He smirked. “You never know what to say when you get a compliment.”
“Because I was told never to thank a fae.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
He chuckled. The deep rumble of his laugh skittered down my chest, and I slid my hands over to cover my entire face.
“You know I know your name, right? That’s even worse than thanking one of us,” he mused.
I peeked through my fingers at his amused expression and scowled. “I know your name as well.”
He paused as if deep in thought before barking out another laugh. “Touché. Hey, have you met any of your mates yet?”
My hands fell from my face as I groaned. “No. In fact, I don’t think I have a mate.”
He tilted his head, leaning in. “Why do you think that?”
“I’m twenty-two. All the other shifters my age are already mated with offspring.” I frowned, trying not to let myself become bitter. “If I haven’t met my mate by now, I’m sure I won’t have one.”
“Not all matebonds are established immediately, at least for foxes. You may already know one of your mates.” His cheeks tinged pink for a moment, and he shivered before looking away.
I reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Are you cold?”
He looked back at me and slipped his hand over mine. “I’m an ice fae. I don’t get cold. Don’t change the subject.”
Rolling my eyes, I pulled my hand back. “Fine. But I don’t think I’ve met them yet. Surely, I’d know, right?”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure. I haven’t bonded with my mate either, and I’m older than you.”
“By a year.” I snorted as I ran my fingers through my hair. “Do you think maybe I haven’t formed a bond because my species is almost extinct?”
Thinking about the decline of the arctic fox shifters wasn’t easy. I’ve never met nor heard of another one besides my father, and he wasn’t here anymore, thanks to human poachers.
All foxes were destined to have more than one mate, but I wasn’t sure if the Fates would grant me even one. My mom was my father’s only mate. She was an arctic wolf shifter, though. Wolf shifters only had one mate. So, maybe that was why, but I had a feeling it had to do with the decline in arctic fox shifters.
My bottom lip quivered, and Thorn closed the distance between us. His arms wound around me and I clung to his chest, trying to hold back the tears. The sweet scent of blueberries surrounded me like a blanket of comfort.
Safety flooded me, something I didn’t get to experience often.
“No, Kit,” he murmured into my hair. “I don’t think that’s the reason. I think it’s because your bonds haven’t snapped into place and they have isolated you in this village. The other shifters don’t even acknowledge you unless they need something.” Anger laced his tone, and he squeezed me tighter.
“They’re not all bad. Alice is—”
“Alice may care for you, but she doesn’t stick up for you when she should. Come away with me. I’ll take you to my realm, and you’ll never want for anything again.”
I shook my head. “Thorn... I know what you’re trying to do, and I appreciate it.”
“But?” His hold on me loosened, and I moved back.
“But that’s not something I can do.”
“Sure you can—”
“I don’t want to. Not right now,” I said. “The Alpha’s son is marked for Fate Hollow Academy, and the village is going to need all hands on deck to support the pack.”
His gaze softened. “Your heart is so big, but they don’t see you as part of their pack.”
“I know.” I shrugged as the surrounding coldness seeped deeper into my bones. “But they took me in after everything happened.”
“Alice took you in. Not the entire pack.”
