Chapter 32
Ari
We lay there tangled in each other for long minutes, just feeling the bond between us and everything the other is feeling. Love is the overwhelming majority emotion, but bursts of Erica’s surprise and awe as the bond settles between us pop in and out.
So much has transpired in the last forty-eight hours, and I’m still processing all of it.
My mate has been in and out of pain her whole life.
She may never be able to have children. I thought I’d be more upset about learning we may never be able to have a family, but as long as I have her, I’ll have everything I need.
Then there’s the matter of her voice and now, our solidified mate mark. I’m so lost in blissful thoughts that I managed to forget that we fly out today for the next leg of our tour. I’m reminded when Fish and Scooter come banging on the door for us to get a move on.
Erica jumps out of my arms and begins scrambling to dress.
I just watch her, still in awe that she so easily accepted the mate bond.
I must have a dopey look on my face, or something, because she throws a discarded takeout fork at me while she hisses, “Ari, get out of bed and put your clothes on. It’s not funny. Get ready. We’ve gotta go!”
Pulling the fork from where it managed to lodge itself in my hair, I climb from the bed and attempt to saunter toward her.
“Nope. No. None of that.”
I would normally have pushed her buttons and thought she was being playful, but I can sense her slowly accumulating stress.
Reaching for her, I calmly ask, “What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head. “We’re running late. You can’t miss your flight because of me.”
It’s my turn to shake my head at her. I push as much assurance as I can through our new bond to her.
I can see the moment it lands because her shoulders fall from where she’d hitched them up to her ears.
“One, we have plenty of time. Two, you didn’t do anything wrong.
I was the instigator here. Three, it’s not like they’re going to leave without us.
” I point at my chest with a cheesy smile on my face.
“What will they do without the singer of the band, love?”
She finally cracks a smile, and the triumph I feel must also make it through the bond because she just smiles and shakes her head as she leans over, continuing to stuff her last few things into her bag . . . that’s when I see it.
My knees buckle. I’ve seen some pretty amazing mate marks in my time, but the one my mate is currently sporting beats them all.
I have no idea if it’s because she’s human, but I don’t care, it’s fucking perfect.
All my emotions become lodged in my throat.
“Little siren?” I get her attention, my hand extended to take hers.
She barely sees the look on my face and quickly accepts my hand.
I lead her to the full-length mirror by the window, pulling all of her hair to one side, she gasps when she sees it.
Crawling up the side of Erica’s neck where I claimed her is a trail of teal and blue-green scales, but when you touch them they’re smooth against her skin.
“It looks like a tattoo.” Her fingers gingerly trail across it, her eyes lighting up. “Ari, what color is your tail?”
All I can do is nod with moisture gathered in my eyes.