Page 91 of Fated Hearts

“Whatever you cook.”

“Who says I’m cooking?”

“You always cook. Feeding me makes you horny.”

Devan didn’t need any help being hot for Zio, but he couldn’t deny that taking care of his mate brought a certain thrill. He grunted, and Zio smirked in victory. Then his grin turned sleepy and he let out a happy sigh. “I can’t believe how much I like being at home now. Like, it’s the best thing ever. Being in bed, dozing on the couch, hanging out in the bathroom like a weirdo. I think you’ve turned me human.”

“Nah, you’ve just rememberedhowto be human. You never had the chance before.”

“I’ve been thinking about that.”

Devan forced open his drooping eyes and sat up straighter. Since Shadow Clan had chased the southern packs out of England, the war had, as they’d feared, escalated beyond the realm of wolves. The thought of Zio fighting vampires made Devan’s blood run colder than theirs, and he’d been trying not to dwell on it. To make the most of Zio while he had the chance. “Are you leaving me?”

“What? No!”

“Sure about that?”

“Yeah, but—”

“But what?” Devan braced himself. He’d spent enough time with Michael, Danielo, and Shannon to know that so long away from the fighting was a life they’d never learned to live. Rebuilding the compound had kept them occupied for a few months, but that was nearly done.

Zio poked him in the arm. “Dash told Varian that Luca would take a unit from the pack to fight with the clan if there were any of us that wanted to go.”

“Do you want to go?”

“Of course I don’t.”

Relief flooded the sharp edges of Devan’s nerves. “You don’t?”

Zio shrugged. “I thought I did for a little while, but there’s thousands of shifters fighting all over the world. It doesn’t have to be me.”

“I didn’t think you’d ever see it like that.”

“Even after we bonded? Think about it—if I went south to fight, I’d either have to leave you behind or accept that I’d be putting you in danger. I can’t live with either of those scenarios, and it’s more than that. I’mtired. At least I was six months ago. I can’t—fuck, I can’t go back to that. I thought I’d be a soldier forever, and I’d still die for my pack, for my mate, and my brothers, but not if I don’t have to. It matters to me now that I don’t.”

Devan took a slow breath, Zio’s words carving a place in the soul he’d already claimed. “I wish no one had to die.”

“Me too, but I heard what that doctor said when Danielo made me peek through the window, and he was right. As long as the fighting stays out of this country, we can be safe here, we can befree. I want that more than you’ll ever know.”

A rush of love hit Devan, so profound it took his breath away. He cupped Zio’s face in his hands and stroked his stubble-rough cheeks with his thumbs. “What if the clan asks for help? Would you go then?”

“Yes, but they haven’t so far, and I’ve heard it on good authority that Luca doesn’t need our help.”

Devan could believe that. “Dash already gave me leave to stay here forever.”

“I know, and you know whatyoushould know by now?”

“What?”

Zio rose up on his knees and kissed Devan slow and deep. Then he pulled back with a crooked grin that narrowed Devan’s entire existence to the quiet life they’d built in Emma’s bungalow. “That I’m counting on you for that forever.”