“I’m…I’m not sure.” It has to be my imagination. Fated mates and soul lights don’t exist. They can’t.
He smiles, but there’s a sadness to it. “That is all right. Not everykeeshlasees it at first. It will take time, I think.”
“Katem.” My mind goes blank. I don’t know what to say. What to do.
“Do not say anything just yet,” he rushes out the words. “Please.”
I swallow, because I hate that I’ve made him beg. “Okay.”
His eyes close briefly, and his sigh of relief is heavy. “Thank you.”
I try to smile, but it’s painfully forced. “What happens next?”
For the first time since Katem touched my hand and those marks showed up, he appears uncertain. “I know what I wish to happen, but our mating is not only about me. I will do whatever makes you happy. That is all I care about.”
An ache begins in my chest, because what I wish for most in this world, Katem can’t give me. Of course, this only makes the tears well. Why is life so fucking unfair?
“Piper, what is wrong?” He cradles my cheeks gently and it takes everything I have not to lean into his touch. Into his strength.
I can’t though. My problems aren’t his burden to bear.
“Sorry, it’s okay. I’m fine.” I step back, trying to put some much needed distance between us.
“Is this the same “fine” females use when they do not want to talk about something?”
I burst out a wet laugh and wipe my face. “Did one of Rojtar or Evren’s mates teach you that?”
Katem nods. “Abby. She is Rojtar’s mate. Prickly like the leaves of the lulebore bush, but they care greatly for each other. She is a wonderful mate to him as well as nene to Carter.”
“Ne—ne?”
“The female who birthed him.”
My confusion clears. “His mother.” Carter is a human name, but I don’t want to be rude and ask. “No, I really am fine.”
Or as fine as I will ever be.
“I will take this as truth, but know that you now have a mate who will be here whenever you arenotfine and need someone to speak with or to merely hold you and lend you my strength.”
Damn it. Tears threaten to fall again. “Thank you, Katem.” His words are a reminder of why I was walking through the forest inthe first place. “Actually, there was something I wanted to talk to you about.”
He straightens and a hint of excitement and anticipation surrounds him. “I am happy to speak with you about anything.”
Now that the opportunity is here, I’m hesitant. Especially after this whole fated mate thing, which I’m still trying to digest and process.
“I have learned it is easiest to just speak your mind, whatever that might be,” he says.
“You’re right.” I bite at my bottom lip and Katem’s gaze drops to it.
A familiar throbbing hits my center and the reminder of how I touched myself last night while thinking of him makes my cheeks hot. I clear my throat.
“Um, I made sort of a list of things I want to do while I’m on Tavikh, and I was hoping you might be able to help me check them off.”
Katem cants his head. “What sort of things?”
“Some are silly and may not even be possible.” I shrug.
“Nothing you might wish to accomplish is silly, and almost nothing is impossible.”
