“I like knowing the odds of things,” I continued, “but I wondered if the shifters have them, why wouldn’t the fae? Or at least something similar.”
Dad chuckled. “They do exist, but our people can be inherently selfish. They are also tied to their lands, and only the most power hungry explore beyond their boundaries for any long period of time. If you rarely leave your home, the odds of finding a mate are substantially reduced.”
“You and Mom weren’t mates?”
Dad’s eyes flickered with grief before he shook his head. “The female is the one who initiates the bond. She is always the first to feel the power rising, and she is the one who accepts or denies the chosen person.”
“Will the male feel the bond too?”
“The possibility of one, yes. The tug would be quite powerful, but someone like Rowan, who knows that you’ve already been chosen, might confuse it for the shifter bond. That too holds powerful magic,” Dad acknowledged, “but he holds no power over the other. In this, the woman ‘wears the pants,’ as the humans like to say. It’s very possible there are more bonds refused than accepted, simply because the female does not want a partner. Fae women can be choosy when it comes to melding their lives with another.”
“Like Mom?”
Dad laughed, but the sound held a twinge of sadness. “Yes. I failed your mother in many ways. She has never been a forgiving woman with errors of the heart, but when it came to you, one strike and I was out.”
My heart ached for them, but it warmed me to know how fiercely Mom had protected me, even if I wished she made different choices. I patted Dad’s knee. “I’m sorry. Maybe once things calm down, she’ll see I can take care of myself and warm up to you.”
Dad snorted. “Your mother has another in mind. I am a page in her history she is fond of but never plans to revisit.”
I wasn’t touching that one with a ten-foot pole or any pole, even if it belonged to someone else. Neit had been after Mom for a while now, and as far as I knew, those two were still involved in a merry chase. I liked the god. He was fun to tease and easy on the eyes. But calling him Dad?
Too far.
“If there are so few bonds, how does marriage work in the fae lands?”
Dad rose and helped me up. “Same as a normal marriage, I assume. Choosing a partner is difficult, no matter what or who you are. We’re all fumbling around through life the same way everyone else is on many things. The lack of a bond does not preclude someone from living their life to the fullest.”
I frowned. “What happens if they find their mate during their marriage?”
“I’ve never heard of such a thing. Maybe the bond goes dormant when they sense a partnership like a marriage. Such a thing is no mating bond, but it’s a bond all the same.” He put my hand around his arm. “Come. The young Lord is preparing lunch, and I can hear your stomach growling. I’ll walk you to the Keep and return on Wednesday.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder for a moment. “Thanks, Dad.”
Cernunnos let out a soft sigh and started walking.
The ancient grump loved it when I called him Dad.
Chapter
Two
ROWAN
Something was wrong with Evie. She was twitchier than normal, a little more prone to temper, and…she wanted to jump my bones but was resisting with the willpower of a godsdamned monk. I could smell her desire and felt her eyes on me when she thought I wasn’t looking. While good for the ego, the way she was looking at me made concentrating on anything way more difficult than usual.
I swore I would give her the time she needed, and I’d been extremely careful not to push boundaries. My touches were those of a close friend, sometimes straying into deeper intimacy when she encouraged such. But there had been no more trapped in the hole serious make-out sessions.
Much to my regret.
She watched me now, her heated gaze burning against my back as I chopped lettuce. If she didn’t stop, I wasn’t going to be able to turn around for a while, for fear she’d see exactly what those looks were doing to me.
“Need some help?” Her voice was huskier than usual.
My grip tightened on the knife. “Lettuce is the last thing we need. If you want to get the tea and some glasses out, that would be helpful.”
Evie rose and passed by me, reaching to open the cupboard. Her hair swayed, exposing the pale line of her neck. The sweater she wore lifted, revealing the curve of her waist.
Gods above.
