Page 81 of Little Mate
The car slows down.
Then it comes to a complete stop.
Marcia isn’t looking at me, though, and when I follow her line of sight, I’m hit with her emotions. This one is of happiness mixed with wariness and the need to show her dominance. Oh shit.
There’s a man in a white SUV with the windows rolled down and all black eyes staring at her. His skin is melding with that of his animal, the pattern of a cobra: black with hints of olive and a bit of brown.
She shakes under his stare, her own black scales showing a bit.
Two cobras. Both are deadly.
“Mate,” Marcia whispers, but in the silence of the car’s cab, it’s loud and imposing. “He’s my mate.”
“Go to him.”
“Don’t get out of the—”
My passenger side door is pulled open, and the low snarl that greets my ears has me pouting. “Seriously, you couldn’t wait?”
“No.” The anger in his tone makes me look at him, yet his attention is not on me but the stranger. The curl of his lip and the thunderous expression is one I’ve seen before; Veltross and his family were the cause in the past. “Get out and behind me.”
“Theo, I need you to calm down. He’s her mate.”
“I know, but he’s a serpentine prime and if he were to attack us, I’d have to kill him.”
“Please don’t.” Marcia’s voice is low and meek, yet the excitement is still there. She’s needed her other half all these years. “Let me go and talk to him.”
“Go.” One word, hard, and yet I know he’s happy for her.
“Tell Tero that—”
“Go be happy, my sister of the heart.”
“Thank you, Gabby.” Slowly, the grace of her animal present, Marcia exits the vehicle and walks over. He’s waiting for her. His face is full of longing and peace.
However, I don’t stay to watch the scene unfold…
Before my husband can stop me, I take off at full speed and barefoot into the lush forest near our home. The wind picks up around me, and the soft brush of leaves under my feet feels good—connects me to the Wiccan heritage that runs through my veins. It feeds me, rejuvenates my soul, and says hello to the little life growing inside of me.
The trees sway for us and the wind surrounds my body, fluttering my hair while the babbling brook creates a lovely melody I hum to as I run.
I know Theo’s behind me, hunting, but I still put on a show with my speed, which rivals his. It doesn’t take long to reach our estate and the large tree at the center of our backyard that I insisted we bring from Italy. The large red cedar overshadows all other vegetation, standing tall and proud, but more beautiful is the man leaning against it with a cocky expression.
“Couldn’t let me win this time?”
“No.” He pushes off the base, his gait powerful yet graceful. His nose also flares the closer to me he gets, eyes flicking from amber to a rich ruby red as reality dawns on him. Not that he asks. No, my husband simply walks up to me and then kneels, his hands on each side of my waist.
“Ask me.”
“Gabriella, this…please explain.” Voice low. So much hope.
“What do you hear? Smell?” A deep rumble builds in his chest, a different kind of purr, and the flutter inside of me accepts the owner. Bringing a hand to his face, I cup his chin and tilt it up slightly, just enough so our eyes meet. “Go on. Tell me.”
Theo shakes before me, his fangs down. “I hear a heartbeat and smell honeysuckle.”
“And what do you feel?”
“A hope I shouldn’t be allowed to.”