“I thought giving you a reason to send them away before you became too attached was the answer.” His eyes met mine, and I saw the fear beneath the anger. “But I was too late.”
My marks pulsed with warmth beneath my shirt. I didn’t need to confirm what he already knew.
“How long have you known?” I asked quietly.
“About your marks?” Vax let out a harsh laugh. “Since the first day. I’ve known you for twenty sun-cycles, Rezor. I know you as well as my own self, and I caught a glimpse of those marks glowing when you held her by the pod. And other times since.” He ran a hand through his hair. “And then, there’s your eyes whenever you look at her.”
“Then you know I can’t simply send her away.”
“I know youthinkyou can’t.” He moved closer, his voice dropping. “But you’re the lord of this clan. You have responsibilities that go beyond personal desire. You have to think about what’s best for everyone, not just yourself.”
“And you think exiling my mate is what’s best?”
“I think taking an alien mate will destroy you.” The words came out harsh. “The people won’t accept it. They’re already afraid of the sky people. If they find out their lord is bonded to one of them, they’ll lose faith in your leadership. They’ll question every decision you make. Some might even challenge your right to rule.”
“You have so little faith in them?”
“I have realistic expectations.” Vax’s expression was grim. “This clan survives because we’re united and let no one in. Because we trust our leader to put the community first. If you choose her, they’ll see it as you choosing an outsider over them.”
“They’ll see it as their lord finding his mate.” I kept my voice steady despite the emotions churning through me. Disappointment. Hurt. Anger. And, yes, a little worry that he could be right, but I didn’t think so. “Something that happens to every lord eventually. It’s not unprecedented.”
“Analienmate is unprecedented.”
“So we set a new precedent.” I moved to stand directly in front of him. “You should give our people more credit, Vax. They’re stronger and more adaptable than you think.”
“Are they?” He gestured toward the window, toward the valley beyond. “Or are you just hoping they are because you don’t want to give her up?”
The accusation stung because part of it was true. I didn’t want to give Cleo up. The thought of sending her away made something in my chest howl in protest. But that wasn’t the only reason I was defending her presence.
“She’s the only one who understands the technologythat’s kept this village operational for generations,” I said. “The only one who can repair systems our own engineers can’t fix. If she leaves before teaching them everything she knows, we’re vulnerable in ways we’ve never been before.”
“So you’re keeping her for her skills.” Vax’s tone made it clear he didn’t believe that for a second.
“I’m keeping her because she’s useful, because she’s proven herself trustworthy, and because my marks recognize her as my mate.” I held his gaze. “All three of those things can be true simultaneously.”
“And when the people find out? When they see those marks glowing for an alien female?”
“Then they’ll accept it or they won’t,” I said. “Cleo has saved our water supply and she’s on the brink of repairing the power to our grow facility. She’s proven that not all outsiders are threats.”
“You’re gambling everything on that assumption.”
“I’m trusting our people to see what I see.” I paused. “What you apparently refuse to see.”
Vax was quiet for a long moment. When he spoke again, his voice was weary. “I did this because I was afraid of losing you. Of watching you make a choice that would destroy everything our ancestors built here.”
“And instead, you nearly destroyed it yourself.” I let the disappointment show in my voice. “You betrayed my trust. You endangered our people. You acted alone, without counsel, because you were convinced you knew better than everyone else what was best for this valley.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need protection.”
“Fine.” His shoulders slumped. “Either you keep her and risk the people’s trust, or you send her away and deny what your marks are telling you. There’s no path that doesn’t end in pain.”
“Then I choose the pain that comes from following my marks rather than denying them.” I held his gaze. “If I’ve found my true mate, I won’t give her up because of fear.”
“Even if it costs you everything?”
“Even then.” I moved back toward the window, looking out at the valley. “But I don’t think it will. I think our people are stronger than you give them credit for. I think they’ll see that Cleo is an asset, not a threat. And I think they’ll understand that their lord finding his mate is a blessing, not a curse.”
