“No one is dead. Why would you even ask me that?”
My heart slowly crawls back from my throat, and I can’t help the relieved sigh that escapes me.
Angel shakes his head, trying to collect his thoughts before he circles back to what he meant to say before I interrupted him.
“We are—uh, I’m your… well, you know how—”
“Oh God, this is painful to watch.” Grace shakes her head in disappointment.
I’m about to remind her that Horsemen aren’t allowed to take sides until I remember she is human. The supernatural world might be divided over who to worship, but humans tend to lean towards God.
“Do you know about mates, Nevaeh?” Grace asks, stepping in since our Horseman of Conquer has suddenly forgotten how to speak.
“I know enough.”
What I mean is I only know the highlights.
While many species under King Lucifer’s rule gave up immortality for mates and procreation, others didn’t want to rely on Fates and their matchmaking abilities.
Mythical creatures like werewolves, weredragons, andcentaurs still consider mate bondssacred.Even the thought of rejecting a bond is considered disrespectful to the Fates. Meanwhile, vampires, demons, witches, and fairies treat the bond more like asuggestionthan a lifelong oath. They prefer courting their mates before making any permanent decisions.
Some species, like banshees, djinns, and gargoyles, reject the idea of mates entirely. They’re not shy about mocking anyone who valuesmatesoverimmortality.
I’m glad the Horsemen fall into the category that respects Fates and wait for their mates their whole lives.
“So, you know who your mate is?” Seiji asks, trying to sound casual, but the question still lands like a punch to the gut.
I don’t know how to answer without sounding pitiful. It’s rare to lose your mate before you’ve met them. Fates aren’t usually that cruel, but I’ve accepted that I’m always an exception to their generosity.
It tears me apart that I never got the chance to meet my mate before he was taken from me so mercilessly. I would’ve cherished every second I got to spend with him. At least then I wouldn’t be mourning someone I never knew.
When you find and accept your mate, your souls bind for life. If one dies, the other follows soon after from heartbreak. I hate that I didn’t get the honor of taking my last breath by my mate’s side. I hate that he became another pawn in Visha’s twisted game to break me.
I draw a trembling breath as the words break free, bruising my soul with each word. “He uh… he is dead.”
I expected them to be shocked, but notthismuch. Grace is staring at me like she’s trying to count how many brain cells I lost during my time with the coven. Seiji and Hazel exchange a puzzled look, then gape at Angel like he has suddenly sprouted horns.
Angel jumps to his feet and begins pacing in front of me. “No, he’s not.” The growl that comes from deep in his chest is nothing like the man I’ve come to know so far.
“Yes, he is.”
“Woman… I think I’d know if he was dead.”
So he knows my mate? Orknewhim,I guess.
Hope and gratitude flood me. Maybe Fates are apologizing to me by sending me someone who can tell me more about my mate. They must’ve finally seen the error in their ruthless plan and the agony they caused me by taking away my other half, and it melted their stoic hearts.
I want to know who my mate was, or what he looked like. I’d be grateful if all Angel could give me was a name. I don’t want the only thing I know about my soulmate to be how he died trying to find me.
“You knew him? Can you tell me something about him?” My voice trembles with desperation. Angel finally turns to face me, but my heart sinks when I see the pain brimming in his eyes.
Does he feel bad because he didn’t know my mate well enough to tell me something about him?Fuck. I was hoping to hear some stories that would last me a lifetime. I would’ve taken anything, even the smallest detail about my mate that I could cling to—something to free me from this grief choking me.
Angel sighs, head thrown toward the ceiling, probably searching for a polite way to let me down.
With a newfound purpose, Angel crosses the room and drops to his knees before me. Grasping my hands, Angel looks at me, eyes shining with tears, when he breathes out, “Oh, sweetheart. I am your mate.”
No. That can’t be.
