Chapter 17

Amber

“After seeing how much you care about Alex, I really want a mate for myself,” Edison says in a low tone and looks down at the table inside McDonald’s with sad eyes. Alex is in the bathroom, so the two of us are alone.

I stop sucking from my straw and set down my milkshake, grabbing a french fry instead. “Alex isn’t my mate.”

“You still care about him, and he can claim you, right?”

My cheeks turn warmer. “Right...” My heart is pounding incredibly fast, but talking about how vulnerable Alex makes me isn’t something I want to do. I change the subject back to Edison and his mate issue. “What is stopping you from trying to find your fated mate?”

He releases a humorless laugh. “This form,” he gestures at his human self. “I might look human, but it’s just an illusion. Sure, I would look like this at my most intimate, but my true form also needs love and attention. And I’m not sure who could ever love a giant drider.”

“Aww, Edison!” I reach out my hand, placing it over his larger one. H