Even as I said it, I knew I was probably wrong. My mind went back to my conversation with the Oracle, her warning of something worse to come that we needed to prepare for. Vague and cryptic, but still important.
“The Oracle told me there was some new danger on the horizon,” I said. “I think we might be seeing the start of it.”
No one responded. Even Oz remained quiet.
“That would have been useful to know sooner, don’t you think?” Elias growled.
“I’ve been a bit preoccupied,” I growled back. “Besides, I was hoping I’d be able to gather more information before bringing this to you. Ominous portents aren’t exactly useful, now are they?”
Elias tilted his head in concession. His brow knitted together as he stared at the map.
“If what you’re saying is true, then we need to figure out what’s coming our way,” Elias said. “The Oracle hasn’t been wrong yet. I can’t imagine she’s going to start now.”
The Oracle has never been wrong. The words reverberated in my head, swirling, though not because of whatever danger loomed over the horizon. It was because of Liv. If the Oracle was never wrong, that meant that Liv had been right all along and fated mates were real, something I had grown up believing was an idle, childish belief.
My jaw clenched as I drummed my fingers against my thigh. It didn’t matter whether Liv was right or wrong or what I thought. They were all distractions from the problem at hand.
I shoved those thoughts away and went back to the map.
Chapter 5 - Liv
The ceremony took place in a private room in Town Hall, attended by three elders and the Oracle. It was a small room, and everyone turned to look at me when I walked in. Heat flooded my cheeks, and I glanced down self-consciously.
I had put on a dress. It wasn’t the fancy one that I had always imagined I would wear for my mating ceremony, but it was a nice one that complemented my curves with a plunging neckline. It was the dress I wore for special celebrations; I guessed this technically qualified.
Drake was in a black suit. I tried not to notice how the cut flattered his broad shoulders and biceps while also tapering at his trim waist. My heart stuttered. I wasn’t sure if it was because he had bothered to dress up or because of how good he looked in it.
He watched as I approached, his gaze burning into me. His lips were a straight line, and I couldn’t tell if it was just him or if he really was that dissatisfied with the situation.
Thaddeus, one of the elders, began speaking. I could barely hear them. The whole thing felt like a dream as I bobbed from foot to foot. I looked up at Drake, who still held that perpetual surly expression. I tried not to wince at the sight of it.
If you’re so miserable, why didn’t you just let me leave?I thought bitterly.Why make us both go through with this?
It didn’t make any sense to me. Neither of us wanted this. It would have made it easier if he had let me leave.
His eyes flicked up and down, taking in my dress, his eyes lingering on my lips. I could have burned under that gaze. Need and lust flashed in his eyes, that surly demeanor dissipating forthe briefest of moments, replaced with a hunger I had never seen before. Then it was gone, and his normal expression returned.
Something about seeing that burst of lust made me hesitate, that certainty that he was always miserable and grumpy wavering.
He’s always been like this, I thought.Maybe it’s just part of his nature.
And then it was time for him to make the mating mark, the one that would solidify the bond between us. A twitch of nervous excitement ran through me as Drake took my arms and brought me closer to him. His scent wrapped around me, and my skin burned where he held me. We were so close, and the air felt charged between us.
His fingers tightened. He bent down and brought his mouth to my collarbone. A moment’s hesitation, then he clamped down.
I had expected it to be painful, and it was, but only for a moment. Then, a warmth washed over me, and I sucked in a breath as the sensation of the mating bond slammed into me. Suddenly, all of those feelings I had felt about Drake felt more acute, that need and lust for him burning and intensifying. I noticed everything about him: each individual callus, the pressure of his fingers on my arms, the way his lips felt on my neck, everywhere our bodies touched as he continued to hold me.
It wasn’t just more of an awareness of him. I could sense emotions that weren’t entirely my own. They were Drake’s. I could sense his nervousness, his own mixed emotions about this entire situation. Most importantly, I could feel his own want and lust. It mixed and melded with my own
When he moved away, I caught a flicker of surprise in his gaze, as if he was dealing with the same thing I was. My heart pounded. If I could feel his lust and want, that meant he could feel mine. I didn’t want that.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and glanced away.
After thanking the elders, we went home, neither of us speaking. It wasn’t until we got inside the house that Drake broke the silence.
“Are you all right?” Drake asked as he closed the door.
“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered. “Just still getting used to…” I gestured at the mark on my neck. “It’s…strange, that’s all.”
