“Good.” Keon approved of her caution. After seeing Milo’s true mate, she knew better than others that the Fates were cruel. “Am I right in saying a girl was flirting with Isaac at the book club, before you left?” He could remember seeing Isaac with his book club, two girls clinging on, and one thirteen-year-old boy dreamy-eyed whenever he did a reading. He’d seen the same behaviour on campus in Dnara, the literature student swooned over like he was Byron, adored by those in his orbit.
When Haley scratched her head and avoided eye contact, he had his answer. She’d been prepared to spend her day with Isaac and ignore Vega’s lure, but jealousy had driven her from the book club and made her vulnerable.
“It’s okay, bug.” Milo slipped off the log to sit beside his sister. Keon wondered what had been going through his head, grateful Milo trusted Keon to step lightly during the delicate interrogation. “When the man you want to look at you more than anything looks at everyone but you, it can be hard,” he said softly, glancing at Keon and wrapping an arm around Haley. “Sometimes, it’s not because he doesn’t see you, but because he puts everyone else first. Avoiding or ignoring the people he most wants to look at or spend time with, to focus on those who need him more.”
Keon didn’t bother resisting. He caught Milo’s face and kissed him, uncaring of Haley’s scrunched nose. Milo’s understanding of his position meant more than anything in the world.
“I like him,” Haley whispered, as they broke apart, wisely ignoring the kiss. “I’m not sure he should like me, though.”
“I’m not sure he has a choice.” Keon caught and held her gaze. “I know, odd from the guy who rejected his mate, right? Milo did the same. We didn’t like who our true mates had become. Isaac is different. He doesn’t have a choice of whether heshouldlike you, because he already does. He feels the bond, and has accepted you.”
Haley tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Is that how it works?”
“Yup. I’d started feeling the bond before I knew the worst of Vega,” he admitted, though he’d save the story for another time. “Milo got lucky, because he never liked his true mate, and never developed a bond. If you feel the bond, you’ve accepted Isaac as your mate, and you can work on acceptingeach other,” he hinted, giving her the freedom to choose where this went.
“Really?”
“Of course.” Keon shrugged and looked to Milo for guidance, getting a glittering smile in reply. “The age difference isn’t big, and Isaac is a smart, mature young man. I trust him to take care of you, if you’re ready. But you can bet your ass he’ll be courting you until your eighteenth birthday,” he vowed, refusing to bend the rules.
Haley laughed, genuine, unlike the old harsh laughter. “Yeah, fine.”
“You won’t fight me?”
“I’m not the best judge of character,” she complained, picking at the grass.
“Nah. You were scared to trust your instincts,” Keon said, seeing it clearly, with the facts laid bare. “You’re safe. Take what time you need to discover who you are, who you want to be, and how to get to her. When you do, you’ll learn to love yourself and how to love someone else. Maybe how to let them love you.”
She looked unsure, extracting herself from Milo’s grip to kiss his cheek. “I’m going to sit with Isaac. Let him talk about books,” she said, seeking the natural comfort of her true mate.
Keon hated seeing her subdued, but hoped it was temporary. Residual shock from experiencing Vega’s vindictiveness. A mixture of pain and fatigue, after the way Valora had treated her. It would take time. He knew how deep emotional and mental wounds could run and would keep an eye on Haley’s recovery.
Rising onto his knees, Milo kissed his lips. “You’ve been wonderful with her,” he said, dreamy-eyed and adoring. A look Keon never tired of. “Thank you for taking good care ofbothof us,” he whispered, hands drifting over Keon’s thighs.
“My pleasure.” He took another kiss, sensing a presence as the shadow emerged, and tilted his head to focus on Gale. “How are you healing?”
Milo slid closer and folded his arms on Keon’s thighs, cocking his head at Gale. “I could take a look at your wound, if you want?”
Gale raised an eyebrow but shook his head. “Thanks, but no. I came to—” He hesitated and shrugged. “—thank you for saving my life.”
Blushing furiously, Milo stammered, “I didn’t do anything.”
“Bullshit.” Gale smirked and dug his hands into his jean pockets. “I wasn’t paying attention. I focused on you, not my surroundings. As a seasoned scout and warrior, I know better,” he admitted, wisely accepting the mistake. “Regardless of who was at fault, you saved…not my ass, but the rest of me.”
“I, for one, am grateful.” Jude laid an arm over Gale’s shoulders.
Gale scowled, but didn’t tense. “What, that he didn’t save my ass? I noticed.”
“I won’t deny it has its perks,” Jude confessed, though Gale rolled his eyes. “I meant I’m grateful he saved your thick skull.”
While Janet snorted from nearby, reading a paperback only Isaac would have thought to pack, Gale hummed thoughtfully and didn’t argue.
Jude pecked Gale’s cheek, dropped his arm to stretch and yawn, before he walked away. “Don’t be long! It’ll be a cold night,” he called, the implication clear. Gale would keep him warm tonight.
The words inspired a smile from Gale, adding to Keon’s surprise. He’d been sure Gale was straight, but it was evident Dnara had inspired a change. Whether it was human attraction or the mate bond didn’t matter. It was good to see them happy. Gale nodded to Keon and followed Jude to their sleeping spot.
Milo was brimming with amusement. “They’re adorable.”
He tapped Milo’s nose. “As are you,” he said, adoring how Milo never looked away. “He’s right, you know. Without you, I’m not sure we would have won that fight.” Milo needed to know he had never been and would never be a burden. He was a budding strategic genius, a bookish, medically minded man, who possessed a beautiful soul. He was needed. Wanted. Appreciated. Eventually, Keon would remind him until Milo knew it to his bones.
