Myve slammed her book down on our table, rattling everything, then sat down with a huff of frustration.
Jamie, Nazuss, Ryn, and I all eyed each other warily. Whenever Myve got like this she was either planning on murdering someone, or she was close to tears.
“Um, hi?” Ryn tried, his voice tentative and eyes fearful.
The tears began.
“Ryn!” Myve sobbed. “Why can’t all men be kind like you?!”
“What happened?” I demanded, my gaze flinging around the room, trying to spot whoever caused my cousin to cry.
“My mate,” she sobbed. “He’shorrible!”
“What?!” we all exclaimed, waiting for her to elaborate.
She sobbed, holding her arms protectively over her chest. “Hans…” she whispered, like his name was a curse that shouldn’t be spoken out loud.
“Fuck,” I growled, zeroing in on the bastard, my eyes gleaming with fury. How could a loser like that be fated to be with my amazing cousin? What was The Magic thinking?!
To his credit, Hans averted his gaze, his posture slumped and defeated. He likely knew he was failing as a mate already. Good.
“How do you know?” Ryn whispered, also staring the phoenix shifter down.
“We kissed,” Myve whispered, her eyes vacant like she was confessing her greatest crime. “He cornered me, his eyes were gleaming and then he was on me. We didn’t seal the bond but I could feel the tug and then pushed him away.”
“Damn,” Jamie muttered, his tone impressed. “That’s self-control right there.”
“More like self-preservation,” Ryn corrected.
I ignored my cousin and brother, my focus fully on Myve. “Anything we can do?”
She shook her head. “I just can’t believe I’m doomed to either stay single forever, or be mated to that piece of work.”
“You can date other people,” Ryn assured her with a smile.
Myve just shook her head. “I no longer find anyone else attractive….”
“Oh,” we said in unison.
“Yeah,” she laughed bitterly. “Oh.”
I tugged on Myve’s hand, guiding her out of the dining hall. I needed to speak to her in private and even though I loved my family and we all wanted what was best for Myve, I was the only one who knew what it was like finding your fated mate.
We stopped by the staircase; the room was deserted since most of the students were eating their dinner. “He might change, or he acted out of fear or something,” I began, wanting to help ease her worries. “The Magic wouldn’t match you up with someone horrible. We need to trust that.”
She sighed heavily, her eyes red and puffy. “I’m just not ready to let him in yet, you know? He was so nasty towards you. He even pushed Harpy hard enough to make him fall on his lovely little butt.”
“True,” I relented, ignoring the low growl of possessiveness over the mention ofmymate’s butt. “But we were told every student here had good souls, whatever that means.”
Myve laughed, a real laugh. “Good souldoesn’t necessarily meandecent person.”
“Fine,” I exclaimed, throwing my hands up in defeat. “Go and sulk and give it a few days. Just no more kissing!”
“Trust me.” She laughed bitterly, “I won’t go anywhere near him.”
I really doubted that. After all, I couldn’t stay away from Harpy. Myve likely knew it was only a matter of time before she sealed their bond, tying them together forever. But I could respect her reluctance. I wouldn’t want a jerk as a mate either.
“There you are!” Harpy’s relieved voice came from our left and then I had my arms full of the perfect smell of oranges and my mate.
