“I mean because of my family. Being with me is a bad idea. My father and brother will do everything they can to kill you. To kill Xander and Evangeline. All my friends. And now that I’m your mate?”
She shakes her head.
“But honestly why would you want to be with—”
“Don’t,” I say, interrupting whatever negative words were about to fall out of her mouth.
“Oh, please, Locheran. You’re like some mystical god and I’m…”
She waves her hand up and down her body as if it explains her point. All I see is my beautiful mate. A woman who caught my attention long before our bodies knew we belonged together.
I step closer, shortening the distance between us. She shifts on her feet but doesn’t move. She lets me take her hand in mine.
“I’ve waited a thousand years for you,” I say quietly.
Everything about Farrah is tiny compared to me. Like her fingers. I inspect the nails that are painted a lovely blue—amazingly close to the color of my hair.
I place her hand on my chest, over my heart.
“Can you feel how fast it beats for you?”
She nods, letting out a shaky breath.
“I was drawn to you the night we met. That wasn’t the mating bond because our connection was blocked. I was drawn to you because of your smile. Most people wear fake smiles, but not you. It’s genuine and full of love, especially around Evangeline. And when you laugh… remember when Xander unintentionally made a joke the night we met?”
She nods again.
“Your laughter was so bright and joyful, and my heart responded like it was a siren’s song.”
Her eyes glaze over with unshed tears.
“Do you know how many beings I’ve been with over my thousand years of living?”
She shakes her head; those unshed tears now beading at the edges.
“Hundreds. I’ve been with women. Men. Humans and supernatural beings alike… no one has ever made my heart flutter the way you did the night we met and every day since.”
She frowns. “But you looked at me like you hated me or were disgusted by me.”
“I hate that’s what you saw. What I felt that night was confusion for the strange emotions I was experiencing. But mostly, I struggled because I couldn’t act on the desire I had for you that night.”
“Why?”
“Evangeline threatened to kick my ass.”
A giggle slips past her lips, and I bring her hand up to my mouth, pressing a kiss to the knuckles.
“Do you know how hard it was to resist you in that flowing skirt and shiny gold crop top you wore? The color bringing out the blue in your eyes. The fabric allowing peeks of all your wonderful curves, taunting me? Your then-red hair falling over your shoulders in loose curls.”
She smiles, fluttering her lashes as she looks up at me. “You remember what I wore? And how I styled my hair?”
“Of course I do. I remember everything.”
She frowns again. “But the bond…”
“Mira says it didn’t unlock until the night you kissed me at Evangeline and Xander’s wedding reception. Everythingbefore that was all me.” I cup her cheek, and she closes her eyes, leaning into my touch. “It was all you.”
She shakes her head, a smile teasing the corners of her mouth.
