Free Claiming Her Mate by Jess Buffett Page A

your familiar.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Yes. She probably felt the moment you were attacked.”
    Evan snorted. “All the way from here?”
    “It doesn’t matter where you are, she will always sense you.” Summer shook her head, leading him into the lounge room. “I don’t think you fully comprehend who and what she is to you.”
    He followed her, thinking about that. Hell, he barely understood who he was anymore, let alone his damn cat.
    Sitting down on the lounge, he let out a sigh. “No, I guess I don’t.”
    “I know it’s frustrating, but I’m here if you want to talk,” Summer reassured him, taking a spot next to him. “I know a bit about witches, or at least certain types. And I think after that little display back at the meeting, it’s safe to say you’re an Electrical type.”
    He chuckled mirthlessly. “Yeah. That was weird as fuck. How the hell did I do that?”
    “It’s your DNA. No other reasonable explanation.”
    He cast her a sideways glance. “Honey, I love you, but since when did any of this suddenly become reasonable. Hmmm?”
    Summer laughed. “True.” He watched as she kicked off her shoes and stretched her long legs out, crossing them at the ankle on top of the coffee table. “What I meant was when a pair of different species mate, their DNA is altered, allowing them to be able to survive in one another’s world. There is a significant change in humans. It’s possible that mating with me has triggered your witch DNA.”
    Evan’s mind spun with the implications of what this meant. “I knew I would grow stronger, heal quicker, but to know I’ll have actual power is mind blowing...and a little intimidating.”
    It killed him to admit that weakness, even to his mate, but it was true.
    “Perhaps we could speak to someone,” Summer offered.
    His brows furrowed in confusion. “Like who?”
    “Well, we have our Elders. There is also our Seer. Maybe they have some of the answers you are looking for.”
    “Seer? Like the one who foretold that prophesy?”
    Damn . When he thought things couldn’t get any weirder…
    “Yes, I know, it’s a bit weird,” she chuckled as if hearing his thoughts.
    Her face lit up with her smile, and Evan drew in a breath. Summer’s beauty had always blown him away, but now he felt free to actually look and enjoy, she captivated him. The hidden tiger underneath shone through in her glimmering honey-gold eyes, the way they tracked him made Evan feel like the prey being hunted. It was a heady feeling.
    He leaned forward, wanting to kiss her, to sip at her lips until they were both drunk with pleasure, however, a knocking at his front door prevented such a move.
    “Damn people, and their timing,” he grumbled as he stood, making his way over to the front door. Opening it, Evan was wholly unprepared to be confronted by an aging woman with gray, almost white hair pulled back into a severe bun. She only stood around five foot six; however, she had the same predatory gleam in her eyes as Summer and the rest of her family. Whoever she was, she was a tiger. “Can I help you?”
    “Actually, I believe it is I that can help you, young man,” the woman stated matter-of-factly. Holding out a wrinkled hand, she grinned. “My name is Ruth Eversteen. I’m the New Hope Valley Pride’s Seer, and I know you have plenty of questions, Evan. Perhaps if you would be so kind as to allow an old woman into your home, I would be able to answer some of them for you and your new mate.”
    Evan, feeling properly chastised for making her stand out in the cold, stumbled back and held the door open for Ruth to come in. The older woman made it to the edge of the lounge room before Summer leaped up from where she had been sitting and embraced Ruth.
    “Ruth!” Summer exclaimed. “What are you doing here? Wait, never mind, of course you're here.”
    He watched numbly as Summer ushered Ruth over to take a seat.
    “Yes dear, you shouldn’t be surprised,” Ruth chuckled. “Your