He was my fated mate. I just knew it. The realization crashed over me like a powerful, inescapable wave. The puzzle pieces fit perfectly into place. Now that he was in my life again, I couldn't live without him. I needed him more than air.
Why did I have to go and fall in love with a human omega? If only Nikolas was a qilin shifter, none of this would be a problem. Then again, he wouldn't be the same person. I loved his human qualities.
A knock at the door startled me. I got up, dusted myself off as if getting the last molecule of human smell off me, then opened it. My mother grinned and threw herself at me in a hug.
"Jian, I just couldn't wait to see you today! Are you excited for your date tonight?"
My stomach clenched uncomfortably. I hated lying to her.
"As excited as I can be," I replied.
She didn't seem to notice my lack of enthusiasm. She was picking through my house now, casually tidying up as she walked through it. "You should bring him over after dinner for tea. Continue the conversation, show him around your lovely home. If he hasn't fallen for you by that point, he certainly will when you exude your charms!"
I tried not to grimace. Part of me wanted to bring up Nikolas and just rip off the bandage in one fell swoop, but I was afraid of her reaction.
She sniffed. "Did you light a new type of candle? There's an odd scent in the air."
Dammit. I'd worked so hard to get rid of the lingering human scent. Were her senses that sharp?
"Yes, I tried out a new kind," I said, trying to distract her.
She nodded. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Don't forget to bring your date a small gift!"
I couldn't even fault her for hovering so hard. She'd never seen me date anybody in my life, so for her, this was my first time.
If only she knew the fates had already shown me the truth.
* * *
As much asI was dreading it, I wasn't so rude and disrespectful as to stand up my date. Even though I had no intention of actually dating the man, I would at least show up.
I arrived on time to the small local restaurant. He was already waiting for me on the wooden deck patio. It glowed bright with candlelight. He was a good-looking omega with short black hair around my age. All I could think about while looking at him was how beautiful Nikolas was, and how much I wished he was here instead.
"Hi there," the man said with a slight bow. "I'm Bo. It's nice to meet you."
"Hello, Bo. I'm Jian."
"I know." Bo smiled. "My parents have told me all about you."
I offered a polite smile in return. We assumed our seats and a server came to fill our cups and hand out menus. I took a nervous sip of tea. Bo watched me patiently. I realized he was waiting for me to lead the conversation. I had never been good at small talk, especially not with total strangers. It was the opposite of how I felt with Nikolas—I could talk with him for hours and not even realize time had passed.
"So," I began, trying not to betray how awkward I felt. "You're from the qilin village?"
"Oh, yes. Born and raised here my whole life."
I nodded. "Then you've never been to the human city?"
Bo's eyes widened. "No, never. The mere idea of it frightens me." He chuckled. "Have you?"
"Yes, actually. I... I was born in the city. I lived there until I was a teenager."
"Wow," Bo said. He seemed more curious than disgusted. "That's not the case with many qilin shifters, is it?"
I took another sip of tea. "No, I don't think so. My parents had good jobs in the city, so they tentatively decided to raise me there, even though they didn't much care for it. But then, as I grew up, I never shifted into my qilin form. They were starting to get worried I never would."
Bo looked concerned. "But you can now?"
"Yes. But I didn't shift until I was sixteen." I glanced down into my drink, watching my reflection ripple in the liquid surface. "I don't know if it was the pollution, or just being around humans for so long, but I took much longer to have my first shift than most qilin do."
