“Good grief, Man.Do we have to pull every tiny piece of information from you with pliers and fingernail removal?”Katy asked dryly.
Lola couldn’t disagree with her friend.It felt like they were asking things thatobviouslyneeded to be explained."What does it mean?"Lola asked.
"The best way to translate it in English isBeloved One," Roan said."It is somethingonlya mate calls his female.To call someone else’s mate that is essentially a challenge and a death wish."
"Again, romantic and disturbing," Katy said.
"You said romantic and tragic earlier," Maddie pointed out.
Katy hummed a thoughtful sound."Yes, but killing a guy for calling your chick an endearment is not tragic.It is disturbing in a, ‘I will unalive you,’ sexy sort of way."
"Are you sure you haven't been reading my books?"Lola asked with an almost smile.Almost, because her mind jumped back to Roan's words."That's a lot to take in," she told him."You're telling me I'm not justpossiblya mate to one of your kind, but that Iam, and I am essentially the reason he will flourish or whither away."
"See," Katy sighed."Romantic, tragicanddisturbing.The stakes just keep going up."
"Lo, you don't have to make a decision based on someone else's future," Maddie said."You have to protect yourself, too."
Roan stood up and started walking towards the window.
"Where are you going?"Lola practically yelled.He couldn't leave, not after dropping that bomb in her lap.He was a connection to Callon.And not one like Bane.She liked Bane, but he didn't care for Callon.Roan made her feel closer to Callon because he obviously cared for the Prince of the Kingdom of Claws.
"I'm not going anywhere yet," he answered gently."You need to understand what will happen to you if you walk away from Callon.And believe me," he held up a hand, "I want to kick his ass for what he did to you.I don't think you should in any way make this easy on him."
"But?"Lola asked.
"You might be able to have the magic removed from you and find a human male to move on with, but," he shook his head.Sadness seemed to wash over him as his body deflated, "you will never be whole either.No one, human or beastwalker, will complete you the way Callon will."
"How are you so sure it's her?"Katy asked.
Roan glanced at her."Besides the fact they were drawn to each other like the tide is pulled to the shore by the moon?"
"Yeah," she nodded, "Besides that."
"Her tattoo," his head motioned to her chest."It is identical to his.That is a sign Visata has given for a pair to know.Never has one of our ink masters done tattoos that match.Every single one is unique.Neverrepeated."
Lola crossed her arms in front of her feeling vulnerable as they talked about something too intimate for casual conversation."Kian told me he'd never repeated a tattoo before and that mine matchedonehe'd done," she said as she looked at Maddie and Katy."But he didn't tell me whose it matched.It was Callon who told me."She looked back at Roan.“He seemed as shocked as Kian, but he didn’t know what it meant.Or why it happened.”
"That's," Katy began.
"If you say romantic, tragic or disturbing, I will duct tape your mouth," Maddie snipped.
"I was going to say pre-possessing," Katy huffed."I realized I haven't had a Word of the Day.There's been too much erudition being thrown at me.It's been enlightening, but also a tad inundating."
"Four in a row," Maddie's brow rose."Being an overachiever?"
"I figure I'll need to step into Lola's spot of being the smart one since she's got to make the massive decision on whether or not she wants to marry the Lion King."
Lola's breathing picked up again as the gravity of the situation hit heragain.
"Nope," Maddie clapped her hands at her."You only get one panic attack a day.Choose more carefully next time."
"Are you three always like this?"Bane asked.
Lola laughed and was thankful for the second distraction.
"Cool as hell?"Katy asked."Yes.You're welcome."
Bane's brow furrowed."For what?"
