Chapter 687 Chapter 687
Scenting her clothes, she turned and headed to the tree they’d started at. She was going to have to talk to him. After they got everyone back to their assigned location—before the next op or set up of one, she needed to find the time to talk to him and see if, despite being happy with finding his mate, did he want to change his life to accommodate one.
Dressing quickly, she picked up her run pack and stepped around the tree. He stood there, his back to her, looking into the trees. “That was fun.”
He turned around a playful look in his eyes. “You are a tricky one.” He smiled. “My mate is no just a beauty. She is a speedy cat.”
Deva laughed. “I don’t know about that. I don’t feel very speedy when I run against Jesse or Asher.”
He shrugged. “You have to outthink the fast one.” He nodded. “Is easy when you find the secret to their—ah, style, I think is word.” He held out his hand.
Taking it, she glanced at him. “You’re saying you can outrun one of the faster animals.”
“Maybe no outrun, but outthink, ja.”
“Kinda like what I did with that fallen tree?”
“Ja.” He smiled at her. “Kinda like that.” He motioned to the hill. “House is other side.”
She nodded. “Do you think we have time to eat before we go get the other vehicles?”
“We eat. I cook some food for you.”
“You cook?” She grinned. “I’m good with a man that cooks.”
“For you, my beauty Deva, I do what you need me to.” He winked at her. He stopped quickly and gently jerked her hand, so she backstepped and was facing him. “You have deep thought and questions.”
She took a deep breath and then nodded. “I do. How did you know?”
“I see questions in your eyes when you see me. You ask, and I try to answer.” He searched her face.
Her mind went blank. It was like she was in grade school all over again. Knowing the answer until the teacher called your name unexpectedly. “Uh—I know this isn’t the most convenient time to meet a mate…”
“No, is no best time.” He cocked his head to the side. “I no think there is a best time in this.”
“It’s just with everything going on right now…”
“I have learned a thing.” He paused and looked at her for a moment. “No matter what is, ah, goings on—” He nodded. “I see so much bad and ugly…”
“I know.” Ghosts were in his eyes when he said it. She placed her hand on his chest, just wanting to offer a bit of comfort.
He put his hand over hers. “What I learn is no matter how ugly a time is, there is always beauty.” She must have given away her confusion because his mouth moved to grin for a second. “This time I go to help village that they-they burn?” He looked at her to make sure she understood. She nodded. “Is all black and smoking—” He shook his head, a look of disgust on his face. “—is no thing left. No one.” He inhaled slowly. “Then I turn to go and find the path of where they go, and I see it.” His eyes rounded. “In all the sad of black and smoke is flower. Just one perfect red flower still grows in all the ugly.” He watched her for a moment. “Is how life is. You stop to look for beauty when is bad. You understand?”
She blinked because she wanted to cry and didn’t know if it was because of what he’d just described or if it was his outlook that she had never stopped to think about. “I do.”
“Good.” He gave her a small smile. “We need to be back, I think.” He nodded. “So, I no try to rush you more.” He patted her hand on his chest and then sucked in a breath slowly. “Ja, we must be back now.” He winked at her and then stepped back and took her hand again.
Deva walked beside him, looking more at him than at the ground in front of her. Her animal was quiet, and she was sure she was trying to process what he’d said as well. “Thank you.” She said quietly.
He gave her a curious look.
“For sharing things you do with me. About what you’ve seen or done.”
“I tell you all when there is time we can stop.” He glanced at her briefly. “Is no time now. I know this no fair for us, but is how life goes.”
She smiled. “It is.” She stopped at the top of the hill. “But that’s okay. We got everyone off the island, and we’re going to get them back to a safe place, and then we’ll plan for the next part to save our kind.” She shrugged. “There’s time to get to know each other.”
“There is.” He nodded. “Maybe no as fast as I like.” He grinned. “I learn to wait.” He frowned. “I no have word for that.”
“Patient. You’ll be patient.”
He looked at her for a moment and then nodded. “If that is what you need, my Deva, I be it.”
She raised an eyebrow at him.
“What is this?” He started walking again. “You no believe me? You see, I do it.” He smiled at her and tugged her hand so she slid down the slope. When they reached the bottom, he tugged her hand again, and she was right in front of him. “You will see.” He kissed her mouth briefly and then released her hand. “I go cook us foods now.” Turning, he started walking to the house.
Calla was standing a few feet away. “You look happy.”
Deva gave her a quick look and then watched Taggart go into the house. “He’s —” She waved her hand around. “Not like anyone I’ve ever met.”
“That is a good thing.” Calla smiled at her. “Think about the men you’ve met.”
Deva blinked. “I see your point.”
“Someday, I’m going to find my mate, and he’s going to be strong inside but gentle and smart.” She rolled her eyes. “Not one of those huge brutes without a thought in their head.”
“I didn’t know you were looking?”
Calla shrugged. “I’m not really. No one dreams about it now, not with how things are and so many shifters gone.” She turned around and looked at the house. “But if he happens to fall at my feet, I’m not going to complain.”
“I’m still processing. We come from two completely different lifestyles.” She rolled her eyes. “And I don’t mean that in a snobby way—I mean he’s had to live with fear every second of his life. Me? The scariest thing I’ve experienced before these ops was breaking up a bar fight.”
“I get it.” She looked at the house again and then smiled. “My run partners. Finally.”
Deva turned to see Asher and Journee walking toward them.
“I’ll talk to you later.” Calla started walking up the hill.
Deva watched the couple come in her direction. They looked so happy. Even with everything going on, they found happiness. Amari and Tripp came down the hill. She glanced at them to see them smiling at each other.
Blowing out a breath, she headed in the direction of the house. Look for the beauty, she thought. If it were only that easy.