"But it has to mean something, right?"Ulric looked between them."The queen bitch has piercings everywhere, tattoos all over, and all her hair is braided with loads of those jewelry things.The other guy too.His entire head was full of braids, and even his ears were tattooed."
"Ezra has some stuff in his ears."Tala pointed at her ear."Daith and tragus or whatever it's called."
Rourke stared at her."What?"
She shrugged."I Googled.I think it's what they're called."
"He has more than two."Ulric drummed on the tabletop.
"Yeah, but the others were in the earlobe and a helix."
Rourke had no idea what it all meant, and if someone asked him what kind of piercings Ezra had, he wouldn't be able to name or describe them.
"Maybe it's a sign he's young?"He hadn't considered how old Ezra was.Old enough, right?Damn, all he had focused on was to get through the mating.But he'd have noticed if he was too young, right?
"Nah, I'd say he's over thirty, and we've seen many far younger with a lot more bling."
Rourke let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding.Thirty was good."Let's move on from the piercings.Wasn't it weird out there?"
"Witches are weird."
"Yeah, but not only was Ezra reluctant to face them, Shixyll didn't so much as look at him before leaving.He sought her gaze, but she ignored him."
"He looked ready to run and hide when we were to leave your room."Ulric's finger-tapping stopped.
"So he didn't want them to see the bite?Had they wanted him not to go through with it?"
"Did he...eh...struggle?"
Rourke flashed teeth again."He wouldn't be fucking mated if he'd struggled.It might be an arranged mating, but I wouldn't force anyone."Though, right now he felt like he did.He didn't think Ezra had been with a man before, and he hadn't exactly given him a mind-blowing first experience.
"I didn't mean you did.But he didn't look as if he came here voluntarily."Ulric looked resigned, and an ache spread in Rourke's chest.It was why he'd allowed the witches to pick who he'd mate.He might force himself to go through with it, but he didn't want inflict it on anyone else.
"You think they compelled him."
Ulric rubbed his neck and scrunched his face."I think he's an insult."
"What?"
"They're not okay with same-sex relationships, right?It was why we were certain you'd get a female mate."
Rourke nodded.They were secretive about their ways, but their homophobia came through loud and clear.
"And he's not...decorated, which must mean something."
Most likely.
Tala leaned forward."And by making you mate a male, they made sure there will be no offspring.You can't continue your bloodline."
"Right, so they gave me a male, which in their culture is frowned upon.His face isn't filled with piercings, and he won't give me children.But I will give him more power and longevity.So they came out as winners?"
"He didn't look as if he came out a winner, and according to the scriptures, you should gain power too."Ulric took up the finger-tapping."Speed and strength and stuff."
"I don't feel any different."Other than the warmth in his chest.Rourke leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.What the fuck did it all mean?"I did this so we could have peace."He'd bound himself to a witch for the rest of his life to ensure peace for his people.It didn't feel as if they'd entered peacetime.
* * * *
Ezra stared at the wall.He was back in the same room or apartment as before.There was a kitchen part, a couch with a coffee table, a TV on the wall in front of it, and then the bed.
