The hopefulness in her voice and eyes made my chest ache like I was doing something wrong by having a mate bond. I didn’t want it. I was not going to go and find whatever woman the heavens thought was meant for me. She wasn’t. She couldn’t be.
“Maybe. But what if he wasn’t wrong?” I swallowed hard. “I don’t want to let you go,” I confessed. “And your curse…”
“I know.” She sighed heavily. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it.”
I looked at her. “You just need to not fall in love with me, and then you won’t lose me.” Her face fell for a moment. Gods, I wanted her to say it was too late, that she did love me. I was an old god. I’d come back to life if the heavens struck me down.
I stilled. What of the heavens tookherfrom me?
“Abram…” Her voice shook slightly as she stared at me. “Never mind.”
I pulled her to me and kissed her.
“My crowning as queen is tonight. You’ll be there, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything. It’s the most important day of your witch life.” I smiled.
“I have to go to the coven to get ready in a few minutes.” She kissed me. “I’m excited for them to meet you, even if you are my fake husband. I want to tell everyone around me that you’re mine.”
My heart pounded at her words.
“I want to tell everyone you’re my wife too.” I smiled as I kissed her.
Her honey-colored eyes watched me with some emotion I couldn't decipher.
“Okay, I should go. There is a lot to get ready.” She gave me a hard, lingering kiss.
When she pulled back, she stared at me like she already missed me. She traced over my face softly then smiled before disappearing.
I sat in the empty house for a few minutes before I decided to get dressed. I wanted to tell Della that I was married to Elowyn, and I did not want my mate. She would understand, and maybe she would know what to do. I hurried and dressed before using my magic to go to Della’s home.
I knocked on the door. Haden answered a moment later.
“You alright?” he asked.
“Yeah, is my sister here?”
“Yeah, she’s in the living room with Ezra.”
Oh perfect. I needed to talk to him about what that nutjob Thomas said. I hurried into the living room and stopped dead in my tracks.
She looked up at me with bright blue eyes and hair as dark as the night sky. She smiled softly, her lips curving like fate itself was mocking me.
“Oh, this is my best friend, Abram.” Ezra smiled. “Abram, this is Loma. She’s trying to find some artifacts, and I thought Della might know how to help her.”
My gaze fell to the bond between us.
Mate.
No. No. No. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to be near her.
Loma stood up and held her hand out to me. “It’s nice to meet you, Abram.”
I stared at her hand, my chest roaring with a visceral rejection. Every part of me screamedno.
“You too,” I forced out, shaking her hand quickly before letting go.
The bond pulsed between us like a brand being seared into my soul. Did she feel it too? Gods, I hoped she didn’t.
