Ivy
You could hear a mouse fart in here. The word mate seems to have paralyzed every single person in the room, none more than Conall, who is staring at Nick Claw ashen-faced. Even the green patches on his skin have gone several shades lighter.
My heart feels like it's somewhere around my kneecaps.
I can't feel my fingers, and there's a rushing in my ears.
I've read about mates in romance books, of course.
People destined for each other because some star or prophecy, and then they fall in love.
But that isn't real life. Real relationships are messy and hard, and in my experience, usually pretty awful.
"Of course. Why else would Shipton choose her as the successor?
She could have chosen anyone." Nick Claw makes direct, unblinking, deeply unsettling eye contact with Conall.
"It was a thank you. For all of your family's service.
" He taps the floor once with his shoe, then walks around us and out of the town hall, as if he'd caused exactly as much trouble as he'd intended to and was now off to ruin someone else's day.
"The exceptions for mortals are written clearly. Being mated to a monster of Moonfall Island means you may remain on Moonfall Island." Laz addresses both tables of council members, all of whom look thoroughly thwarted, none more than Randy.
"But there's never been a human mate on Moonfall," Randy protests weakly.
"But they're not excluded," Laz points out.
"Wait, I'm not—" I begin, but Conall wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me close. Everywhere our bodies touch, sparks. My breath catches before I can stop it.
"Of course," he calls across the room while Randy squints at us. "My mate. We need to get home now and do private things."
“What the hell are you—” I start, but he silences me with his mouth on mine.
At first, I freeze. Then I try to push him away, but his lips move against mine like he already knows how this ends.
His tongue brushes my lower lip, and I gasp when he bites, sharp enough to make my knees weaken.
His hand slides to the back of my neck, fingers threading into my hair, pulling just enough to tilt my head where he wants it.
The small sound that leaves me feels like it belongs to someone else.
He groans, low and rough, and I feel it deep in my chest. In my stomach. Lower.
When he finally pulls back, my eyes open slowly. Everything about that kiss felt dangerous and addicting.
It takes me a second to realize we are no longer standing in the barn.
We're in my cottage.
“What the—” I shove at his chest, and this time he lets me go easily. “What was that?” I demand.
"I was buying time for Laz to magically transport us," he says, stepping back.
"But what was that?" I nearly screech, gesturing to my lips.
"A distraction, obviously. I promised you wouldn't have to move, and now you don't have to." He says it simply, moving around to the couch and dropping into it.
"Because they think I'm your mate?" I ask.
He leans forward, elbows on knees, and runs his hands through his hair. "Yes.”
"But I'm not," I point out. He doesn't smile. His eyes scan my face. He opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, a knock comes at the door.
"It's me!" Amy's voice drifts through.
"And me." Dolly's softer, raspier voice. “Laz transported us up here too.”
Conall rolls his eyes and yanks the door open. The two of them come spilling into the room. It occurs to me that of everyone on the island, Dolly is the only one who hasn't changed at all. She looks exactly the same as she always has.
"Mates?" Dolly says in a teasing lilt.
"We are not mates," I insist.
"Okay, we're not here to unpack that kind of denial. We're here to let you know that Randy doesn't buy it, and Randy is a snooping little bitch. So you know what I think, right?" She's staring right at me.
"Um, no, I really have no idea what you're thinking."
She blinks and turns to Conall. "You know what I'm thinking, right?"
Conall tips his head back, sighing at the ceiling. "Yeah. Magical spying."
I wrinkle my nose. "He can watch us?"
"Yes and no," Amy says. "He can't see you or anything.
Laz has safeguards for that. But he can check that you're following typical mate behavior using will-o'-the-wisps and brownies, so this," she gestures to the blanket and pillow set up on the couch, "is not going to fly.
They'll start to think you're not really mates pretty quickly. "
My heart pounds in my ears. She cannot be suggesting what I think she's suggesting. "Like we need to pretend to be mates through this?"
She nods. "At least until the wards can be fixed. Then we can adjust from there. If all goes well, fixing the wards will make you the hero of the island, and no one will dare make you leave. Then, whether or not you’re really mates will be irrelevant.
" It makes sense. It really does, but looking at Conall with his floppy green-black hair, square jaw, and cut body, I don't see how faking being mates is going to cause anything but trouble.
I resolve to focus on his other traits instead. His claw-tipped hands, sharp canine teeth, pointed ears, and the tail moving behind him. Nothing sexy or distracting about any of those things. Right?
"Or you could just be mates," Dolly reiterates, as though she sees no issue with that statement, even though there is an entire book that could be written on why it's an impossibly bad idea.
"We're not mates," Conall and I accidentally say in unison. I bite my lip.
"Okay, whatever. Just play it like you are for now. Fix the island wards when Laz figures out how. Declare Ivy a hero and call it a bad month," Amy says.
My breath catches a little, and I have to look away.
Amy has quickly become a friend, and if I'm being honest, one of the only real friends I've had since high school.
Mark didn't like me going out. It made him angry, and he didn't like me being away from him.
When we were younger, I thought it was sweet.
Once I got older, I realized it was just isolating. Which is exactly what he wanted.
"Okay," I manage to mumble. Dolly unexpectedly hugs me, and I let it happen. Are they both friends now? I guess so.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure Puppy keeps a good lookout too," she says sweetly, pulling away.
"No," Conall says firmly. "No Puppy."
Dolly's brow creases, and she stomps her foot. "He isn't dangerous to my friends or me."
Well, that answers that. Somewhere along the way, I've become friends with the small pink terror that is Dolly. I'm just glad she's on my side. I have a feeling going against her would be messy.
Conall sighs. "Just keep it under control."
It. What the fuck is Puppy? I don't ask. I feel like any more information will burst my brain.
Dolly and Amy leave, pulling the front door closed behind them. For a moment, Conall and I just stare at each other before I turn and trudge up the stairs.