to send the food up soon,” Arson announced. “We weren’t sure what you were in the mood for, so she decided to cook a little of everything.”
Seneca smiled. “That’s so sweet of her. She didn’t have to do that.”
Anika snorted in derision. “I don’t think you understand who your mate is. Everyone here at The Manor would bend over backwards to please Killian, and you, since you are his mate.”
Seneca shot him a covert glance. “Why?”
He met her gaze and grinned, not bothering to hide the fact he had been listening to their conversation. “Because I am Killian Black.”
Her lips twitched in amusement as she teased, “And that is enough to make people want to please you?”
“Of course, it is.”
She blinked in surprise, then burst out laughing. Delighted with the sound of her mirth, Killian strode toward her. When he came to a stop directly in front of her, he cupped her face with one large hand.
“I love the sound of your laughter.”
She looked startled for a moment, then her cheeks flushed. “I can’t remember the last time I laughed like that. I guess I’m out of practice.”
“I shall endeavor to make you laugh a lot over the next several centuries.”
“Centuries? I forgot about that part of things,” she wheezed out. Sobering, she said, “Actually, I might not have that long considering I have to effectively change my fate in order to remain in this new timeline.”
His brows furrowed. “Is that what the gods you met told you?”
She nodded.
“Haven’t you already done that?”
“I don’t think so. Not yet. I mean, I just woke up in the past a few hours ago. I think there is still a lot I have to do before I can stay in this reality.”
“Then, we won’t stop until we’ve accomplished everything we need to. But first, you need to eat.”
As if responding to his words, the large table in the center of the room was suddenly covered with large platters of food, and the aroma of roasted meats, freshly baked bread, and a variety of spices wafted through the air and filled the room with their delicious scents. Killian gently led his mate over to the table and pulled a chair out for her.
When she removed her coat, he took it from her before she could hang it on the back of the chair. Using his magic, he sent the coat across the room to hang it on the decorative rack by the door. He smiled when she shyly thanked him, then he took his seat next to her.
Noticing she still had a death grip on the parasol, he reached out and pried it from her hands. “Don’t worry. You won’t lose it,” he assured her as he propped it against the side of her chair. “Even if you forget it somewhere, it will find its way back to you.”
“Oh, wow. That’s a neat trick.”
“It’s just part of being chosen.” He glanced down at her shirt. The knife stabbing into the heart was an interesting choice. “I like your shirt.”
While true, that was probably not the best compliment he could have come up with.
She chuckled. “Thanks. My mom and dad make horror movies. I get a lot of shirts and other free stuff each time they film a new one. You should see our house around Halloween. It’s totally crazy.”
“Fascinating,” he murmured. “I can’t wait.”
She flushed a little. “As a reaper, you are probably used to that kind of stuff.”
He barely held back a smile. Oh, she had no idea. Not wanting to sound like a psycho, he simply said, “I am looking forward to meeting your parents.”
As everyone hurried to join them at the table, Killian surveyed the platters of food. He didn’t like the idea of her eating something he hadn’t provided for her, not that he would admit that out loud. Neely and the kitchen staff had obviously put a lot of effort into providing the meal for them, so he would try to curb his obsessive tendencies.
