Tres frowned back at Nevair. "You can't just pick a man off the street and decide to keep him. He's an unknown quantity. Can't you at least look at the people we've chosen for you? Do you know how many resources have been used trying to find you the perfect mate?"
The religious council had spent the past three months vetting possible mates for Nevair.
"I don't want them." He clenched his jaw stubbornly to hold back the vicious words struggling to get out. For someone known for his calm demeanor, Nevair's dragon urged him to lash out and destroy anyone who stood in his way.
Ours. Our Mate.His dragon insisted.
"How do you know?" Tres persisted. "We have a lot more choices. Men, women, different races and all kinds of different backgrounds you haven't met them all. At least look them over."
"I don't need to. My dragon has chosen. I'm not going to budge on this. You know it isn't optional." Nevair narrowed his eyes at his supposed friend.
"You won't know for sure he's your mate until you have sex with the man," Tres insisted.
Nevair looked away from Tres's piercing look.
Tres gasped. "You didn't! How could you! You've been pure for all these years and you throw yourself away for a fling."
A low growl rumbled from Nevair's throat. His teeth cut into his lips where they suddenly grew sharper. "He's not a fling. He's my mate and if you can't accept that then maybe you need to find another line of work. Besides you've been harping for years about me having sex."
"Yes, but not with some off planet stranger you pick up at the space port!" Tres yelled.
"But a stranger at a conference is all right?" Tres didn't make any sense.
Nevair thought his friend would be thrilled and disappointment filled him over being so wrong.
Tres paced back and forth across the room. "I wanted you to have sex with people so when you finally had your mate you'd know what to do. I didn't think you'd mate with the first man you got naked with."
Nevair shrugged. "Well I did."
Lian would be his mate. Nevair had no doubt in his mind but he had to wait for his dragon mark to appear on Lian's back before he could legally claim him. Until then he'd stalk the man and plan how to keep Lian in his life. The doctor had struck Nevair as rather skittish.
Tres raked his right hand through his hair making it stick up all over his head. "What are you going to do now?"
"I'm going to invite him to dinner," Nevair announced, pleased with his plan. If he were lucky Lian would stay for breakfast.
Tres remained silent for a long time. Nevair didn't flinch or change his story. Lian would be his unless the doctor himself refused Nevair's pursuit.
"I hope you know what you're doing. This can end badly if the council goes against your mate," Tres warned.
Nevair drew himself up to his full height. "I have dedicated my life and soul to my goddess, but my heart is mine to give where I may. They can advise me, but the council can't order me to bond with whoever they want."
Tres's smile reappeared but looked bitter around the edges like burnt toast. "I once had hopes I could get it to belong to me."
"I know." Nevair didn't try to hide his knowledge of the other man's dreams. It would belittle Tres's feelings to pretend he didn't know how he felt. "But we've always been far too close of friends to be lovers."
"Some might think it would make us better lovers," Tres offered, his expression wounded.
"Some might, but I don't." Most of the time Nevair tried to cushion bad news. This needed to be said as baldly as Friar Renfer's head.
Tres nodded and Nevair could almost see the dream fade from his friend's eyes. "If you want this man, I will support your claim to the council."
Nevair smiled, relief racing through him. "Thank you, Tres. I'd hate to have lost a good friend over this."
They had taken their religious vows together. To be at odds caused a deep ache in Nevair's soul. As much as he didn't think of Tres romantically, he cherished their friendship and it would've hurt to lose their relationship. His dragon growled its discontent at their separation from Lian. They both wanted the pretty doctor back in their arms.
At the first free moment he had, Nevair tracked down Lian's number and after early evening prayers Nevair dialed the man he hoped to make his.
"Hello?" The noise in the background made Lian's voice garbled.
