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J ace tucked Evie close to his side and stared at the ceiling. What the hell was he going to do?

He could deal with her being a mixed-blood.

He felt a stab of shame that he’d taken Leron’s twisted prejudices as his own.

If nothing else, he’d seen with Merry that a fada who was one-quarter fae and one-quarter human could still shift—and be the best niece a man could possibly ask for.

If Takira were here, she would’ve slapped him upside the head.

Leron was dead, and it was time to bury his prejudices along with him.

Not that this was a done deal—the female always had the right to refuse a mating.

But Evie wanted him, was maybe even a little in love with him.

Hell, just the fact that she’d had sex with him was proof.

He’d known she wasn’t the type to sleep around even before her confession that it had been a while.

But would she want a fada for a mate? Because the prejudice wasn’t all on his side. It was a huge step from taking a fada as a lover to joining his clan, and as his mate, she wouldn’t have a choice. He was too important to the Baltimore fada, and besides, he didn’t want to live as a solitary.

And yet how could he walk away now? Might as well ask him to rip out his heart.

Court her , said the cat and conjured up a hazy scene with candlelight and wine and Evie in a skimpy red nightgown.

His lips quirked. But hell, yes—wine, flowers, chocolate…

whatever it took. And a job for that brother of hers, because the two of them were a package deal.

Jace wanted to ease her burdens, let her focus on what she really wanted to do, which was become a healer.

His mate was strong in a way both man and cat approved, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t use a helping hand.

He pressed a kiss to her mussed blond head, and with a fatalistic shrug, accepted that this was his new life: Evie at the center. And he guessed he’d gained a teenage brother, too. His existence had just gotten a hell of a lot more complicated.

A family, the gods help him . With a mate that was part human, part fae—just like Silver. Somewhere in paradise, his sister was laughing her ass off. He let out a breath—and grinned.

Evie nuzzled his jaw. “You’re thinking too loud.”

“Sorry.” But there was more proof; she was picking up his emotions.

She wriggled closer so that she was plastered against his front. He smoothed a hand down her back, heart full.

She smothered a yawn. “Damn, you tired me out.”

“Sleep, then.” He patted her bottom.

“Mm,” she said.

He listened as her breath slowed, deepened. A few minutes later she was asleep.

He could’ve lain there all day holding her. Maybe even gone back to sleep himself—and there was almost nobody he trusted enough to fall asleep around. And yet last night he’d curled himself around Evie and slept deeply, untroubled by nightmares and more relaxed than he’d been for years.

Wonder filled him. This was what being happy was—this warm, contented feeling.

His cat settled its head on its paws and purred…and Jace dozed.

He was awakened by the buzz of his quartz. He silenced it and, easing out from under Evie, slipped into the hall, closing the door behind him.

It was Adric. “Just wanted to check in. How are things?”

“Okay on this end.” He wasn’t ready yet to talk about this thing with Evie, even with Adric. “Corban?”

“At least someone had a good night.” Adric’s tone was amused.

Not much got past the alpha—he might not know that Jace planned to mate-claim Evie, but it was clear he’d guessed Jace hadn’t slept alone.

“Me, I’m on my way back to my den to catch some sleep.

I’m sorry, bro—we didn’t find Corban. The prick’s disappeared into thin air. ”

Jace’s contentment fled. “Fuck.”

“He’s here in Baltimore—I’m sure of it. But I can’t narrow down his location.

He’s got a new quartz that I can’t track him through, and he’s smart enough to hide his scent.

” His friend expelled a breath. “Anyway, I called Beau, and he’s on his way back with Suha.

She wants to talk to your Evie anyway. Seems she might be a healer. ”

“Yeah.” Jace didn’t even argue that Evie wasn’t “his.” Because she was.

“Beau’s under orders to stick with you for the next few days. I don’t want you going anywhere alone until we find the bastard—got it?”

“Damn it, Ric, I don’t need a fucking babysitter. I took on Corban and his little friend, remember?”

“Humor me,” his friend drawled. “If nothing else, it’s safer for Evie and Kyler.”

“Fine.” Jace dropped his head back against the wall. “Get some sleep. I’ll report in later.” He ended the call.

Fear crawled up his spine. Because now that he was wide awake and not stupid from sex, he realized that mating with Evie increased the chance that Corban would go after her. Tyrus, too. Jace’s stomach bottomed out at how difficult it would be to keep her safe. That brother of hers as well.

Claws pricked his fingertips. Inside, his animal gave a jaguar-roar, ready to take on the world for its mate.

Evie appeared in the hall, dressed in the striped sleepshirt. It was so old it was practically see-through in places.

The roar faded. A word came through loud and clear. Mine.

And he would die to protect her.

“Morning.” She gave a stretch that had the shirt riding up until he could see the notch at the top of her thighs. “Is it okay if I take a shower?”

He swallowed hard and for a few seconds, forgot all about Corban and Tyrus.

“Sure,” he managed to say. “Towels are on the shelf.” He ran a proprietary hand down her hip and tried not to stare at where the threadbare material clung to the hard points of her nipples. “I’ll get breakfast started.”

“Thanks.” She came onto her toes and kissed him.

He watched as she slipped past him. That shirt barely covered her ass. Damn, he wanted to follow her into the bathroom, bend her over the jacuzzi, and—

He heard Kyler moving in his bedroom and pulled himself up short.

Shower. And breakfast.

And that shower was going to have to be alone. He muttered a curse and headed down the hall to the other bathroom.