Page 41 of Blade

Blaine.

“I’m sure he’s going to have more questions for you, but thank you for some of the history.” I knew I had a thousand questions but it seemed like they could wait. “We’re just going to take this one step at a time.”

Blade…no, Blaine’s low rumbling purr said he agreed with me, but the way he turned his head and gently licked my hand said everything was going to be fine.

I really hoped he was right.

CHAPTER 14

BLAINE

The fog wantedto take over, but my mate held it back.

Something about being back there and all the magic made it feel like the world was tilted the wrong way, but Henley was good about sticking right by my side.

“You know, I’m pretty sure you could clear that fence in one jump. Just remember that.” Running his hand over my head again, he dropped his voice. “And remember where we’re staying for the time being.”

Yes.

Mentally walking through how to get back to the trailer, I kept that at the front of my mind as we slowly walked toward the group of people who were waiting for us. Most were women, but there were a few men standing around.

Part of me said I should know everyone because I’d always known everyone in town, but they were all strangers. That was probably fucking with my head too, but I did my best to ignore it and focus on my mate. Not the house. Not the people. My mate.

He was safe.

He had a plan.

He could threaten very well.

It was amazing actually.

My mate looked sweet and almost naïve right up until he talked about killing someone. It was an impressive skill but one that clearly kept throwing the ranger off because he stayed well clear of all of us as he came out through the back door. For someone who clearly had magic, he didn’t seem to belong to the coven and parked himself on the porch.

“Serena. Everyone. This is Blaine and his mate.” Frowning, the ranger finally seemed to realize my mate had never given his name. “I’m not sure I got his name. Our first introduction was slightly chaotic.”

My mate gave a genuine-sounding chuckle and shook his head. “You were unexpected but we got through it.”

Still no name.

My mate was more devious than he looked.

“It’s nice to meet everyone, but we’d like to focus on fixing my mate, not social niceties.” Henley had made it very clear on our drive over that he’d get to know them as long as they didn’t turn out to be the bad guys.

Intentions first, manners second.

It wasn’t the way I was raised but I could see his point in our situation.

As they all kind of blinked and looked around, clearly not expecting that response, he gave them a little push. “How will this work and what is the plan?”

For someone who’d repeatedly said he had no idea what he was doing when it came to helping me get back to my original form, he was very good at looking calm and confident in new situations.

Provided he wasn’t tied up.

Then I wasn’t sure what my fascinating mate would do.

“Um, yes.” Standing straighter, Serena looked around at the group. “Let’s get started.”

That brought everyone back to life and seemed to remind them that they all had jobs to do before they could fix what my mate had called a clusterfuck. Several women seemed to be getting a circle in the yard ready and others were moving around with a purpose but I wasn’t sure what they were doing.