Page 51 of Hellhounds Never Lie

"Back up, big guy," I said.

"I didn't know what it meant right away, because my parents were both hellhounds. Van explained it to me. When you fainted—"

"I did not faint." I scowled.

Dillon's lips twitched. "When you swooned—"

"Oh, fuck off."

"Such language," Dillon teased. "And in front of your mother too."

My mother snorted. Obviously, I hadn't been out of it long enough for Dillon to get to know Nerine Avery too well or he would know she had a potty mouth to rival a drunk undergrad at a frat party. She’d been on her best behavior when they’d talked on the phone. I doubt that would have lasted too long once she found out I was in the hospital again.

"Seriously though, you touched my hellhound form and weren't burned. Apparently mates can do that." Dillon tightened his hold on my hand. "Damn near gave me a heart attack."

"Mates." I smiled. "I like the sound of that."

Dillon grinned back at me. "Thank Magic for that. I’m not sure what we'd do if you didn't."

"You’re stuck with me."

"Ditto," Dillon said.

“But… don’t hellhounds live really, really long lives?” My chest tightened at the thought of him outliving me. If I really was his fated mate, he wouldn’t have another chance at bonding with someone after I was gone. He’d live a long, lonely life. I didn’t want that for him.

“We’ll figure it out,” Dillon said with another squeeze of his hand. And I wondered what he meant by that.

"Makes sense that my little fire bug would end up with a hellhound." My mother grinned. “Ashton never could resist fire.”

The last thing I needed Dillon to hear were stories about my mishaps with fire. She was never going to let me forget about the trouble I had controlling my magic when I hit puberty. It didn’t matter that none of what I’d done had been intentional—well, that wasn’t entirely true. I’d known what I was doing when I set Mr. Ewing’s car on fire.

Still, on Day one of our mating, Dillon didn't need to know the local human police had investigated me as a serial arsonist. Luckily another fire mage from my mother's coven had stepped in to teach me how to control my magic before things had gotten completely out of hand.

Before my mother could start her favorite stories about me, Birch came in with half a dozen people in his wake. I definitely owed him one for that. One person rushed forward to check my drugs, probably concerned with the dopey smile I had on my face as I stared at Dillon. I doubted I needed to be looked at by so many doctors and nurses, but I knew Birch’s way of coping was to demand everyone in the damn hospital come and see to me.

Doctor Roberts was at the head of the group. As a sphinx shifter, he was well aware of the Eternal Magic and how it helped to heal. It was strange to see him look as unkempt as usual in this setting, but I relaxed at the sight of him. His light brown hair was longer now than the last time I’d seen him, curling around his head in a big, tangled mess. And the whiskers on his jaw were somewhere between scruff and a beard, just like always.

“Hello, Ash,” the doctor said with a smile as he approached. “How are you feeling? You look a lot better than the last time I saw you.”

“Good,” I said, and I meant it as I glanced at Dillon again. He’d let go of my hand and sat back to give the medical staff room to work. I was just glad they hadn’t asked him or my family to leave, although I doubted they would have left even if they were asked to.

After they checked me over, the doctor smiled. “I’m sure you already know this, but your connection to your magic has also improved since your last physical.”

My eyes locked on the doctor’s. “Do you know why?”

“I suspect it is because you met your mate. The trauma your body suffered previously interrupted your connection to your magic. The magic was still there, you just weren’t able to access it. When you met your mate, your magic was drawn to his and found new ways to surface. Your magic isn’t fully recovered yet, but with time I expect you will gain full use of it again.”

I reached for Dillon and grabbed his hand. It was lucky I was seated because I think my legs would have given out. I knew something had changed, obviously, because I’d recently used my magic for the first time in years, but having the doctor confirm what I’d suspected made relief bloom in my chest. It was real.

“Oh, baby, that’s wonderful,” my mom squealed.

And, as much as I hated waking up in a hospital again, I suddenly knew everything was going to be okay. Better than okay, even.

ChapterTwenty

ASH

I tilted my phone so Dillon, who was currently in his hellhound form and dripping in preternatural flames, wouldn’t be in the picture as I answered Jeremy’s video call. My mom and brother had finally left the apartment to pick up some groceries. It was the first time they’d left my side since I’d been released from the hospital, and I’d seized the opportunity to cuddle with my hellhound on the couch.