“I don’t care if you’re a Blood Mage as long as you’re mine,” he admitted. From the brief interaction between Xavier and Oliver, it appeared that even assassins had better reputations than Blood Mages.
“Technically, I’m only an apprentice. I won’t be an official mage until Melcori signs off on my project next month. He better sign off,” he ended in a whisper.
“Do you think he won’t?”
Xavier shook his head. “Not really, I’m just naturally wary. Melcori isn’t known for doing what’s expected, but being known as the Master for the youngest titled Blood Mage is more valuable than any benefit he could get from holding me back.”
Kat unwrapped his legs and dropped to the ground. “You’re saying he’d pass you not because it’s the right thing to promote you but because you’d have more worth?” The more he heard about Melcori, the less he liked him.
Xavier’s sigh was long and sorrowful. “Most Blood Mages lack empathy. They assign values to both things and people and as long as you weigh in on the right side of the scale, they’re willing to work with you.”
“And are you on the right side?”
“For now.” Xavier raked a hand through his hair, tugging the strands. “I’m sorry I can’t help with the dryads, but I can’t go against my master. I’ll have to tell Melcori what I know.”
Kat winced. He had hoped to keep Rance a secret for a bit longer. “I understand. I don’t have to like it, but I understand.” He flicked his claws in and out a few times to regain control when he secretly wanted to claw Melcori’s face off. “Does it bother you that you can’t help?”
“In some ways. In others, it relieves me of the responsibility of going against my master. He might not be completely moral, but Melcori’s the only reason I didn’t end up in a ditch somewhere. He can be cold and uncaring to others, but he’s done right by me, and I can’t turn on him in the final days of my apprenticeship after everything.”
“I understand.” He kissed Xavier’s cheek. He might not like it, but he could understand divided loyalties. He wouldn’t make Xavier choose between them, not for this. “I want to seal our mating.” Kat winced as the words spilled out of his mouth straight from his soul. After all these years, you’d think he’d learn self-control.
You’d be wrong.
“Are you sure?” Xavier’s anxious expression only enforced Kat’s decision.
“Whether we have sex or not, we’re mates, and I’m not letting you get away.” There was no sense in letting Xavier get the impression that Kat would let him escape. He’d dreamed of having a mate since he’d heard of them as a child.
“And me being a Blood Mage doesn’t bother you?”
“A bit,” Kat admitted. “But I don’t know what you do other than what I’ve learned from rumors and books, and I doubt they were accurate.”
“Probably not. I’ve never eaten a child nor drained a town of people to power my runes.”
“Hmm. Disappointing. I guess it’s true that reality never lives up to the legend.”
“I’ll try to live up to your expectations in other ways.” Xavier’s voice dipped deeper.
Xavier tossed Kat over his shoulder.
Kat squealed. “You’re stronger than you look.”
Xavier slapped his ass. “That’s for insinuating I look weak.”
“Mean,” he pouted. “It’s the door on the right.” He poked Xavier’s right butt cheek.
“What are you doing?”
“Checking for firmness.”
Xavier’s laugh vibrated delightfully against his stomach. “And what did you decide?”
“Perfect.” Kat sighed.
Another laugh. His goal to keep Xavier happy and laughing was coming along nicely.
“I’m glad you enjoy my ass’s firmness.”
“Me too.” Kat poked Xavier’s left butt cheek.
