Veiled Spirits - Page 65

“Why’d you come to Earth, screech owl?”

Levi blows out a breath that ruffles the top of my hair. “I came to check in on someone for my brother’s wife, but I had trouble locating her.”

I try to tamp down my jealousy that Levi was looking for another girl. Since he was on an errand for his sister-in-law, he’s probably related to whoever he’s searching for. No need to hunt the random lady down and kill her. Yet. “Oh. Did you find her?”

“No. I’m still searching.”

“Is that why you work for the university?”

“No.”

Getting Levi to answer questions is like pulling teeth. I huff in frustration. “Why, then?”

Levi sighs. “As soon as I came to this realm, I realized my mate was here. I found a position at HGU to get to know you while keeping an eye on you.”

My eyes widen in surprise. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you really have been receptive to it?”

I shake my head instead of saying anything because we both know the answer. If I knew he was my mate, I’d have dropped his class and avoided him at all costs. Even though he’s right, I still don’t like being lied to for an entire semester.

Before I can grouse about him lying to me, I realize something else. Levi was probably pretty disappointed to find out his mate was posing as a magicless loser. “I’m sure I wasn’t what you imagined your mate would be,” I say in a light tone to try to mask how much it hurts. He was probably majorly let down to get stuck with me, of all people.

“No, you weren’t.” My stomach drops, and my eyes burn. “You’re so much better than I ever could’ve imagined.”

My throat constricts, and I fight to stuff all my sappy emotions down. He can’t honestly mean that. Levi is probably just being sweet because that’s what mates do. They lie and say they’re happy to have you. Even when they’d be better off if they never met you.

“But I’m just a twenty-one-year-old bumbling her way through life.” I am so not suited to be the mate to a dude from another universe. Hell, I’m not even suited to being an alpha mate, if we’re being real here.

What the fuck was the universe thinking when it chose my mates?

It wasn’t, obviously. Or the universe was high. Or wasted. Or having a midlife crisis.

“We’re all bumbling our way through life. That never changes, even when you’re as old as I am. But you, little raven, are wise beyond your years. You’re also kind, empathetic, fiercely protective of your loved ones, have a great sense of humor, and a strength that’s far beyond anyone I’ve ever met.”

Levi hears my quiet sniffles at his sweet words and turns me around to face him. His forehead wrinkles in concern as he takes in my drawn expression. After cupping my face with both hands, Levi swipes his thumbs comfortingly over my cheeks.

I lean into his touch while keeping my eyes locked on his. He leans down slightly, and my gaze flicks to his lips. My lids start drifting closed as I lift up to press my lips to his. Before I reach him, a loud bang sounds from behind Levi, startling both of us.

CHAPTER 33

IZZY

“Sunshine! Just the woman I was looking for!” Archer grins at me over Levi’s shoulder as he saunters over to us.

Levi sighs deeply before pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “I’ll let you have your time with the pup, little raven. But we will be finishing this later.”

My eyes widen at the heat I see in his gaze. At his promise, arousal snakes up my spine and pools in my core. Before I have a chance to respond, Levi is striding back to the house.

When I shake myself out of my horny fog, I see Archer standing right in front of me. “Hey, sunny boy.”

He gives me a wide smile that lights up his eyes at the nickname. “Wanna come to the lake with me?”

I can’t help my grin at his question. “Abso-fucking-lutely!”

Archer chuckles at my enthusiasm. He grabs one of my hands and leads me into the forest. We don’t talk as we walk through the trees. I’m too busy admiring the pretty fall leaves and the cute wildlife to say anything.

After around ten minutes of walking in companionable silence, we reach the end of the wooded area. A sparkling blue lake stretches as far as I can see in all directions. I can just make out the bank on the other side. The lake is way bigger than I thought from my peek of it earlier.