they couldn’t spread it to the rest of our population, it’d either killed or severely sickened them. I wouldn’t take that chance with my mate.
“Do you feel safe here?” I asked as my eyes roamed the busy restaurant.
“Would you relax? No one is going to give me anything. We’re surrounded by healthy shifters and sorceresses. I’m safe as long as I don’t leave Malovia, or any other supernatural community,” Emma said.
I knew she was right, but it didn’t stop me from worrying.
We took a booth in the corner. Stefan and Delmare were here, sitting at a table of their own not too far away. Delmare waved to us, and Emma waved back.
“Dude, you’re in for a treat,” Stefan called to me over the noise. “This place is the best.”
“My mom’s a great cook,” Emma said. She looked a little green.
“Are you all right?” I asked. “You were quiet on the ride over.”
“Yeah. I was throwing up all night from pain,” she said. “My back and hips have been killing me lately. I’ve been working too hard at practice.”
“I’m sorry. Anything I can do to help?”
She smiled. “You being here helps enough.”
That was sweet. Another redhead came up to the table— Arthur, Emma’s brother. He placed two menus in front of us and gave me a glance.
“Hey,” Emma said in astonishment. “What are you doing here?”
Arthur scratched the back of his head. “I, uh, got a job. Mostly bartending, but waiting when we need it. I talked things over with Evonna— I mean, Mom. She really wants to work on having a relationship, and I figure we can do that if I’m spending a lot of my time here.”
“That makes me so relieved you two worked things out,” Emma said.
Arthur shrugged. “Yeah, well, she’s my mother. Can’t rule her out completely without getting to know her.”
Arthur glanced at me. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Emma facepalmed. “Oh, geez, Arty, let it go.”
“It’s fine, Emma.” I rose from the table, and Arthur took me aside— to a corner of the restaurant out of Emma’s earshot, though she glared at Arthur from across the way. I knew what this was going to be about.
Arthur took a breath. “Hey. We’re cool and all, but if you hurt my sister again, we’re gonna have problems. I don’t care about your title, or how tough you think you are. My magic’s strong enough to do some damage, and the last thing I want to see is Emma suffering through another broken heart. Got it?”
“We’re completely clear. I have no intention of ever leaving Emma’s side,” I told him.
His gaze flared. “Good. Keep it that way.”
Arthur walked off. The moment he did, Stefan slid up to me and nudged my arm; he’d been watching us, too. “You gonna let him talk to you like that?”
“He’s being a good brother. It’s no issue,” I said. “What would you do, if you had a sister and someone had done to her what I did to Emma?”
“Probably rip the fucker to pieces,” Stefan said fairly.
“Exactly. Let bygones be bygones.” I wasn’t doing anything to divide my mate and I ever again, and so, I had to get along with the family. Arthur and Emma were twins, and I would do nothing to invalidate their connection.
Stefan snickered. “It was kind of funny, watching a little guy like Arthur threaten a big dude like you.”
“I’m not underestimating him. Emma’s small, but she’s powerful. Her brother is probably the same.”
Stefan nodded. “I bet you’re right. Call me when you piss him off. It’d be funny to see him kick your ass.”
I sat down at the booth. Emma had her arms crossed. “What exactly did he say to you?”
“Nothing you need to worry about,” I said. “It’s all good.”
Emma huffed. “Gods. Men.”
Evonna slid up to the table. Emma’s mother looked in her element, red curls swept back with a handkerchief as she dusted flour off on her apron.
“It’s great to see you two again,” Evonna gushed. “I was hoping you’d stop by.”
Evonna was certainly happy to see us back together. At least I had the approval of Emma’s mother, even if Arthur wasn’t giving me a free pass.
“I’ve heard a lot about this place,” I said. “It must be incredible.”
“You should give him the specialty. I know he’ll love it,” Emma said.
Evonna smiled. “Coming right up. I suppose you want the same?”
“I’m feeling very nauseous,” Emma said. “Everything I take down churns my stomach. I’m going to stick with soup.”