Katy blew out a sharp breath.“Well, that’s one way to make an already awkward situationhellamore awkward.”
Chapter 19
Non-Negotiable.
“In the pit of my stomach I knew I’d lost her.I’d barely even had a taste and already I was addicted to her.There was no life without her, only chaos.Only violence and death.The world would bleed.”~ Callon
“What the hell is wrong with me?”Callon asked his father after having told him everything.From stalking Lola, to watching her practically dive out of his car because of how he’d treated her.
He paced the length of the office only to turn and go back the other way.Every time he got close to the windows he had the urge to punch it just to see if he could crack it.The idea of the glass shattering was oddly satisfying.Maybe because that’s what happened to his soul.
“You’ve always seen a mate as a weakness, Callon,” Taras said.“That’s the furthest thing from the truth.”
Callon ran both his hands through his hair as he bared his teeth.The beast in him was beyond angry.He was pure rage.
“The most important part of youranimusisn’t that she is able to unleash your animal,” he stepped from around his desk and walked to Callon, taking his shoulders in his hands.They were the same height and stood eye-to-eye.“The most important part of youranimus, your mate, yourSazzi, is that she has strengths where you have weaknesses.She will make you a better male.Stronger, more compassionate, kinder, more loving and willing to see people for the gift that they are, and not just something to make our kingdom stronger.She will even you out.
“And you have strengths where she has weaknesses and you will get to be those things for her.She’s not a weakness, Son, she’s a precious gift.Just as you are a gift to her.She is yours to protect, provide for, encourage in her dreams and cheer her on in her triumphs.She is the one you will lie down with at night and share your heart with.Your mother is the one person on earth who gets all of me, and I am the one person who gets all of her.That is what Lola is to you.Are you really going to give that up?”
Callon’s body was a rope stretched tight enough it might snap at any moment.His chest hurt from how hard his heart pounded.It was as if the damn organ was trying to leave his body to get toher.“Would you give it up?”he asked.Then clarified.“For the good of the kingdom?”
His father didn’t even hesitate.“I wouldn’t give my mate up for anything or anyone.She is the one non-negotiable in my life.”
Callon took a deep breath as he closed his eyes and pictured Lola.Hismate.He thought about how she’d made him feel.She made him laugh, smile, and made him feel like he could breathe for the first time in his life.And he’d given her up.He’d practically handed her to Bane on a silver platter.His father’s words tripped a switch inside of him as he realized there was no way he would sacrifice what they could have for anything either.He’d steal his father’s words because they were probably the wisest he’d ever spoken.“Lola is my non-negotiable.”
“Then go get her.”
Chapter 20
Smirking Is Forbidden
“What’s next?Shifters are real.Book boyfriends are a thing.Soulmates exist.I feel at any moment there’s going to be one of those breaking news alerts where some sort of outbreak has happened and zombies are running the streets with people’s brains hanging out of their dead mouths.Okay, so now shifters don’t seem so bad.Even if one did crush my heart and soul.”~ Lola
Bane blinked as he stared at the three females across the room from him.Lola’s eyes were filled with empathy which called to the animal inside of him.To have that gentleness in his life once more… The brunette, Katy, stared at him in fascination.Also as if she was trying to figure out if he was actually there, or simply a figment of her imagination.Maddie, the blonde sitting on the floor, was at a complete loss.She kept tilting her head from one direction to the other as if that would somehow explain his existence.
“Bane?”Lola’s voice drew his attention.Since she wouldn’t understand him if he spoke in his animal language, the Damarian language, he’d have to shift back.He didn’t want to talk about his dead mate, didn’t want to bring forth the pain of the memories from her death.But, he liked Lola.She was a part of their world now, and whether Callon accepted it or not, she wasn’t going anywhere.So she might as well learn as much as she could.
With a simple thought, he shifted back into his human form, complete with clothes.Thank Visata, the magic in them allowed them to manifest coverings so they weren’t naked every time they shifted.
“I think I’m going to pass out,” Maddie murmured as she closed her eyes and took deep breaths.
“Okay, I want one.”Katy eyes were fixated on him.
“He’s not a pet,” Lola snapped.“You can’t just take him home.”
Katy glanced over at Lola, “Why do you get one?”
Lola’s face immediately went blank.“ In case you forgot, I don’t.”
Katy’s eyes softened.“My bad, Lo.You can totally punch me in the boob for that.”
Bane frowned.“What?”
“Nothing,” Lola said quickly.“Do you mind answering my question?”
He walked over to the chair at her desk and motioned to it.“May I?”
Lola nodded, “Of course.”
