Atomic Mage by Garrett Carter (short books for teens txt) 📕

into a shit-eating grin as Cade's hands shook as his willpower crumbled a little at the idea of impregnating Mina.

"Fuck" Cade said breathlessly as that was all he could get out at that moment.

He rallied his crumbling willpower once again, one last attempt to clarify the situation was all he had left in him.

"Is there anything else to it, I figured there would be a little courting first," Cade asked with a clear voice he was immensely proud of.

"You will have to earn the right, of course, a fight between me and you will happen once we reach your home. If you win I will be yours." Mina said matter of factly.

"And if I lose," he asked hesitantly, he was sure the woman couldn't kill him but she could make her attempts hurt.

"I doubt you will lose my Cade, but if you do I might let you try again until you do," Mina said with a smile.

"Well since we aren't going to break this boat in right now, no matter how much I want to, let's get back to that talk, please. Before I get blue balls." Grumbling out the last part he reluctantly removed his hands from Mina's hips with a small groan.

"That is fine my Cade, all things should be done in order. Though it seems a shame to let this wonderful weapon go to waste." Mina said with a small frown as she stood up from Cade's lap and sat down facing him.

Slowly getting control of his scrambled mind, he decided the rest of the story of the origin of his powers would have to wait for another day.

"So tell me about yourself," he asked as he sat up shakily, groaning as the sensitive flesh on his engorged member rubbed against his pants.

"What would you like to know" Mina replied with a prideful smile at the mess she had made of her soon to be mate.

"I have been in your memories but only those from a few days ago, I would like to know more about you as a person if we are going to be mates and work together to beat those slavers and get your family back," he said with a wave of his hand in her direction indicating she had the floor or deck since they were on a boat.

His relief was almost palatable as the throbbing in his pants thankfully subsided with the change in conversation.

"Let me begin by saying those who you saw in my memories were a potential family, I'm sure you noticed I am not like the rest of my kind," she said as she gestured to herself.

Cade nodded his understanding as he rolled his hand for her to continue.

"I am Kesh, we are rare and coveted for our magic," said Mina as she disappeared and reappeared a moment later.

"The group you saw was the latest in my search for a mate that was up to my standards. When we reach our maturity the females of my race leave home and choose our mates, not the other way around" Mina grinned at the statement, the choice more than made.

"The last one was promising but he did not like that I could and would defend myself, he took it as a point of pride that he could protect his territory and mates."

An eye roll followed the declaration as an indication of what she thought of that ideal.

Cade had to agree that she could hold her own in a fight, clearly evidenced by the two slavers and seven bandits she had beaten with arrows sticking out of her.

His thoughts reached his face as he grinned and nodded at the small but fierce woman.

Smiling at his silent praise and approval Mina continued her story.

"I was preparing to leave for the next village in my search, two weeks away to the south, when the one you saw was attacked and you know what happened from there," she said not overly concerned about the abduction of what amounted to strangers.

"How about you what was your life before you saved me?" Asked Mina as she repeated his hand gesture to show it was his turn to spill his life story.

Cade tensed for a moment, how much should he tell Mina about himself.

Deciding to go whole hog he began to tell her everything, from his arrival here 3 days ago to his lost love to his children he had left back on earth.

He told his life story to the panther woman leaving nothing out.

While he spoke he watched her face, at the mention of Tony's death he saw her face fall, grateful for her sympathy he continued.

At the end of the tide of words Cade felt wrung out emotionally but almost physically lighter than he had felt in days, it had felt good to get that all out.

Feeling cleansed Cade wiped tears from his eyes and just enjoyed the feeling of peace as he waited on the questions he knew were coming.

"First I would like to say I am sorry for the loss of your mate she sounded like a wonderful woman who gave you wonderful kits and from the way you spoke of her she was more than a good mate she was Dresk."

After her heartfelt speech Mina sat back with her clawed hands behind her as she waited on Cade to collect himself and continue.

"What is a Dresk?" He asked.

"A Dresk should be the first female of the family, she commands the tribe second only to her mate. She determines chores, food distribution, and living quarters. She also stands beside her mate in battle. A good mate