Farrah nods and wipes a tear trailing down her cheek. She sucks in a shaky breath. “I didn’t know they were going to kidnap anyone. I don’t know anything they do, I swear. They shut me out of their lives when I refused to hunt with them.”
Her eyes stay focused on the hands twisting in her lap. She refrains from looking at me, at any of us. Her guilt edges my nerves. She’s… worried.
If she were anyone other than Evangeline’s best friend and my mate, she’d already be in custody, heading to a holding cell for questioning.
Evangeline takes her hand. “I believe you.”
My little mouse is nearly sobbing now. I step forward because I want to console her. Hold her against my chest and kiss the top of her head. But she just admitted to being of hunter blood. Her family kills my kind. So, I stay put.
Could this all be one big ploy? A trap to bring us to the O’Herns?
Farrah’s head snaps up; hurt filling her eyes.
I open my mouth to apologize, to tell her it was a weak thought that I could never believe, but Mira stands and joins us in the living area.
“This likely explains what was blocking your connection. Her hunter DNA masked her as your mate.”
“I thought a fated mate bonding could only work if both agree to accept it?” Evangeline asks, because that’s how it worked between her and Xander.
Xander frowns. “Technically, yes. Farrah would have needed to accept Locheran as her mate before the bond could stick. That being said, things in our world are always evolving.Verbalconsent isn’t always required.”
“What does that mean?” Evangeline asks.
“Their souls could have known,” Xander says.
Farrah snorts. “Our souls? Like they have a mind of their own?”
“Souls are extremely sentient. The body is merely a vessel,” Mira explains.
Farrah opens her mouth to respond but snaps it shut. Her eyebrows pinch together thinking about that statement. To be honest, I don’t understand how this was all possible without Farrah’s verbal consent either.
“Did something happen between you two before tonight?” Mira asks.
Farrah’s cheeks redden. “Um… we kissed the night of Xander and Evangeline’s wedding reception—
“You did?” Evangeline squeals, but Farrah keeps talking.
“And then on the rooftop last night at the conference we… did other things.”
Mira nods, taking the information in. “The first time you and the gargoyle kissed is likely when it started unlocking. Then when you two had sex tonight, it unraveled completely. At some point, it’s likely both of your souls, and even your heart and mind, wanted to bond. That would have been all the acceptance needed. And because it happened so suddenly, and all at once, the mating bond connection hit both of you at full force. Neither one of you would have been able to stop once you got started.”
Farrah covers her face with her hands. I don’t know why talking about sex is making her squirm. It’s completely natural.
Humans are so cute when they get embarrassed.
“And her passing out?” Xander asks.
Mira shrugs. “I’m sure the block deactivating, on top of the bonding ritual, was too overwhelming for her mortal body.”
“That makes sense,” Evangeline says, squeezing Farrah’s shoulder.
I should be the one reassuring her. My body and heart yearn to be closer, but my warrior’s instinct begs me to remain cautious.
Farrah’s cat emerges now that the tense energy in the room has depleted. The animal rubs his body over Farrah’s legs, then continues to Evangeline, who provides him with head scratches. He makes his way over to where I stand and sits down, staring up at me.
“What’s up, bro?” Potato licks his lips, and I narrow my eyes. “Hungry already? I just fed you.”
He meows loudly.
