Jolly’s thoughtful purr filters across the lines. “Sorry, bud. The universe disagrees with you.”
“Well, the universe is fucking wrong,” I say, unzipping my jeans to give my nuts some room.
“So, when did this happen?”
“This morning,” I grouse.
“Wait—this morning? How are you even talking to me right now? When I met Kate, we didn’t leave her house for seventy-two hours because we legitimately couldn’t stay away from one another. I had to work from home the first month because fucking her on my desk at the office would’ve been frowned upon.”
“Goddammit.” I growl, becoming more uncomfortable by the second. “We fucked all morning and then took a nap. That made it bearable enough for me to get away so I could see if you’d help me out.”
“Dude, I don’t have anything for you. I’ve never run across anyone who didn’t want to be fated to their mate. I mean, sure, there are some folks who sometimes want to murder their mate, but they still love them.”
“This doesn’t make any damned sense. How the hell am I supposed to fall in love with a stranger?”
“Like anyone else. You spend time with him, growing your bond.”
“So, you’re telling me there’s no fucking way for me to get out of this?”
“Thorin, buddy, I’ll look into it, but… damn. I hate to say it, but I think you’re stuck.”
Just like we were this morning.
Oh, shut up, you horny bastard.
My thoughts, which have begun to spiral, are interrupted by a loud banging on the door.
“What’s that?” Jolly asks.
“Thorin, let me in!”
“That would be the love of my life,” I retort, rolling my eyes.
I rub my chest and realize that the feeling from before wasPoe’sannoyance, which has grown in to anger.
“Man,” Jolly says as I gingerly walk toward the door, “if you’ve got a nice, attractive guy, I think you’re gonna need to get over your whole corvid thing.”
I curse under my breath. “You’ve been no help at all. I’ll call you later.”
Jolly wishes me good luck as I open the door. Fuck. I’m going to need it.
“How do you know where I live?”
Poe, wearing baggy pajama bottoms and an enormous shirt, makes a low croaking sound in the back of his throat as he pushes his way inside. “Apparently,being mated gives you some sort of internal GPS. Or maybe it’s a raven thing, I don’t know.”
He rubs his chest, taking in my living room, no doubt trying to figure out how much the place is worth. And if he can replace the overhead fixture with a disco light.
“Are you fucking taking inventory?” I spit out, the words nasty. “Can’t wait to make this place yours, can you?”
Poe rolls his eyes. “That isnotwhat I’m doing.” Rounding up on me, he points both hands at his crotch. “I don't give a damn about your boring beige aesthetic because I’m in agony, and it’syour fault. You’re not supposed to leave your fated mate during the first several days. You’ve been gonetwohours.”
“You can’t even go two hours without me?” I ask, pacing my living room again.
“Don’t do that. Don’t act like this is all about me.” Poe gestures to the unzipped situation in my pants. “You can’t go without me, either. There’s no way you’re not suffering right now.”
“Yes, of course I’m suffering. But I was trying to figure out a way to get us out of this. A friend of mine, Jolly, is an expert on fated mates.”
Poe deflates as my words land. His shoulders droop, as does his entire body. “You were trying to dissolve our bond?” he asks, unable to hide the sadness from our connection.
