Page 88 of Her Silent Knight

Chapter Twenty-One

HOME. FINALLY.

It took them an hour to make it back to their cabin. Why? Because nearly the whole damn compound had gathered in the hall outside of Nach’s room in the med bay when they heard all the ruckus going on inside.

They were all shocked to see Nachik awake. They were even more shocked to learn that Kaede’s new mate, Sinclair, was responsible for his miraculous recover. Sin tried telling them it was a group effort, but the group she was trying to give credit to, kept switching the praise over to her.

Finally, she just started to smile and wave. She fake-smiled so hard that her cheeks started to hurt. She was tired and more than anything, she just wanted to return to her cabin so she could relax and have a long talk with her dragon.

She hadn’t been in the mood to be introduced to everyone and their mama. Literally. She especially hadn’t been in the mood to be introduced to the leader of the compound. Heath, the leader, was a big burly bear shifter who liked to hug.

His hug was what put an end to all the fake smiling. As soon as the leader wrapped his arms around her, Kaede intervened. No, he didn’t just intervene, he shoved the man so hard, he slammed into the wall, creating a huge hole in the wall.

Everyone was stunned silent for split second. Then they all started laughing and cheering. Including the leader, who climbed up out the hole, clapping his hands and smiling at Kaede.

That was not what she’d expected. Sin had expected a fight to ensue. She expected creatures to start shifting and all that. She even jumped in front of Kaede to prevent him from being attacked.

What she hadn’t expected was for everyone present to laugh and start patting Kaede on his back telling him he was a great protector and lucky to have found such a brave mate. Everyone wanted to shake her hand.

Finally, Kaede had told them enough. He grabbed Sin’s hand and pulled her away from the throng of eager creatures who couldn’t wait to tell her how excited they were that Kaede found his mate and broke the curse.

At least, she was able to learn why he’d been unable to talk before. Apparently, he was cursed to never speak again until he met his mate. Further proof that she was his mate. Not that she needed further proof.

As they worked together to save Nachik, she’d felt the connection. As their fires blended together, she’d experienced a type of connection she’d never felt before. Different than the familial bond.

Different than the bond of friendship or sisterhood. When he told her that she was doing a good job, it felt better than all the times she’d been told she was cute or pretty... for a big girl.

Some people liked adding that when they complimented plus size divas. When he told her that she was strong and powerful, it made her feel strong and powerful. Not because she needed his validation.

But because he offered it up during a time of chaos when she really needed to hear it. Instead of yelling for her to do this or that and trying to take over like some men often did, he told her she was powerful.

He told her he believed in her. He told her she was in charge. That level of trust made her feel special. She’d never been into roses and candle-lit dinner. She’d always thought she was abnormal because she didn’t like receiving jewelry and flowery compliments.

Because of her dragon, she realized she wasn’t abnormal. Those men just hadn’t been the men for her. Her man would know what she needed when she needed it. She just had to be patient and wait for him and try not to piece him together or look for him in other men.

It’s crazy that it took a moment of chaos to make her realize that she and the mate the Fates gifted her with, were actually suited for one another. Like a phoenix emerges from fire, so can a relationship.

Forged in fire, that perfectly described her and her dragon. A dragon that was pulling her down the cobblestone sidewalk toward their cottage. A dragon that was ignoring passer-byers who tried to talk to them.

He didn’t release her hand until they were enclosed within the four walls of their cabin. Then he dropped her hand like she was the carrier of a plague. He stopped in the center of the living room, tilted his head back and rubbed his hands over his face.

Poor thing. He looked tired. The sun was starting to go down. Daylight on this plane only lasted a few hours. Then they were plunged back into darkness for the most part of what still was considered daytime.

Here, there was daylight or day time. Then daynight, or the dark hours of the day time. Then there was night, which was the regular night time hours. Weird, but she didn’t make the rules or make up the names.

In about an hour, daynight would be upon them. Most creatures didn’t go outside after dark unless they had to. She really needed to go see Winter. But she needed to wait until tomorrow.

Maybe even later then that since TD was probably sending someone else after her and now after her mate also. Sin wanted to come up with a strategy on how to protect themselves. But first, she wanted to discuss the elephant in the room.

Their relationship. He, however, looked like he wanted to sleep for a few days. Maybe the thing with Nachik had drained him. Not her. Fire always rejuvenated her. It always gave her extra energy. She felt like she was bouncing off the walls.

“I’m going to take a shower,” Kaede said and then lowered his head and removed his hands from his face. “You can take one after me. It’ll be dark soon, if you want to hang out with the others, I’ll escort you to Santiago’s when I dress. Or you can hang out here. Fuck,” He yelled, startling her. “We need food. Stay here.” He turned and left the cabin, shutting the door behind him.

What the hell was that?Sin stood there for a good three minutes, replaying what had just happened. That was not how this night was supposed to go. He didn’t sound interested at all in talking about the elephant in the room.

He didn’t sound interested in doing anything with her period. If she was his treasure, he sure wasn’t acting like it right now. What happened to the dragon from before? She wanted him back.

The one who growled in that sexy way she liked. The one who stared at her with those intense dark eyes. The one who licked his lips as he watched her, as if he was imagining himself licking her until she screamed his name.