Page 6 of Messy AF (At First #3)

six

~ Warren ~

A s we moved into a new week, the skies finally cleared, the sun warm and inviting, beckoning people out of their homes.

“Are you sure about this?” Standing in the entryway, Tobi tugged nervously at the hem of his heather gray tee. “Maybe it’s not a good idea.”

“Angel, you haven’t left the house in two weeks. This is definitely a good idea.”

The effects of the sleeping potion lingered, episodes of dizziness and fainting still daily occurrences. Worse, strong emotions seemed to trigger the symptoms more often, especially anything that elevated his heart rate, which made even a chaste kiss feel risky.

I didn’t care. Just being close to him was enough, and I’d wait as long as it took for the side effects to dissipate.

With that said, I understood my mate’s reluctance to venture out into the world. Even something as ordinary as stepping into the front yard probably seemed like a big ask right now. I didn’t plan to overwhelm him, though, or cause any accidental embarrassment.

I only wanted to give him a moment of normalcy.

“Yeah, but still. What if I pass out or something?”

“We’re just going for a walk by the lake,” I reminded him. “I’ll be right beside you the whole time, and I won’t—”

“Let anything happen to me,” he recited, a sweet smile stretching his lips. “I know.”

His steadfast trust in me never failed to make my chest swell and my heart beat a little faster.

“Then let’s go.” I held my hand out and waited, giving him a lopsided grin when he took it and linked our fingers together.

Outside, the earth still smelled slightly damp, and though the temperatures had turned mild as night approached, the humidity hung thick in the air. If I had planned our excursion right, we should be able to catch the sunset over Bliss Lake, but with plenty of time left to enjoy the daylight.

Hand in hand, we strode to the end of the block in comfortable silence before crossing the street to the paved trail that led down to the lake. We passed a few of Tobi’s neighbors on the way, greeting them with smiles and waves, and with each interaction, he relaxed a little more.

A small park abutted the lake, the soggy field empty, though a couple of families with small children gathered near the playground. I spotted a few people in the distance, but otherwise, the walking paths that encircled the water’s edge appeared largely unoccupied at that time of day.

Without an audience for any potential mishaps, I hoped Tobi would be able to enjoy himself without worrying too much.

Stepping onto the concrete path, I directed his attention to the lake, to a family of ducks floating near the shoreline. In turn, he pointed out the dragonflies that wheeled over the water, their wings glinting in the sunlight.

Tobi laughed, the sound radiant and almost musical. He looked freer than I had seen him all week, and it eased something inside me to witness him so relaxed and happy.

We continued along the trail, our pace lazy, our footsteps in sync. When we spoke, we kept mostly to easy topics, like his work or upcoming events around the city.

Occasionally, I glanced sideways, checking for signs of fatigue or dizziness. And every time, he would squeeze my hand, just once, in silent reassurance.

As we crested a hill on the east side of the lake, we stepped off the trail and paused to take in the view below.

The glass surface of the lake mirrored the sky, reflecting streaks of rose and gold as the sun sank closer to the horizon.

Trees danced softly in the breeze, their canopies aglow with the last rays of daylight.

The distant sound of conversation and laughter faded, replaced by the nocturnal symphony of croaking frogs and chirping crickets. A mockingbird sang from a nearby branch, though it sounded like a car alarm rather than anything remotely melodic.

Other small creatures began to emerge, beginning their nightly routines around the lakeside. Like the muskrat that slipped into the reeds, or the ripple of silver minnows that flickered just below the surface of the water.

A warm breeze ruffled my hair, carrying with it the scent of moss and wildflowers. I smiled when Tobi leaned in at my shoulder with a satisfied sigh, loving how easily and naturally he showed affection.

In those last, lingering moments of daylight, everything felt peaceful and perfect, soothing the anxieties of the week and replacing them with cautious anticipation.

I released a slow breath, the rest of the tension bleeding from my shoulders. I had planned the outing for my mate, but it had turned out to be exactly what I had needed as well.

“Can I ask you something?” Tobi said when we started walking again.

“You can ask me anything, angel.”

He grinned, his cheeks tinging pink, just as they always did when I called him by the endearment. “What’s it like being mated to a shadeling? Is there anything I should know?”

I understood he referred to our relationship specifically, but if speaking in general terms felt safer, I could work with that.

“You want to know about fate bonds.”

“Is that what it’s called?”

I bobbed my head, playing for time while I thought through how to explain it. “You already know how it starts. That instant recognition, the pull.”

“I was drawn to you from that first day, and the more time we spent together, the stronger it became.” He ducked his head, his voice quieting. “When I thought about you leaving, it felt like I couldn’t breathe.”

Lifting our joined hands, I brought them to my lips and brushed a kiss against his knuckles. “You don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

He acknowledged me with a gentle smile before asking his next question. “Did it feel that way for you?”

“Yes, but more intense. Almost like an obsession.”

“But you didn’t actually know I was your mate until we kissed?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his accusatory tone. “No, I didn’t know. I wasn’t hiding it from you.”

He thought about that for a moment, then dipped his head in a jerky little nod. “Okay, what else?”

“There are a few extra rules , I guess you could call them, among the races, but a fate bond is largely the same for all shadelings. The main thing you need to know is that you still have a choice. Fate brought us together, but you can decide to walk away.”

“Well, that doesn’t apply,” he blurted, and he sounded almost offended by the mere suggestion. “Next.”

Until that moment, there had still been a thread of doubt, an unspoken fear in the back of my mind that he might not choose me. With his confirmation, however, my pulse settled, and I took a deep breath, feeling the invisible weight lifted from my shoulders.

“I’m glad you feel that way, but you always have that option.” I paused, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. “But a fate bond isn’t like a human marriage. It’s deeper, more intrinsic. It doesn’t fade or lessen over time. If anything, it grows stronger.”

This time, he didn’t respond right away. In fact, he didn’t say anything for a long while, not until we had reached the opposite side of the small lake.

“You said there are rules. What does that mean?”

“When the bond is complete, fates and souls are intertwined. For immortals—”

“Like you.”

“Like me,” I confirmed. “For us, it means sharing that immortality with our mates.”

“Wait. Are you serious?” Stopping in the middle of the path, Tobi jerked around to face me. “Are you saying that I’m going to live forever? Like forever , forever?”

“Is there any other kind of forever?”

He snorted and shoved my arm playfully, but the joke had thankfully disrupted his panic.

“Okay, I kind of get it. I mean, why would fate bring us together, just to leave you hanging sixty years down the road?” Looping his arm around mine, he tugged gently to start us walking again.

“Since immortality has never been an option for me, I guess I just never gave it much thought. It could be cool, though.”

“But?” Because there was definitely a “but” in that statement.

“But what are we going to do when robots take over the world?”

Surprised laughter burst from my lips, and judging by my mate’s mischievous smirk, that had been precisely his intention.

“Don’t worry, brat. I’ll protect you from the evil androids.”

He hugged my arm tightly, swinging it back and forth as he swayed. “My hero.”

Gods, he was fucking adorable.

“I think it’s pretty clear that anything I ask is about us,” he continued, sobering. “So, what else do I need to know? Any conditions of this bond for vampires specifically?”

Though I loved how “us” sounded, his question had brought me to the confession I had been reluctant to give. While I didn’t consider it a deal breaker, I had no idea how Tobi would feel about it.

“Just one.”

“Well, that sounds ominous.”

Maybe, but it didn’t have to be. With no easy way to tell him, I decided to rip the bandage off and just say it plainly.

“Once I claim you, I won’t be able to feed from anyone else. Not even donor blood from a bag.”

“What? That’s not fair!”

I had expected surprise, maybe a hint of fear. But Tobi looked positively irate.

“What if I get hit by a bus?” he demanded. “Are you just supposed to starve to death?”

I blinked, my brain malfunctioning while I tried to untangle whatever wires had gotten crossed. “ That is your concern?”

He huffed out an annoyed breath and shrugged. “Well, yeah. How are you not concerned about it?”

“If you died—” I hissed in a harsh breath, just the thought of something happening to him sending a painful jolt to my heart. “—the bond would be broken.”

“So, you would be able to take blood from someone else?” he asked cautiously.

I nodded.

I wouldn’t, not even if I had the ability, but he didn’t need to know that.

“Okay.” He pulled in a deep breath, then released it slowly. “That…that’s good.”

“Angel, I appreciate your worry, but maybe save a little for yourself, hmm? I just told you that I’m going to have to feed from you for the rest of our lives.”

“Well, yes, obviously you’ll feed from me. That’s just good manners.”

“Good manners?” I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

“Okay, fine. The thought of your mouth anywhere near someone else makes me want to punch something and vomit. In that order. Happy?”

Pulling him to a stop, I whirled him around and dragged him into my arms. “If it makes it any better, I feel the same way.”

Just with more fangs and violence.

“Yes.” He gave me a sharp nod. “That makes me feel a lot better.”

We stood there for a while, letting the hush settle around us, sharing the sort of peace that didn’t require words. The colors across the lake grew richer, deepening from pastel to fire as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon.

“Warren.” Tobi turned suddenly, holding my hands in a steel grip as he stared up at me with a strange mixture of resolve and vulnerability. “I need to say this, but you don’t have to say anything back, okay?”

“Okay,” I answered, my pulse tripping with concern. “What is it?”

“I love you,” he blurted, the confession bursting from his lips in a rush.

“Tobi, I—”

“It’s okay if you don’t love me back yet. I get it. I just needed you to know.”

Flexing my arms, I tugged him forward by his hands, catching him by the shoulders to pull him into a tender kiss. I kept the pressure light, and I didn’t linger, not wanting to trigger one of his symptoms again.

“And I need you to know that it’s not one-sided,” I murmured. “I love you, too. More than anything.”

His lips puckered as he huffed out a breath, but the smile that followed was pure radiance. “But if you change your mind—”

I hooked my arm around his neck and dragged him to my chest to silence him. “Knock it off.”

He chuckled, the sound filled with unrestrained joy. “You’re so demanding.”

“Yes.” I didn’t really see any reason to lie about that. “You don’t seem to mind, though.” Dipping my head, I skimmed my nose up the side of his neck, loving the way he shivered against me. “And you smell happy.”

“Do I?”

“Mm,” I answered. “Are you happy, angel?”

Tobi looked back at me with a smile, his tawny eyes reflecting the fading light.

“Perfectly.”