“Yes.”
“But I hear the children are fond of you.”
“And I’m fond of them. But there’s no opportunity for advancement here. I mean to transfer to Dundúran at least, if not another city when I can. I intend to see out the year withthe children, of course, but in the meantime, I’ll be making inquiries.”
“I see.”
That was all he had to say to her declaration, and that was just fine. The walk was nearly at an end anyway, and soon they were bidding terse goodnights.
Maeve absolutely didn’t stomp all the way to the manor house, and she definitely didn’t feel the sting of tears in her eyes. Absolutely not. She didn’t want a fated mate, either, did she. No complications or anchors. He wouldn’t burden her with his goddess’s decision, so she wouldn’t worry about it, either.
Perfect.
8
Soren should’ve known better—feeding a hunger, if only a little, did nothing but make a beast hungrier. And his beast was ravenous.
In the coming days, he found the only way to manage it was to get back to his work at the school. Being near Miss Maeve satisfied both him and histuruk, and he enjoyed seeing the children again.
They shouted and laughed with glee when they first spotted him the day of his return. Soren ignored Kiri’s pointed look as the little ones gathered round him, holding onto his kilt and tail.
“Where have you been?” demanded Liese, a blonde half-orc girl.
“Why have you been at the pub so long?” asked Hawk, an orcling boy.
“Mama says we can’t go to the pub, it’s only for grownups,” said Grainne, a human girl and the youngest student at the school.
“Well, Mister Soren’s a grownup,” Liese couldn’t helpreminding her.
Waiting for their questions to run out, Soren finally told them, “Mister Ulmo needed my help, but I’m done now.”
“Mama says Mister Ulmo needs all the help he can get,” said Grainne, eyes and smile innocent as could be.
Kiri smothered his laugh behind his hand, and Soren worked to keep the grin from his mouth. Grainne’s mother often had a lot to say, it was true.
Soren received their curiosity patiently, and they couldn’t help but ask again why he’d been gone and if it was true that Miss Maeve was his mate.
Clearing his throat, Soren made to answer, but the swish of skirts in the doorway caught his attention. Histurukpurred with pleasure to scent her on the breeze.
Maeve stood in the threshold of the schoolhouse, a pleasant expression on her face. An enigmatic grin lifted her lips as she descended the steps to come gather the children.
Soren watched her approach, looking for any sign that he’d upset or offended her.
She’d taken his declaration that he didn’t intend to act upon his instincts to take her as hiskigararather…well. In fact, he’d been relieved to hear that she didn’t intend to stay very long at her family’s estate. Excellent. For the best.
It means I only have to endure until winter.
It means we only have that long to claim her,corrected histuruk.
He let his beast think so, if only for a bit of peace. Soren wouldn’t get in her way, and when she left, the pain would be minimal.
Histurukbegan to grumble at the thought, but Soren focused them both on the way Maeve looked him over. Her gaze remained open, but he thought he detected just a hint of sharpness there.
The children, their eyes rounded with curiosity, looked between Soren and Maeve, as if awaiting something dramatic.
“Come on now, everyone, don’t bother Mister Soren too much. We wouldn’t want to scare him away again.”
The little ones giggled, and Soren endured a few more tugs to his paws and tail before they did as Maeve bade and hustled into the schoolhouse.
