Chapter Thirteen
Landon
The cool night air felt and smelled a hell of a lot better than inside that warehouse. Not that it was difficult to improve on being tied to a chair while some asshole punched me in the face and demanded answers I didn’t have.
Still, outside was good.
Outside meant I wasn’t kidnapped anymore.
It meant I wasn’t alone.
And it meant Dashiel was somewhere nearby.
The thought settled snugly in my chest as I poked at my face, in awe over his healing ability. The pain had simply vanished. There was no trace of any injury, just leftover blood.
“Pops, any pain?”
Shaking my head, I smiled. “Nothing.” I dropped my hands and placed them in my pockets while trying very hard not to stare at the warehouse doors every five seconds.
I failed. Badly.
Monkey eyed me for any signs of distress, but he wouldn’t see any.
Dashiel had come. He’d brought everyone with him. And he’d healed me.
My heart stumbled over his words: “I would have come to you, but if I got close to them, we would not have the answers we need to keep you safe.”
He had stayed back because he didn’t want to kill them right away… but now—or soon—he was going to.
I should care, right?
But I couldn’t seem to find it in me to do so. They’d been in their own shady shit and brought me into it. Kidnapped me. Beat me. And refused to listen to anything I said.
If it were my choice, I’d call the police and have them locked up.
But Dashiel wasn’t like me. He was a different species altogether, and they did things in their own way.
Fated mates are cherished.
I remembered him saying this.
To them, the supernaturals, no one hurt a fated. If they did, they had the right to punish those who had.
Which was exactly what Dashiel wanted and probably needed to do… for his own sake.
“You’re staring.” I glanced at Riker, who grinned, then added, “You keep looking at the warehouse like you’re worried for him. But he’ll be fine in there.”
I immediately looked away from the warehouse again and back to the smirking shifter. Even Razor was smiling. Like my worry for Dashiel was cute. Riker bounced on his feet as if he wanted to tease me about it some more to keep my mind off what was going on in that building.
“Shut up,” I told Riker. I tried to sound serious, but my lips twitched.
He snorted. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
He shrugged. “I was.”
Monkey chuckled.
Razor looped an arm around Riker’s waist and pulled Riker against him, while several guards, who all looked alert, lingered nearby. Were they expecting trouble, or were they just being cautious because their prince’s fated mate had just been kidnapped?
Huh, I just called myself Dashiel’s fated mate.
But it was true.
I’d admitted it to myself inside. I was his and he was mine.
And I wanted this bond to be completed.
But Dashiel would be the first one I told.
Riker’s expression changed slightly. “You know,” he said, “I think it’s good you’re letting Dash deal with those men.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
The fox shifter nodded. “Absolutely. Though, I know Dash won’t let them suffer. He’ll end then quickly. Where if it’d been me, I’d slaughter them slowly for touching my fated mate.”
I blinked.
Then glanced toward Razor.
The larger man immediately snorted, which made Riker narrow his eyes up at his mate and snap, “What?”
Razor looked entirely too amused. “You’re just more bloodthirsty than anyone else. You tried to kill the coffee lady the other day when our fingers accidentally brushed.”
Monkey barked out a laugh, and I wasn’t far behind.
I probably shouldn’t find it amusing, but these people were on a whole different level than what I was used to.
And I wanted to get used to them.
I liked them all.
I wanted to stay in their world and know everything because I wanted Dashiel.
Riker looked personally offended. “I swear she did that on purpose.”
Razor rolled his eyes, but he still looked delighted by Riker’s violent streak. “Sure she did.”
“She did. She knew exactly what she was doing.”
Razor’s shoulders shook with silent laughter.
Monkey wiped at his eyes. “Hell, just from a small touch?”
Riker huffed. “You weren’t there. You didn’t see the way her gaze salaciously ran over him. Dammit, now I want to go back there and murder her.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Nobody appreciates me.”
Razor lowered his head and lightly nipped at Riker’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t want you any other way, sunshine.”
The transformation was immediate.
Riker practically melted, and a bright, happy grin spread across his face. “I know.”
Monkey snorted, shaking his head.
Riker’s grin widened. “I am pretty perfect.”
Monkey grinned and teased, “You’re exhaustin’.”
“You’re just annoyed because you can’t have me.”
Razor glared at my son.
Monkey pulled up his hands. “Hey, don’t get the prez peeved at me.”
Riker spun in Razor’s arms and looked delighted by Razor’s glower at Monkey.
They really were something else.
But they fit.
They were meant to be together.
And now I had someone who was made to be mine and me his.
Fate really did know what it was doing.
“You’re doin’ it.” Monkey had stepped closer while Riker and Razor were talking quietly.
“Doing what?” I asked.
“You’re doin’ the look you do anytime you’re thinkin’ about Dashiel.”
I pointed at him. “I liked you better when you were younger and couldn’t talk.”
Monkey scoffed. “Bullshit.” The smile slipped from Monkey’s face and concern returned. “Pops.”
The seriousness in his voice immediately got my attention. “Yeah?”
He searched my face carefully. “Are you really okay?” His jaw clenched.
Monkey had been terrified for me.
His father had disappeared, and there hadn’t been anything he could do about it.
I understood that feeling.
I’d spent enough years raising him to know exactly how helpless he must’ve felt.
I reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “I’m okay.”
His eyes narrowed. “You sure?”
I nodded, smiling. “Yeah.”
I should’ve been shaken. Should’ve been rattled and angry.
Maybe I was a little.
But what I felt mostly was relief.
Monkey studied me for another few seconds. “You didn’t look scared when we arrived, Pops.”
Honestly, the fear had disappeared the second those warehouse doors exploded inward.
No, it was actually the second I’d heard that roar and felt the tattoo warm.
A small smile pulled at my mouth. “I knew he’d come.”
Monkey blinked. Then followed my gaze toward the warehouse. My son’s expression softened. “When I saw him, he apologized for not protecting you—”
“He couldn’t have predicted this.”
“That’s pretty much what I told him. And I knew, from the worry, the fear, and anger I saw in him, he would’ve burned down the whole city to find you.”
I completely believed that, which was probably something that should’ve worried me too. Instead, it made warmth spread through my chest because nobody had ever looked at me the way Dashiel did.
To him, I mattered. I was precious, and losing me would have destroyed him.
Movement near the warehouse drew my attention as people emerged through the damaged doorway. Spade and Soren were first. Then several more royal guards followed. They immediately spread out around the area, taking up positions like they expected a war to break out.
Soon after, three figures appeared. They were Dashiel’s family.
The king and two brothers. All of them seemed similar to Dashiel.
Wait…. He was the king, and he was approaching me.
More importantly, he was my potential father-in-law.
Jesus Christ.
I really needed a drink.
When a roar erupted from inside the warehouse, a gasp escaped me.
“It’s okay. Dash will be out shortly,” Soren told me.
My mouth dropped open when fire exploded outward.
“Holy fuck,” Monkey breathed.
Heat slammed across the parking lot from a wall of living flames that blasted like an inferno.
My instincts immediately screamed danger. Monkey gripped my wrist, ready to pull me back, just as ice erupted from the ground and a massive wall of it formed between us and the warehouse.
The flames crashed into it.
Steam hissed as the heat vanished.
Monkey cleared his throat and explained, “That’s, ah, Remiel. The oldest brother.”
The elf stood there calmly with one hand raised, like creating an entire wall of ice was completely normal.
“Right,” I muttered.
Monkey laughed. “It’s still weird, right?”
“He made a wall of ice,” I said, like my son hadn’t just seen it too.
“Yep.”
“From nowhere.”
Monkey grinned. “You’ll get used to it if you’re gonna stick with Dashiel.”
I looked at Monkey, and it was on the tip of my tongue to tell him I wanted Dashiel to stay in my life. I wanted to date him. To figure things out in the bedroom with him and so much more.
He was my fated mate.
Just mine.
He cherished me like I was a treasure, and I’d never had that. Never felt so strongly for someone in such a short amount of time either. While I loved Monkey’s mom and was grateful for our life together, this connection with Dashiel was different. It felt like so much more.
But I stayed quiet because Dashiel would be the first to know, and besides, the king was now close.
The other brother walked beside him, and to my surprise, both stopped to bow in front of me.
I nearly choked. “W-what are you doing?”
The king straightened first. Kind silver eyes met mine. The same sort of kindness I’d seen in Dashiel.
“You are Landon.” It wasn’t a question, just a statement.
I nodded.
The king smiled. “I am Dashiel’s father. King Theradiel. This is Sashiel, younger brother to Dashiel. Over there is Remiel, my eldest.”
I bowed. “It is an honor to meet you.”
And when I straightened, Sashiel grinned. “The honor is ours.”
I looked between them in confusion because this felt backward.
The king seemed to notice. “You make my son happy.”
The simple statement stole every response from my brain and made heat crawl up my neck.
Monkey made a suspicious choking noise beside me, but I ignored him.
The king continued. “We have not seen him like this before.”
My chest tightened. “What do you mean?”
A softer expression crossed the king’s face. “Hopeful.”
The word settled into my veins. It reminded me of every time Dashiel looked at me with that very hope they spoke of burning in his gaze, and I saw it every time I chose to have him around or reached for him first.
The realization hit harder than I expected.
Sashiel folded his arms. “Honestly, it is good we found you.”
“How did you?” I asked.
The king told me of the phone call he received from his frantic son and how they came to help him.
After he’d shared the story, he paused for a moment before adding, “We hope you accept the bond.” The words were gentle—careful, even, and held no pressure or demand.
He was just being honest. “We would be honored to welcome you into our family.”
Emotion lodged unexpectedly in my throat. Nobody had ever said something like that to me before. Not even my in-laws had been this welcoming.
Sashiel nodded. “And we would very much enjoy showing you our kingdom.”
Kingdom.
I still couldn’t wrap my head around that part, but before I could answer, movement appeared inside the warehouse.
Remiel did something magical to the ice and made it disappear instantly.
The lingering flames parted, making way for someone.
For my someone.
Dashiel stepped through them, and the world immediately narrowed.
The only thing that remained was Dashiel stalking my way in all his elf glory. His pointy ears were easily seen from the way the wind blew his black hair back.
Fire curled lazily around his arms before fading away.
He looked like something out of a story. Powerful and beautiful.
And the moment his eyes found mine, all that terrifying power softened.
My chest squeezed.
Dashiel walked straight toward us with a purposeful stride, and I caught the king smiling slightly as he informed Dashiel, “We have completed introductions.”
Dashiel kept his gaze on me as he stopped so close, I could feel the lingering warmth radiating from his skin. “I am glad you have,” he replied to his father but still stared down at me.
His family laughed.
“Will you come with me?” he asked.
I blinked. “Where?”
“My cottage.”
My heart skipped a beat. He wanted to take me to his home. Away from this, away from everyone. Just us. My lower gut clenched hotly.
After everything, there wasn’t anywhere else I wanted to be.
Smiling up at him, I nodded. “Yeah. Yes. I’d like that.”
Relief flashed across his face.
“Son,” the king said. When Dashiel glanced at him, the king nodded. “We will speak later.”
“Can you please assist the others in getting home?” Dashiel asked.
The king grinned. “Of course.”
Dashiel faced me, took my hand in one of his, and waved the other off to the side as a big shimmering split in the world opened.
Dashiel started pulling me toward it. Any other time I would have freaked out, but I trusted Dashiel with everything I was.
I glanced back at Monkey, who was grinning, and called, “We’ll talk soon.”
“You got it, Pops.”
Then, without hesitation, I followed my fated mate through.