Chapter Six
Dashiel
Walking beside Landon through the quiet evening streets felt dangerously close to peace. Humans passed us without a second glance, lost in their own conversations and routines while I remained entirely focused on the man beside me.
My fated mate.
The words still carried a weight capable of stilling me from the inside out.
He’s mine.
And it wasn’t in the possessive way my instincts constantly demanded—though those instincts remained very much alive whenever another being drew too close to him.
But this was something else as well. Something deeper and more awed.
Fate itself had looked across worlds, across centuries, across countless lives and all possibilities, and had somehow chosen Landon for me.
And now he had invited me into his home. To share a meal and speak with me longer.
The hope blossoming inside my chest at such a simple invitation was almost embarrassing.
If one of my brothers were to witness me now, they would never allow me peace again.
I could already hear their amusement. To them, I had always been Dashiel, the composed or controlled, yet now they would see how quickly I had come undone, and all because my human accountant asked me to dinner.
A faint smile pulled at my lips before my attention shifted back toward Landon as he glanced sideways at me.
“What?” he asked immediately.
I blinked once. “Nothing.”
“That smile says otherwise.”
“You have become remarkably observant.”
“I think I have to be around you.”
His teasing warmed me, just like his wide, happy smile had when he had seen me waiting outside his work.
“How was the remainder of your workday?” I asked.
His expression shifted slightly. “Fine,” he answered.
It was a clear lie.
“Has something occurred?”
Landon glanced at me sharply. “Do elves always notice everything?”
I smiled. “Possibly.”
He huffed softly before dragging a hand through his hair. “There was something weird with some financial reports,” he admitted. “Numbers that didn’t add up.”
I listened quietly.
“My boss brushed it off way too quickly,” he continued. “I mean, it could be nothing. Probably is nothing. But…” He frowned slightly. “It felt wrong.”
The protective instinct within me sharpened instantly. “You believe something illegal may be occurring?”
“I don’t know.” He sighed. “And I’m new there, so I can’t exactly start accusing people of fraud after only a few weeks.”
That was wise. But I disliked the unease lingering beneath his words.
“You will be careful,” I said.
His eyes flicked toward me briefly before softening slightly. “There it is.”
I frowned. “There what is?”
“The protective thing.”
“I am protective of you.”
He blew out a breath. “You say that so casually.”
“Should I not?”
Landon opened his mouth, paused, then shook his head slightly like he no longer knew what qualified as normal around me.
“I don’t know,” he muttered.
When we reached his house moments later, Landon slowed near the front door while I remained still for half a heartbeat longer than necessary.
This was his space.
He was inviting me into his home to dine with him.
Only this invite felt like it meant more.
Among my people, such an act carried significance… like trust and intent. Was it the same for him?
Landon unlocked the door before glancing back at me. “Are you coming in?”
Always for you. I held my words back and answered with far more restraint. “Yes.”
I stepped inside after him. As he turned on a light and then a lamp, the scent of Landon wrapped around me, stronger than before.
It was comforting and perfect.
I hadn’t taken much in the first time I’d entered, but I could see now that the house itself suited him.
His things were minimal, organized, and homey.
In front of a dark couch stood a solid coffee table.
On the opposite wall was the television and at each side of it were bookshelves filled with knick-knacks or books.
“You can wait in the kitchen if you want,” Landon said, setting down his bag. “I’m just going to change before I start dinner.”
“Would you like me to do anything?”
He shook his head and pointed vaguely down the hallway. “You remember the kitchen’s through there?”
I nodded.
But then he hesitated, like he wanted to say something else. I waited, and soon he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly while muttering, “Make yourself comfortable.”
The words spread heat through me embarrassingly fast. I dipped my head. “Thank you.”
Landon disappeared down another hallway, and I remained still for several seconds, simply listening to the sounds of him moving through the house.
Drawers opened, his footsteps padded across carpet, and then there was the soft rustle of fabric. Desire filled me, and my body reacted in a way any mate’s would when they were close to theirs and thinking of them naked.
Our mate mark hummed quietly with contentment on my neck.
Swallowing thickly, I then moved toward the kitchen, where I turned on the light and took in the details surrounding me. The countertops were clean despite clear signs of frequent use. A half-completed crossword sat near the fruit bowl, while paperwork occupied one corner of the table.
I touched the back of one chair lightly before my gaze drifted toward the refrigerator and the photographs stuck upon it with magnets.
Monkey appeared in most of them, while others showed unfamiliar humans that I assumed were friends or family.
Then I found another photograph of Landon. He was younger and standing beside a woman with warm eyes and a bright smile.
His deceased mate.
She had never been his fated. But a human whom he had loved, nonetheless.
Something complicated settled inside me at the realization. I would never call it jealousy. That would dishonor both Landon and the dead. This felt something quieter. Maybe an understanding that another had once been important enough to hold his heart.
Would there ever truly be room for me in there too?
Before I could examine the thought further, the front door slammed open, and every instinct within me detonated instantly.
Danger.
Protect.
My power surged before conscious thought caught up. Fire erupted across my hands in violent gold and crimson. Heat roared through the kitchen as I turned sharply toward the approaching sound.
The need to protect my beloved screamed through me.
I froze when Monkey filled the doorway, staring at me with wide eyes. Or, more importantly, at the flames wrapped around my hands.
“What the fuck?” he yelled.
Footsteps thundered down the hallway immediately afterward.
Landon appeared wearing jeans and a fitted shirt, hair still damp from a quick rinse. His eyes landed on the fire covering my hands before widening in alarm. “Dashiel!”
I extinguished the flames instantly.
The kitchen plunged back into normal light.
“I apologize,” I said immediately, though my gaze remained fixed on the doorway. “I sensed someone entering aggressively.”
Monkey still stared at me like I had personally set his brain on fire. “You had actual fire in your hands,” he blurted.
“Yes.”
“What the fuck?” he repeated faintly.
Landon dragged a hand over his face. “You know that’s my son,” he told me slowly, like speaking to someone potentially unstable. “Not an intruder.”
“I am aware of that now.”
Monkey pointed at me. “He was about to murder me!”
“I was about to protect my fated mate.”
Monkey blinked rapidly.
Landon muttered, “Jesus Christ.” But he seemed calmer now.
“I would not have harmed him once I recognized him,” I reassured him.
Monkey looked unconvinced. “That’s somehow not comfortin’.”
I forced myself to relax fully. “My apologies,” I repeated sincerely. “Your entrance startled me.”
Monkey snorted. “Buddy, you’re the one standin’ in the kitchen like some deadly elf assassin.”
“That is fair.”
To my surprise, Monkey barked out a short laugh.
Landon looked between us both like he regretted every decision leading to this moment. “I leave the room for five minutes,” he muttered.
Monkey snorted. “You probably shouldn’t leave him alone again. Never know what he’ll get up to next,” Monkey advised solemnly.
Landon pointed at him immediately. “You’re not helping.”
Monkey grinned. “I think I’m helpin’ a lot.”
“You absolutely are not.” Despite the exasperation in Landon’s voice, warmth lingered beneath it.
Watching them together stirred something unexpectedly soft within me.
“So,” Monkey drew out. “You about to cook?”
Landon narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “I’m sure you’ve already had something at the compound, didn’t you?”
His son rolled his eyes. “Maybe.”
“Monkey.”
“What?” He shrugged innocently. “You make good food.”
Landon sighed heavily before looking toward me, then back at his son. He sighed once more. “Fine. You may as well stay for dinner.”
Monkey’s expression brightened instantly. “Wicked. I’ll keep an eye on the elf, and if he tries to set somethin’ on fire, I’ll kick him out.”
“I do not believe you possess the authority to remove me from my own fated mate’s home,” I said before thinking.
Silence met me.
Monkey’s mouth dropped open, and Landon stared at me in horror.
I immediately realized my mistake. “My apologies,” I said quickly. “That sounded significantly more possessive aloud than it did in my head.”
Monkey started laughing so hard, he nearly folded in half. “Holy shit,” he wheezed. “Pops, he’s obsessed with you.”
Landon pointed another warning finger at him. “Do not start.”
“I’m just sayin’—”
“Not one word,” Landon warned.
Monkey grinned shamelessly before moving fully into the kitchen. Meanwhile, I remained painfully aware that Landon was now blushing, but I did not believe it was anger; otherwise, he would not have sent me a small smile that quickened my pulse.
Landon cleared his throat abruptly before turning toward the refrigerator. “Right. Dinner.”
Monkey hopped onto one of the stools at the counter while watching us both with the focused attention of someone witnessing live entertainment.
I disliked it immediately. “You are observing us,” I noted.
“Yep.”
“Why?” I pressed.
Monkey looked delighted by the question. “Because watchin’ you two dance around each other is the best thing that’s happened all week.”
Landon groaned softly. “I knew there was a reason I almost let Dashiel set you on fire.”
Monkey snorted. “You would’ve cried if he did.”
“Nope.”
Monkey’s brows rose. “You cried durin’ that dog movie.”
“That dog died!” Landon yelled.
Monkey grinned triumphantly before turning toward me. “See what I deal with?”
I smiled slightly despite everything. “You appear to be very fond of each other.”
Monkey’s expression softened immediately. “Well, yeah, he’s my dad.”
It was simple and certain. The same certainty I felt regarding my own father.
Landon busied himself, pulling ingredients from cupboards while muttering under his breath about nosy children.
I moved instinctively and stepped up beside him. “May I assist you?”
Landon lifted his gaze to mine. “You cook?”
“Yes.”
Monkey snorted loudly. “Riker told me he’s old, Pops. Like, ancient. So, I’d hope he’s learned how to boil water for pasta at some point.”
I tipped my chin up. “I know how to prepare significantly more than pasta.”
Monkey looked delighted. “Hot damn, he got offended.”
With a huff, I told him, “I did not.”
“You absolutely did.”
Landon laughed softly under his breath while handing me vegetables and a knife. “Here,” he said. “You can chop these.”
I accepted both as I thought about how this was very much a domestic situation.
This time together mattered.
Monkey watched me closely as I cut vegetables with practiced ease before his eyes narrowed slightly. “You really like him.”
Landon froze halfway through reaching for a pan.
I considered denying it to save embarrassing my beloved, but lying around Landon felt wrong too. “Yes,” I answered quietly.
Monkey’s expression softened almost immediately.
While Landon remained rigid, I kept my attention on the vegetables rather than pushing him toward a response he was not ready to give.
After a moment, Monkey spoke again. “You know he’s freakin’ out, right?”
“Monkey,” Landon warned.
“What? You are, and it’s good to be honest, since you obviously invited him here to get to know him.”
“I am aware,” I said softly. “He has been honest with me too.”
Monkey watched me for another second before nodding slightly, like I had passed some invisible test.
Landon exhaled quietly before shaking his head. “I cannot believe this is my life now.”
I glanced toward him as warmth spread through me at the sight of him standing in his kitchen, cheeks faintly flushed while cooking dinner for both his son and the supernatural male Fate had tied him to.
“We will work this out together,” I said gently.
His eyes rose to mine instantly, and for one perfect moment, he smiled.