19. Xin
Xin
I watch my sleeping Zara, and my heart thumps at the realisation that she is without a doubt my fucking mate.
Kiss my ass, Rudolph!
I already feel different, stronger and more alive. Even though I should be exhausted, I feel wide awake. It is as if I could stay up for days and not be affected. I could certainly mate with Zaza again and again, but she was knocked out the moment we started cuddling.
With all that she has been through, it’s best to let her rest and recuperate. Too bad I hate waiting. Still, I’m trying to be a patient man, but the scent of her juices in my beard, and the thought of my head back between her legs again has my penis aching for release.
I start to wonder how long it’ll take for all her injuries to heal now that we are one. Based on the bruises on her face fading already, I don’t think it’s going to take long at all.
Another pull I feel is the need to see my brothers. We are finally at full strength. So, I’m sure they all know what we’ve done without even opening my mouth.
A smirk crosses my face. Mating—no. Fucking, is really fun. I snort and Zara moves about in her sleep. I watch her, hoping I haven’t woken her already. My body tenses as I wait, but when her breathing evens out I'm glad.
Slowly, I slide out of bed and get my clothes on. I’m starving, so I'm going to get some sustenance. Maybe check in with my brothers. Even deal with the miscreant who brought this down on all of us and thought he’d get away with it. That man is going to wish I was never summoned here.
I take one more look at my sleeping goddess, before exiting the room.
After taking a piss and washing up a little, I listen out and follow the sounds to the rowdy bunch.
The noise from the kitchen is loud, but not aggressive.
Which is good, but they better not be talking about Zara again, because this time nothing will stop me from fucking them up.
It doesn’t matter to me if I wreck the whole fucking ranch. As long as I get the intended target.
The closer I get I'm thankfully greeted with smells of delicious food and friendly chatter, filling me with relief. Guess you really didn’t wanna wreck the ranch afterall.
I burst through the door, and silence hits me as everyone turns my way, then behind me. Are they looking for Zara? I point over my shoulder, back the way I came and I answer the unasked question.
“She’s asleep. She needs the rest.”
“I’ll bet she does,” Dan quips, but before I can throw him a dirty look, I’m shocked to see Rudy’s elbow meet with his gut.
“Shut up asshole,” he grumbles before turning to me.
“Is she..?”
“My mate?” I cut him off, raising an eyebrow at him. Rage boils its way back to the surface. How dare he even think of asking anything after the shit-storm he caused. If he’d kept his big mouth shut, she wouldn’t be up there, hurt. I don’t care if it sped up our mating. He got her kidnapped.
I assume my face says all I need it too, because Rudy raises his hands in surrender and takes a step back.
“No. I was just going to ask if she is ok. Honest.”
My shoulders drop a little and I nod, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
“Yes she’s ok. Sore and covered in bruises, but Santa said there's nothing that won’t heal once our mate bond is in effect.
” I shrug nonchalantly, and judging by the looks on their faces, I know that they are dying to ask.
I’m not going to make it easy for them though.
“What’s available to eat?” I casually ask, before one of my brothers cracks.
“Fuck food! Did you mate?”
I turn to them with an angry look, pause to make them sweat, then burst out laughing. The cheers that erupt are deafening but welcome! They all rush closer to pat me on my back in congratulations. I can't help but smile, and laugh with them.
“Thanks brothers. But really I am starved. What’s there to eat?”
Roars of laughter fill the room again. Eventually Com hands me a massive plate of pancakes, which I take gratefully. I don’t even wait until I'm seated before I begin stuffing my face.
I need to take some of these back to Zaza. Ohh and some hot chocolate too.
A shadow casts over my back, and I look up to see Rudy's hulking body standing there. We stare at each other for a minute before he takes a seat across from me. I eye him while continuing to eat my pancakes.
You came to me asshole. You speak first.
“I’m sorry Xin. I honestly didn’t mean for your mate to get hurt.”
But she was hurt. Hell, she could have died before having the chance to be mine.
I want to rip into him. Tell him exactly that, but I can see from the look on his face that he already feels awful.
And when I think back to searching in the woods, it was his idea that helped me harness our collective power to hone in on where Zaza was.
So, although he fucked up. Badly. He also helped to make things right. I can’t let him off completely though.
“You really messed up, Rudy. She could have been taken from me.”
“I know, I know. Eve still won’t even speak to me,” he huffs.
“I don’t know if Zara will either.” I tell him honestly.
“It’ll take time but eventually they will. Eve sure will. She’s got like ninety-eight years around me afterall,” he smiles.
“Well, you might need all of those years for Zara,” I sneer.
Rudy nods sadly, but before we can say much else our other brothers join us.
“Emm, Xin. You still have unfinished business." Cupid says.
“What do you mean?” I ask, taking my last bite.
“That fucking bastard. We brought him back with us.” He answers.
My heart flutters and I damn near jump to my feet. I knew they wouldn’t let me down!
“Yeah, and you said Zara is sleeping. So I mean, what better way to spend the time?” Donder adds.
My whole body vibrates at the idea of getting some pay back. Doing to him what he did to my mate, and then some.
“Take me to him.”