For the first time in a long while, he was truly looking forward to his future and even though he couldn’t see his own fate, he didn’t need to.As long as Taylor was by his side, his future was bright.
Finally Nitav spoke.And Vikan knew that the words she spoke would’ve been what she’d have told him, had she been alive.
She caught his hand, squeezing gently with her cold fingers.“I will always love you, Vikan,” she murmured, a small, sad smile appearing on her features.“But we always knew we could never compete with a fated mate, though we tried to fool ourselves.I can only wish you happiness and I will pray for the Fates to bless your matehood and any offspring that come from it.”
Vikan inclined his head to her, his chest aching.“You honor me, Nitav, with your prayer.”
“Will you tell me her name?” she asked, surprising him.
“Her name is Taylor.”
“Taylor,” Nitav repeated, the Earth name rolling strangely on her tongue.And though her smile was still sad, she said quietly, “She is lucky to have a male like you, Vikan.Please tell her that.Please tell her that I know she will bring you happiness.”
Vikan slowly reached out and embraced her for the last time.She felt strange in his arms, yet familiar.
Slowly, he felt the dream fading, the edges curling in.And he knew he would never return.
“Goodbye, Nitav,” he said softly.
* * *
Taylor was awake when he surfaced from the dream, his mind thick with fog and memory.It took him a moment for clarity to return and when it did, he noticed that Taylor was sitting up beside him, her naked body hunched and curled in, her arms wrapped around her knees, which were drawn up to her chest.
Vikan purred, reaching for her, running his fingers over her arms.
His lips turned down, however, when she flinched away from his touch.It was then that he noticed she couldn’t quite meet his eyes.
Worried, he pushed up from his position on the floor.“Luxiva, what is wrong?”
She looked unharmed, just a little tousled from their night of mating.
His heart sunk.“Did I hurt you last night?”
He saw her jaw pulse and it was then that she turned her head to look at him.Her expression was difficult to read.Her lips were red from his kisses the night before, but her cheeks were pale and her eyes were sad.
“You were saying her name,” Taylor said softly.“Over and over again.”
His brows furrowed.“What—”
“Nitav,” Taylor whispered.“Nitav, Nitav.”
Vikan stilled, understanding making him freeze.
“Taylor, it is not…I did not…”But words failed him as panic and dread filled his veins, weighing down his bones.“Please,luxiva.Let me explain.”
“I was trying to wake you up,” she said, in a tone he’d never heard before.“I was lying here, in your arms, warm and happy, and then you said her name over and over while I was touching you.What am I suppose to make of that?”
His heartbeat pounded furiously in his throat, but before he could respond, she continued.
“The worst part is that I truly believed you when you said you had moved on, when you said that you wanted a future with me,” she whispered, that strange moisture entering her eyes again.
“You know I do,” he rasped.“Please do not doubt that,luxiva.”
“Last night,” she started, her eyes watching him, “I asked you if you would come find me in my dream.And you said that you had to do something.You went to her, didn’t you?You wanted to dream about her.”
“Tev, but it is not for the reasons you think, female,” he said, his tone low, his horns flattened against his skull.“I found her in my own memories because I wanted to say goodbye to her.For good.To make peace with her death.”
Taylor bit her lip, her expression wounded and Vikan hated that he’d been the cause.
