Fisher (Prince of Tigers, #3) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,11

she felt a calmness come over her that made her know she was in the best place possible.

“You’re all right now?” Shaking her head, then nodding, Fisher laughed. “Yes, well, I know just how you feel. Right now, I feel as if the weight of the world has been lifted from me. I can feel that you’re less stressed too. May I hold you?”

“I’d very much like that.” Piper laid her head on his chest as he pulled her body flush with his. “Is us being mates why I felt the officer’s pain? Also, how I was able to know what you were telling him was what he needed to know?”

“Yes, I think so. As I’ve never had a mate before, I can only guess. Also, I think that’s why I was able to connect with you the way that I did. I have to tell you a few more things I didn’t before—things you’ll need to know. You’re an immortal. The same as me. I’m ancient too.” Piper asked him to explain when she looked up at him. “Immortal. As in living for—”

“Don’t be a dick. You know that’s not what I meant at all.” His laughter was like a balm for her heart and soul. “How old are you? Ancient could be a hundred years or less when you take into account that I’m only twenty-five.”

“I don’t think you’re going to like my answer any more than you might some of the other information I have to let you in on.” Glaring at him earned herself a kiss to her nose. “First of all, I have to tell you that myself and my brothers are all the same age, just different times of birth. I’m a hundred times older than you are. Give or take a decade or two.”

Piper pulled back and looked at Fisher to see if he was joking or not. The look on his face told her nothing, not even when he took a step forward to hold her again. Putting her hand up, trying to judge the look on his face, it was as unreadable as if she were looking at a photo of him.

“You’re serious.” Fisher said he was. “I don’t understand. You’re over twenty-five-hundred years old? You do know you don’t look a day older than me, right?”

“You’ll never age from this point on, either. Nor will you get ill, gain weight, or be killed. Even if you were hurt, shot, or something equally heinous, you’ll heal quickly. Like in minutes, if not too serious. Longer, of course, if it’s worse. Also, you might well have heard that iron will—” Piper put her hand over his mouth. When he kissed her palm, she smacked him on the chest. “Too much?”

“You think so?” Fisher laughed again. “A person could forgive you most anything when you laugh like that. Why me? I have so much going on in my life right now that if you were smart, you’d take off at a high rate of speed and never look back. I have no money. My only possessions are this camper and my truck. The computer I use is nearly eight years old. Even if you discount the fact that I’m poorer than a church mouse, I have a brother and a sister that are out to take what little I have from me because they’re greedy fucking shits.”

“First of all, you’re no longer broke. What I have is now yours. Secondly, you’re not alone in dealing with them anymore. In one of my jobs, I was a pretty good attorney. Also—well, I had hoped I’d have a little time in introducing you to someone, but I’m afraid he’s impatient.” He had a child, as well as a wife, she just knew it. “Don’t make up things to worry about. I have no children because I’ve only just met you. You are the only person I can have a child with. As for being married. I’m hoping that as soon as you’re ready, we can take care of that too. Don’t freak out. But there is a faerie here that will be with you at all times from now on. His name is Peter. As a favor to me, he’s been keeping an eye on you since we first connected. Keeping you safe.”

“Peter?” Almost as soon as she said his name, he was standing on Fisher’s shoulder. “It’s a tiny man. I mean, he’s handsome and has wings and sparkles, but he’s a very tiny