Page 3 of The Centaur's Spell: A Waiting Hearts World Romance (Waiting Hearts: Centaurs Book 3)

I knew the moment the barrier was crossed. I felt deep within my soul that something was different. A hum started in my chest, a simple melody that went in tune with the rhythm of my beating heart. But there was another feeling, another thump, another rhythm—my mate. My mate’s heart.

He was here, he was close. All the waiting was over. Almost.

It was different than when I had felt my brother’s mates come across the border. This one was mine. All that remained to be seen was who was it? Where did they come from?

It was dark when the hum began out of nowhere. I’d been awake working on the decorative spindles for the porch steps. I was just about to hang up my tools and go to bed when the hum began. I had no choice but to follow it. There was no way I was going to wait until my mate found me. He had to feel it too. But depending on who he was and how much he knew about our kind, the odds were great that he wouldn’t understand what was happening. Not enough to come looking for me, anyway.

I raced through the forest, following where my mate’s call beckoned to me, my hooves flying quickly through the trails. It didn’t take long for me to realize I was heading to Luan’s home. He and Marcus had left to bring back Walker, the omega who was in trouble. That realization had me running even faster. If trouble was looking for my mate, I needed to protect him with everything I had.

If Walker even was my mate. They might have brought someone else back with them too. Possibly another Steelwick member. There was only one way to find out.

And really, it didn’t matter who it was, only that they were here. Whoever it was, I knew that they would be perfect for me. My match. My mate.

They were walking up to the house as I approached.

Luan waved. “Hey, Brother, I didn’t expect to see you here. Did you come to greet Walker in person?”

My breath came in heavy pants; I had run the entire way. I couldn’t remember a time when I’d run so fast for so long. There was no need. With endless time on your hands, why rush?

“Mine,” I growled. It sounded more like a wolf than a centaur. Luan exchanged a worried glance with Marcus.

“Your what?” Walker asked, not scared exactly, but worried, possibly.

“My mate,” I said, gesturing to where Walker stood so he didn’t question to whom I was referring.

He was breathtaking, albeit a little tired looking. His eyes had dark circles around them.

It had to be him. He was looking at me in much the same way as I looked at him now that I had called him mine. All hints of concern completely gone.

“Apollo,” Walker said, a hand clutching his chest. He wore a pair of simple blue jeans and a sweater that was a little too big for him. His hair was long enough that I would be able to thread my fingers through it. His eyes sparkled in the moonlight. There was a kindness to his features.

“Oh, I did not see that coming,” Marcus said. “Walker?”

“Walker, do you feel like your heart is singing? Like your wolf wants to howl out into the world and let everyone know that your mate is right here?” I asked. I stepped toward him slowly. I didn’t wish to come on too strong or scare him away. We would go at his pace, and if he asked me to back away, I would.

“Yes, I feel it,” Walker said, taking my hand. Walker grasped it, and I pulled him close to me. “I felt it as soon as we crossed into this land. I didn’t know what it was. It all makes sense now. I thought I was just excited to see the centaurs’ forest. But it was you. I was calling out to you.”

He looked at me with wonder, and it was as if my entire world finally made sense for the very first time.

“Hello, mate. I’m so happy to see you,” I said, still not letting my gaze waver from his. Happy didn’t begin to cover how I was feeling. I wasn’t sure that there was any word in any language that did. It would have to do.

He giggled. “I didn’t expect to find my mate here.”

“Are you pleased?” He had come here for a purpose. I’d understand if this was secondary for him. I wouldn’t like it, but I’d understand it.

He nodded vigorously. “So pleased.”

“Come, I will take you to my home,” I said, turning to leave, tugging my mate along with me.

I heard my brother’s gasp. I’d never taken anyone to my home—ever. Only now I saw for the first time that it wasn’t home. It was a house. Walker was my home.

Walker followed as if he would follow me anywhere. The level of trust he had for me was precious, and I would not break it. Ever.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Luan said. “You can’t just take him into the forest in the middle of the night. We don’t know where you are. We don’t know where you live.”

I saw no problem with that, but perhaps Walker would not be comfortable with that idea. If it was only my brother’s discomfort I needed to worry about, he could deal.

“So?” I said. I saw zero issue with it.

“We need to stay with Walker. We need to keep him safe,” Luan said. “We’re meant to protect him. That is why Tomas is here with us.”

“My home is only known to me and soon to be known to Walker. There is no safer place for him to exist in the world.” How could he not see that? How could any of them try to keep him from me?

“He has a point,” Marcus said. “If we can’t find him, how could anyone else?”

“Can we talk about this in the morning? It is awfully late, Apollo, and Walker is quite tired.” My brother had to be kidding. Luan would never have let me suggest such a thing to him in relation to his mate. Of that I was sure.

“Walker can speak for himself,” my mate said, and I appreciated his boldness mixed with sass. He was running for his life and he still didn’t let anyone treat him as less than the capable shifter he was.

I nuzzled my face into his neck. The scent of him washed over me, my heart song humming louder, somehow more beautiful than it had been even a second ago.

“Tell me what you need, mate. I will make it happen.” Even if it was staying here in the place we originally had set up for him.

“I’m quite tired, mate. Is it far to your home?” He rubbed his cheek against mine.

“It is.” I hated that in this moment. Most of the time it would be ideal, but right now it meant my mate wouldn’t be in my dwelling, at least not yet.

“Then we shall rest here for the night,” I said, not wanting him to feel any pressure. “Tell me where you want me. I can sleep outside and beneath the stars, you in the house where you’re safe. I can crawl into bed with you, though it is not easy sleeping with a person in centaur form.”

He giggled at that and ran a hand over my shoulder where my human torso gave way to my horse legs. “I can’t imagine it would be easy. I could shift to my wolf form and stay out under the stars with you.”

Nothing sounded more beautiful than that. Still, it was his decision, not mine.

“Wherever you’re most comfortable, mate.”

“Oh for goodness’ sakes. This is probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. But I’m exhausted.” Marcus threw his hands in the air. “We’re going inside.”

I glared at Marcus. I loved the man dearly, but this was my moment, my time with my mate.

“We can all talk in the morning. Go to sleep, you two. Don’t consummate anything out in the open for everyone to see.” Marcus thought he was so funny. And maybe he was because everyone but my mate and I chuckled.

It might have been dark, but I saw my mate blush. “It is kind of dark out,” he said. “Would we be safer inside?”

“You are safe wherever I am. But if you need to have the light to feel better, I can provide it.” I snapped my fingers and my flame hovered over my palm. “We can keep a fire going all night. I can light a torch, whatever you wish.”

“You’ll have to stoke the fire all night?” It was more of a question than anything else.

I shook my head. “No, the fire will burn for as long as I need it to.”

Walkers’s eyes widened. “That’s your power. So cool.”

“I can’t tell if this is going to be amazing or a disaster,” Marcus said, but I ignored him. This was going to be amazing.