The Tracker's Mate: Sunderverse (Mate Tracker Book 1) by Ingrid Seymour (book recommendations website TXT) 📕

With that out of the way, he left the room, his expensive leather shoes tapping firmly. I turned to Stephen, who heaved a sigh of relief and turned his full attention to me.

“I brought you flowers.” I walked over and set the bouquet by his bedside.

“You didn’t have to.”

He peered up at me, his blue eyes so much like his father’s, and yet so different. Genuine kindness filled them, and faint laugh lines sprang from their corners. The resemblance also went beyond the eyes. He had the same red hair and broad shoulders, except at the moment, he was thin and pale.

I scanned him over with concern. A yellowish bruise stained his left cheek, spreading to his eye, which was slightly swollen. Bandages covered his left hand, and I had to glance away as I remembered his severed finger.

Noticing my reaction, he held his hand up. “Won’t be able to properly sport a wedding band. They took the ring finger,” he said with a deprecating laugh.

“I’m so sorry, Stephen.”

“Oh, don’t be. It could’ve been worse. Poor Blake didn’t fare so well.” He lowered his head, sadness descending on him. He had grown up with that bodyguard. They’d been the best of friends. Stephen glanced toward the end table on the other side of the bed. Something familiar sat on top of it, which reminded me I had more than just the flowers to give him.

I reached inside my jeans pocket and pulled out the silver cufflink I’d used to track him, the one Ulfen had given me at his club. Stretching my hand, palm up, I offered it to him. “Here.”

He snatched it from my hand in surprise. “Where did you get this?”

“You’re father gave it to me to help me track you.”

His frown deepened as he grabbed the other cufflink from the end table and laid it on his hand next to the other one, two crescent moons.

“Blake gave me these as a birthday present last year,” Stephen said in a whisper.

A lump formed in my throat.

He rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing as he seemed to think hard on something. “H-how did my father get it?” he asked no one in particular. “I thought... I remember...” He trailed off.

I leaned forward. “What?”

Stephen shook his head and chuckled in a self-deprecating manner. “Nothing. I thought I had both cufflinks with me in the van, but my memory has been foggy on all kinds of things. They hit me over the head a few times.”

My breath hitched as I caught up with his train of thought. If he’d had both cufflinks with him in the van, it would mean that Ulfen got his from the kidnappers. Suddenly, a million questions sent my mind reeling. Was it possible? Could Ulfen have kidnapped his own son to incite a war? Had he sent those men to get me? And if so, why? So I couldn’t spoil his plans? I glanced down at Stephen’s bandaged hand. Was Ulfen responsible for the mutilated finger?

“Hey,” Stephen pulled me back into the moment. He wore a reassuring smile. “Chill, I know what you’re thinking, but he would never do anything like that.”

I gave him a weak smile. I thought Ulfen was capable of many things, but I didn’t know him well enough to suppose he would hurt his son this way.

Stephen huffed. “He cares too much about his fucking legacy to endanger his only heir.” He pronounced the last word with mockery.

I nodded. That was true enough. “Then who did it?” I asked. “Any clues on who’s responsible?”

He shook his head. “No. The van was reported stolen a month ago, and so far they’ve found no evidence of wrongdoing against Bernadetta and her people. She insists she had nothing to do with it.”

Damn, this was so confusing. I had seen Bernadetta’s driver there, and here I was wondering if Ulfen had done it. And what about the Fae female and the Prince? God, I needed to tell someone what I knew. I’d been so busy worrying about my naked episode that I didn’t realize I might be the only one holding information that would lead to the culprits. I had to talk to Tom. He would know exactly what to do.

“Everything all right?” Stephen asked, reaching for my hand with his good one.

His warm touch took me by surprise as his large hand engulfed mine.

“Yes, of course.” There was no use burdening Stephen with what I knew—not unless it led to his kidnappers.

“Jake told me what you did. Thank you, Toni.”

“You don’t have to thank me.” Heat climbed up my neck as I remembered how selfish I’d been in the beginning. “The one you should thank is Jake.”

Stephen nodded thoughtfully. “I know that. He stayed with me until my family got here last night. He’s a great friend.”

“He told me how you met in New Orleans.”

“Imagine our surprise when we figured out you were a... mutual acquaintance.”

“Acquaintance” was one way of putting it, but I was glad he didn’t say “girlfriend,” instead.

“I must admit I was jealous,” Stephen said, his blue eyes burning into mine with the same intensity they always had.

I licked my lips, feeling self-conscious. If I was reading this correctly, he still felt attracted to me, and honestly, so did I. He was handsome and thoughtful, what was there not to like?

“I’m getting out tomorrow,” he said, his fingers squeezing mine. “I would like to thank you properly. Let me take you out to lunch. You pick the place.”

Was he asking me out on a date? It felt like he was.

“Um... your father...”

“Never mind my father. He should have never gotten his nose between us, and I shouldn’t have let him. I always regretted it. I’ve changed a lot during this past year, Toni, and I’ve learned not to let him control me. Please, go out with me. I would love to catch up.”

“But shouldn’t you rest?”

He shook his head adamantly. “That’s the last thing I