A Forever Series Box Set: A Paranormal Reverse Harem-(Book 1-5)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

A s quick as a cat, Devon catches him. I am at his side in the next second. He carries Cole to the sofa, and he places him down.

“Get him some water, he’ll come to in a minute,” I say, absently stroking his forehead.

Devon returns as Cole’s eyes flutter open. Foggy blue-gray eyes land on my worried ones. I smile in reassurance asking, “You okay?”

He nods and sits up as Devon hands him the bottle of water. “Thanks,” he says, slightly embarrassed.

“No worries, you okay?” Devon asks.

Again, Cole nods and says, “I’m fine. A bit overwhelmed, I guess.” He clears his throat.

“That’s to be expected. This is a lot to take in, and you haven’t eaten tonight. Devon, go get him something to eat,” I order, thankful that he does as he’s told for once.

I put my hand on Cole’s leg and he flinches. Hurt, I quickly remove it and put it in my lap. He looks at me apologetically. “Sorry,” he mumbles and takes my hand in his. I relax a tiny bit.

Alone for the time being, I look at him intently, trying to gauge his reaction to recent revelations.

He feels my eyes on him and turns to me, meeting my gaze.

“Hey.” He smiles softly

“Hey.” I smile back. “Quite a day, huh?”

“You could say that. You ever have anyone pass out on you before?” he asks wryly.

I frown and say, “No, but then you are the first person I have told that I’m a millennium old.” I shrug; not even Scott knows my true age, having been vague in that explanation.

Cole’s eyes widen in surprise.

I elaborate. “The last person to know my true age was in 1745. I was only seven hundred and thirty-three then. Doesn’t sound so bad, I guess.” I shrug.

“How did they take it?” he asks, genuinely interested.

“He did not take it well at first,” I say, thinking of Fraser’s thunderous expression as he caught me snacking on the innkeeper. I push his image from my mind and smile sadly. “He came around though, after I killed a Sassenach soldier who tried to slit his throat.”

Cole’s eyes are wide and he’s listening intently. “Wow. That’s…you killed someone?” he finishes, sounding concerned.

Devon returns before I can answer, with a tray of sandwiches and snacks. “Esther insisted on feeding the five thousand, as usual,” he says, dumping the tray down and flopping onto the opposite couch.

“Well? How far did you get?” he asks.

“I haven’t, yet,” I say through gritted teeth.

My phone buzzes at that point, and I check the ID; it’s CK. I gulp. I know if I ignore it, he will most definitely turn up in person. “I have to take thi

s. I’ll be one minute and then I’ll tell you my story,” I say reluctantly. Letting go of Cole, I answer it. “Hello, my love,” I say casually, as I wander out to the terrace.

“Hello, my beautiful,” he says smoothly and my heart sings. “Do I need to be worried?” he asks.

“Not at all,” I say firmly. “I have told him, and he is accepting, but he is cautious. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Oh, Aefre,” he sighs. “What have you done? Did you not take in anything I said earlier?”

I don’t say anything, as what is there to say? I don’t believe in the dumb prophecy and I sure as shit don’t think it has anything to do with me and Cole.

After a huge pause, he says stiffly, “I suppose that’s good that he understands. I’ll let the cleaning crew know they can stand down.”