“No, but why would that put Kaede off-limits?” I glared at the male. “You know that we’ve been fighting our attraction to each other all this time. You know we both felt a connection and he believes we are one in the Cosmic Order. Why are you suddenly so against us mating?”
“Because I cannot spend every waking moment with you. He can and probably will,” he snapped. “While I am ruling an empire—one I didn’t want in the first place—he will have the time to court you, as will all your other mates.”
“What do you call this?” I gestured to the dreamscape. “I don’t have this connection with anyone else, but I haven’t heard my clan complain about missing my dreams.”
“The dreamscape is different—”
“It’s a unique connection between us, Zirene.” I frowned, disappointed by his reaction. “You’ve known me the longest. I have shared this world with you for over eight years, and yet, you are jealous of someone new.” Zirene’s gaze traced the tear that fell from my eye. “You should be relieved I’m taking Kaede as a mate because you know that I’ll forever be protected while you are away, by a male willing to kill anyone who looks at me or our cubs the wrong way. I thought you would congratulate me, but you’ve chosen to be jealous of this development.”
“You are right.” He sighed, closing his eyes as he gripped my arms. “It’s just hard to miss you for so long. Now, I must compete with yet another male for time with you.”
“In my dreams, there is no competition,” I murmured gently.
A smile flickered across his lips. “It will take some time to get used to him.”
“Just promise me you won’t send him off somewhere out of spite.”
“I might have to if I want to ravish you in private.” He chuckled.
Standing on my toes, I kissed him gently. “I look forward to it.”
