Page 17 of Midnight Rules
This wasn’t going the way he thought it would. He wasn’t sure what he expected, but it wasn’t the cold distance he’d gotten.Okay, he totally knew what he was expecting. A little comfort in the form of a hug and maybe Iven telling Marric everything would be okay.
“I didn’t do this, sheriff.” So maybe he liked having the last word. It wasn’t his worst trait.
Iven sighed. “I know. Just go to the car and don’t let anyone see you. The last fucking thing I need is for my mate to be on anyone’s radar for this murder.”
Marric gained some of his hope back. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. We have an interrogation to get through first.” Iven met his gaze. “You’re going to tell me everything. Is that clear?”
“Crystal. As long as you know this is the only time you’ll ever get to boss me around.” And with that, Marric walked up the stairs. As much as he wanted to pound his feet, he didn’t want to cause any unnecessary noise.
Was he hearing things, or did Iven just call him sassy?
Chapter Ten
Hours had gone by, and Iven had been working on little sleep. Still, he stayed until the coroner came and the body was on the way to the morgue. Morning had come and with it the full light of day. He’d helped process the crime scene along with Cass.
But he’d told Cass to go home a couple of hours ago.
Iven trudged over to his vehicle. He didn’t see Marric, but he hadn’t expected him to follow orders. Iven told himself it was a good thing Marric hadn’t stayed. If Cass had seen Marric in his vehicle, there would have been questions. He wanted to get through processing the scene before Cass started in on him.
Iven wasn’t sure what he was going to do with Marric yet. All he knew was he wouldn’t tell anyone Marric was the one who called it in. He would erase the call and talk to Danny later. After he got a little sleep. And then he would find Marric because they needed to have a little chat.
By the gods. He had a mate. After all these years and endless relationship failures. His mate turned out to be a Ransome.Holy shit.
There was a good possibility of their mating failing and it would be epic when it did. And Iven had given up the ghost of having a relationship a long time ago. He hadn’t been expecting Marric to come into his life. Finding out his mate was a little criminal who broke into people’s houses was something he didn’t know what to do with yet.
When Iven opened the door to his car, the first thing he saw was Marric curled up on the seat, fast asleep. Iven sucked in a breath.He hadn’t left.
His long, dark hair covered part of his face. Iven pushed it aside and then ran his fingers along the crease of Marric’s forehead. He seemed a little warm, so Iven touched his head to make sure. But no, his mate definitely had a fever.
Well, that told Iven a lot about what Marric had been looking for. Marric was ill and needed a healing spell.
Marric didn’t even stir when Iven got in the car or when he started the engine and drove for home. It wasn’t until Iven shut off the car engine that Marric moaned.
Iven ran a hand along his shoulder. “You’re okay, mate.”
Marric didn’t respond. Instead, he shivered so hard it was almost violent.
Iven scrambled out of his vehicle and went around to the passenger’s side. He grabbed a blanket from the back seat and wrapped Marric in it before he lifted him in his arms.
Thankfully, Riley was home and opened the door for them. Iven wouldn’t have been able to unlock the door and even turn the knob while holding Marric, too.
“What’s wrong with him?” Riley jogged ahead of them. “Also, where do you want him?”
Iven’s first instinct was to put Marric in the spare bedroom. Fated mates or not, they didn’t know each other. And the fact was, Iven was the sheriff and Marric committed a crime in histown. He’d already covered up Marric’s presence at the murder scene without really knowing him.
Even as all that went through Iven’s head, he still said, “My room.”
Riley’s gaze snapped to Iven and then to Marric.
“He has a fever.” Iven carried Marric into his bedroom and laid him on the bed. Marric didn’t wake up. He just curled onto his side again as he had in the car.
“Is he your mate?” Riley asked, but he already knew the answer because Iven’s glowing hand was unmistakable.
Iven answered anyway. “Yes.”
“How old is he?” Riley asked.
