Page 35 of Blade

My huff got a snicker out of him that contained actual happiness. “I can’t decide if you’ve just got a big ego or if you’re actually as attractive as you’re making it out to be.”

Both.

“But either way, I’m going to be glad for a human form and I’m going to appreciate getting to know you.” Shifting nervously like he did every time mate-type topics came up, he brought his hand back to the wheel. “Looks aren’t everything and I’m going to be happy to see the real you.”

My mate did not have anything to worry about as long as they put me back the way they’d found me, but this was await and show him laterkind of issue. Insisting I was attractive in both my other forms would be hard for him to visualize.

“It’s…well…just to overshare, looks aren’t what draws me to a guy, so we’ll be fine either way.” My mate was doing his bestto look totally at ease with the conversation, but he’d been more relaxed when he’d thought I might eat him.

He didn’t have anything to worry about desire-related issues either because I’d already figured out what turned my mate on.

Being restrained.

Deliberately or accidentally, if he was tied up, he was turned on.

That was not a conversation I was having one letter at a time, though, so I just softly ran my nose against his arm getting another laugh from him. “Stop that. You’re distracting.”

He was going five miles an hour. I wasn’t worried.

“Okay, I thought this road was longer but somehow we’re here.” Mumbling about sand again, he slowed even more. “I think parking at the back of the park is the best bet, right?”

Nodding against his arm, I stayed low even though the dark film on the windows he called tint kept me mostly hidden.

“Okay, we’re on the same page.” His mind was working so fast his chattering slowed to quiet grumbles about how the sand was going to get everywhere and what he’d do if the ranger was stupid again.

By the time we made it all the way to the back of the small state park, I was amazed at how everything had changed and my mate was filled with anxiety. “It’s going to be fine.”

I wasn’t sure repeating that would help him believe it, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it for now besides cuddle him as much as possible. But since he was driving Batman’s truck at the moment, it didn’t feel like I was doing enough.

That was currently the most frustrating thing about being trapped in my monstrous body.

“Wow. We’re already here.” The tiny parking lot at the back of the park looked familiar but I had to admit that a lot of the details from when we’d originally been in the park were hazy at best.

Because the idiot ranger had shot me with a dart gun.

“Okay. I’m going to back in so we can get away quickly if we need to and…and we’re just going to hang out here for a while.” Neither of us was happy with the plan but most of the locals weren’t on the paranormal internet he’d found and we weren’t sure the best way to meet the right people. “This is where we saw him last time and he seemed fairly informed about what happened.”

It was also better than driving around town and trying to guess who wasn’t human and if they’d be helpful or dangerous.

When I’d been a functional member of society, I’d known everyone magical and nonmagical in the area, but now I wasn’t any help at all. Henley seemed to meet interesting people every time he went out in public, but he had an almost inhuman ability to put himself in danger, so I wasn’t going to let him go anywhere on his own.

Mate or not, he was mine, and I was going to keep him safe.

We’d prepared to wait for hours to get his attention but it seemed like our friend the ranger was paying attention to the people in the park. It only took half an hour for him to pull up beside us aiming the opposite direction, so he could easily gesture for Henley to roll the window down.

I’d pressed my face between the door and the seat, but I stayed low enough that I didn’t think the ranger could see me.

“So you didn’t get eaten. Good to know.”

He was rude.

“That’s rude.” My mate’s insulted tone made me smile. “You’re a terrible representation of the local magical community and the state park system. The national parks are much better staffed.”

My mate was adorable.

The ranger sighed and probably rolled his eyes based on the sound in his voice. “Your mate has been attacking local animals for the past seventy years. Forgive me for being cautious.”

Henley huffed and shifted one hand so he could stroke my face where the door hid the movement. “It was obvious that I had the situation under control. You shot my mate.”