“Then what is it that you're afraid of?” Malia asked.
Emmy thought about the question for a moment, wanting to be able to truthfully portray what was going through her mind before opening her mouth. “I'm afraid that it's not really me he wants. I mean, how could he? Look at him. Look at me. He's tall, sexy, and hotter than hell. I'm short, chubby, and lame as shit. He owns his own club, and he's a dragon to boot. I write romance novels, for fuck’s sake. How could someone like him ever be truly interested in someone like me?”
“I take it he told you that you’re his mate?” Malia asked.
“Yep, and apparently that he can't claim his seat on the throne until we are mated. Whatever the hell that means. Can you explain any of this to me, please?” Emmy was tired of letting her mind run wild to come up with every possible scenario under the sun. She had the mind of a writer, of someone who wrote fiction for a living. Thousands of different scenarios had racked her brain, trying to come up with any plausible explanation whatsoever.
“If Kingston says that you’re his mate … honey, you’re his mate. Shifters know immediately who their mate is by their scent. It’s like an instinct they were all born with. It’s kind of freaky if you ask me, but it’s true, nonetheless,” Malia said.
“But how do they know?” Emmy wasn’t sure if she bought what Malia was trying to sell.
“The way that Jace explained it to me was that as soon as he met me and caught my scent, his beast awakened and told him that I was his mate. From that moment on, his world changed. His life was no longer his own. Every thought he had from that moment on included me. His love for me. My safety. And so on. Does that make any sense?” Malia asked.
“It’s weird, but it does kind of. I guess I’m just overwhelmed by everything right now.”
“I’m surprised you’re not freaking out about the fact that he’s a dragon,” Malia laughed.
“Honestly, I pretty much knew he was a shifter when he referred to you as Jace’s mate. Then a couple of times, I saw his eyes glow. I have a friend who, well, you probably know her. Gerri Wilder. I’ve always known she’s a wolf shifter,” Emmy explained.
“I do know Gerri. Very well. She set matched me with Jace. She’s a great person and usually spot on from what I hear when it comes to finding someone’s mate.”
“Yeah, she is. But I didn’t think humans could be mates to shifters,” Emmy said. “I really should have asked a few more questions about shifters over the years, but I never wanted to feel like I was putting her on the spot or prying.”
“I understand. I do. It’s a lot to process in itself. There’s no right or wrong way to feel right now. You need to take time to figure out what you want for your life, and Kingston knows that.”
“Does he?” she asked.
“Yeah, he really does. He’s not the pushy type of guy who would force you into anything. He wants you. Don’t get me wrong. He also wants you to want him. That’s how the whole mating thing works. It’s similar to what you and I would think of as a marriage, but different.”
“How so? What’s the difference between a marriage and a mating?”
“A mating means that I’ll never look at another woman. I’ll never want another woman. I will love you and only you in this life and in the next.I will die to protect and defend you. A mating means that you are my life, Emmy,” Kingston said as he leaned against the door frame.
“I … I had no idea you were here,” Emmy stammered.
“It’s okay. You should know the answer to every question you have. That way, you can decide on what is best for you. I’m not going to lie. I want you to choose me over anything. But I understand that I don’t get to make that decision. Only you can.”
“See. I told you he’s a good guy,” Malia commented.
“Such a glowing recommendation. I came in to see if you girls are hungry,” he said, pushing away from the door and stepping further into the room.
“I’m starving.” Malia stood and took Emmy’s hand. “How about you?”
“I really hadn’t thought about it until now, but, yeah. I am. Is there any food here?”
“Of course. I’ve kept the place stocked over the years. Though I haven’t been here in a long time, I’ve had people keeping an eye on it and cycling food in and out in case I ever felt like spending time here. Everything in the fridge and pantries is fresh. And there’s enough to feed an army. Follow me.”
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Emmy and Malia followed Kingston’s lead down several halls, passing multiple rooms she would have to explore later. She would never have guessed in a million years that what had appeared to be nothing more than a simple cave house was such a vast living area consisting of several rooms. Though, judging by the décor, they all looked like they belonged in the 80s.
“I know. Everything needs to be brought into this decade,” Kingston said as they made their way into the enormous kitchen.
“How did you … Can you read my mind or something?” she gasped.
“Ha. I wish I knew what was going on in that pretty little head of yours. It would make my life a hell of a lot easier right now.” He laughed.
“Then how did you know what I was thinking?”