“Tek and Hale already said that with your new house, it’ll be fine. You’re right on the border, so he can easily slip into the woods and go hunting or to play or whatever the hell he wants to do,” he said.
“I don’t want him to feel restricted.”
Venni pulled me against him. “He’s happy. Let him be happy. I’m sure if he doesn’t like his current situation, he’ll let you know. He hasn’t shied away from telling you what he wanted. And he made this choice himself.”
My wolf shifter was right in that aspect. When we started our journey back, Siitha refused to leave my side, even as we crossed back over the Mississippi River, and began seeing more signs of civilization. When it came time to part ways with the Blackfoot brothers, Siitha ignored them, opting to stay with me instead. There was no forcing him away. So now I had a full-time pet. Good thing he could hunt on his own, because I was a horrible pet owner. I excelled at forgetting to feed them. Considering I didn’t need food of my own, it wasn’t that surprising.
We laughed when Siitha chased a squirrel with two tails up a tree. Too bad for the squirrel, my kitty knew how to climb trees. He was up there in seconds, forcing the squirrel to hop over to a nearby tree.
“Yeah, there’s definitely enough space here for the guy.” Venni chuckled as he watched Siitha.
“Hey Venni?” I asked tentatively, feeling nervous for the first time.
“Hmm?”
I glanced away, heat pooling into my cheeks.
“What is it?” he asked, concern slipping into his voice.
I needed to not be a chicken shit. It was making him worried. I just needed to do it. I’d been gnawing on this question for a while now and after talking with Atasha, I knew I had options. They were always going the extra mile for me. They constantly checked in on me, making sure I was in good health, organizing our Saturday dinners and making sure someone was always there so I didn’t get stood up.
Did I believe I had forever with them? I didn’t know and I didn’t want to think too much about it, not when Elliot and Davies were human and were getting older every year while I’d stop aging probably before I hit thirty. That hurt and made time seem so limited.
I needed to start somewhere.
Taking in a sharp breath, I turned in the swinging chair to face Venni.
“What is it, Laila?” he asked.
“When you’re better, will you go on a date with me?” I forced myself to stare at him, to not look away. This would be the first time I asked one of them on a date. I was the one instigating it this time, not them. I never realized how frickin hard this was.
He blinked a few times as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Are you asking me out?”
I nodded.
A slow smile spread across his face, and he grabbed me. A small yelp escaped as he pulled me into his lap. “Of course. As soon as I’m better, I’ll let you take me out.” He kissed me. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He laughed, his expression turning carefree. I ended up laughing with him.
They didn’t know it yet, but it was my turn to chase them now, because while I didn’t believe in forever, I did believe in right now; and right now, I didn’t want to let them go. Later, I’d think about my options in keeping them.
Author’s Note
This was a beast of a book to write! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it. How many of you wanted to strangle Laila for being so silly? I have to admit, this story was stubborn, but I’m proud of how it turned out. To think after this, only one more book to go (Magical Collision) and then my first series will be over. This journey has been eye-opening, awe-inspiring, and I love all of you for making it this far with me. Now back to the keyboard I go.
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Coming Soon
Magical Collision
Biomystic Security Book Five
Jaliza A. Burwell
Read the conclusion to Dr. Laila’s Porter journey in Summer 2019!
From the Author
Biomystic Security
Magical Intentions
Magical Temptations
Magical Attraction
Magical Seclusion
Magical Redemption
Magical Collision (Coming Soon)
Gifted Anomalies
Fate Foretold
Surviving Souls (Coming Soon)
From the Embers
Emergence
Transformation (Coming Soon)
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