‘Because I’ve seen it in my parents, my brother, and his mate. Between River and Ava too, even though their situation is more complex,’ he explained, certain of his beliefs.
My heart rate slowed as I forced myself to calm down. ‘Are your parents mates?’
‘Yes,’ he said quickly, his eyes glinting with something akin to hope.
‘Then every single couple you mentioned is genetically predisposed to accept the other.’ My hands fidgeted as he looked at me with those expressive eyes. ‘All of them are mates. Do you not see the fault in your logic? It’s not love; it’s the Gods pushing them together.’
‘So being mates restricts you from love? Is that what you’re saying?’ he asked, sounding exasperated.
‘No. I’m saying real love is rare. And that things become so muddled between mates it’s hard to tell whether it’s the mate bond keeping them together or love.’
Michael shook his head. ‘One day you’ll see you’re wrong. I just hope it’s before you get married.’
Chapter Thirty-One
Avari
We walked in silence, heading for the basement, until that feeling of a restless itch inside my mind drove me crazy. It’s been so long since I actually spent any time in Fogoya that not only did I miss it, but I needed to know how it was faring.
‘How is the war going?’ Uncomfortable heat spread across my cheeks when River slowed down and looked back. ‘Do you still need to send soldiers to the Gem Fields?’
Eyes slightly widened; the corners of his mouth kicked up. ‘A part of the army is stationed in the villages closest to the border with the fields. But there haven't been any recent attacks. The queen’s sudden departure must have shifted the Ortensian military’s focus.’
Right, nobody knew about what I’ve done. ‘Huh.’
‘I just hope when the new ruler takes over, they agree to finally consider peace. Nobody needs all that bloodshed.’ He paused, lost in thought. ‘It would be easier if you ruled it, but I know you probably don’t want to.’
Did he deem it based on knowing me as a person or my lack of expertise?
A pang of sadness resonated within my chest at his suggestion. I looked down to hide the hurt that must have swirled in my eyes.
Did he find me inadequate?
I tried to bury the uncomfortable thoughts but couldn’t let it go. ‘What makes you say that?’
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, he chuckled when I shivered. ‘Sorry, I just assumed you wouldn’t want to rule a crowd of water-wielders as a fire-breather. Am I wrong?’
How was I meant to focus when he touched me like that? The soft skin of my ear tickled, and restless heat built up way lower in my body, which I attempted to ignore like the rest of my problems, neatly tucked away in my compartmentalised mind.
It would be much easier if he weren't as attractive. That broad chest of his was too distracting; it made me dream of things that were shameful to admit. The images my mind conjured were disturbing, to say the least. Where did these urges even come from?
Fuck me.
‘Please let him; it will do you so much good,’ Anya’s whiny voice echoed in my brain.
All the more reason to shut it off.
Deep breaths. Focus. I allowed witchcraft to flood my senses with external stimuli for a few seconds before looking at the relatively perplexed River.
He could probably smell my horniness anyway. Platonic. Maybe I needed it tattooed on my arm as a reminder.
‘They’re half witches too,’ I said quickly in response to his disappointing reasoning that I couldn’t rule water-wielders. ‘But you’re right. It would make no sense for me to rule Ortensia even if I had it in me to try.’
‘Even if you controlled water?’
Bless him, controlling water would only complicate my situation more. Chills ran along my spine as I imagined what the corrupted council of my mother’s might have done to stop a fire-breather from also controlling water. I wouldn’t survive it.
‘For centuries Ortensians excelled in cruelty that affected those they couldn’t relate to. I’m not sure that I could ever rule them fairly because I despise what they’d done. A queen can’t rule with resentment any more than she can with greed. Maybe the reign really should go to somebody else.’
