Page 3 of The Nixie and the Frost Elf

"Why not?"

"You really want to know?" The way she looks at me breaks my heart. Her eyes are full of pain, and it seems as if she's holding onto things that she doesn't necessarily want to share.

I rub a hand over my face, trying to think of the right way to respond. I want her to know that she can trust me, especially when I want more than anything to be with her despite the time apart, but I also don't want her to be uncomfortable.

"Maybe we can work up to it?" I suggest instead. "When did you realise we were potential mates?"

"The day I went home sick from school and never came back."

I blink a few times. "You left because you realised we were mates?" I know that isn't what she said, but it's the crux of it.

She nods and looks down at her knees again.

"I know I have my flaws, but that stings a little." I try to make it sound like a joke, but it doesn't manage to cover up the hurt.

She shakes her head. "It's not you, it's me," she says quickly.

"I find that hard to believe. But I guess everything that happened makes a lot more sense now. I thought..." I trail off, not sure how much I can admit to her. "I thought I'd done something really wrong. We went from spending almost every day together to you being gone. For years. I know we used the mirrors to message a few times, but that was it." Pain lances through me, but I push it aside for now.

"I'm sorry," she whispers.

"But if you realised we were mates, and that freaked you out, then I guess it makes more sense."

"I'm really sorry, Edur."

I sigh. "I know." I don't know how I know, but I do.

"When did you realise?"

"The same time you did," I respond.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because you didn't seem to have the same response to me, and I wasn't about to make you uncomfortable." I'm starting to think that I made a mistake in not doing that.

She bites her bottom lip.

"So, here we are," I say. "A few years later, and if anything, I think the mate has gotten stronger."

"Me too," she whispers.

"But you don't want to do anything about it?" I ask.

She takes a deep breath, and for a moment, I think she's going to tell me no and just disappear on me. But she doesn't move, and thankfully, none of the other students are paying us any attention. We're lucky that it's lunchtime and most people are focused on getting something to eat.

"I'm asexual," she blurts out.

"Ah." It's not what I expected her to say, and there are implications I don't fully understand, but at least I have an explanation. I just have to figure out what to do with it.

"So, yes. I guess that's why I don't feel like I can be the mate you need me to be," she responds.

I reach out and take her hand in mine, taking us both by surprise, but it feels right to have that contact with her again, like it's something I've been missing for years and finally get to experience again. "I don't think that's the deal breaker you think it is."

"What?"

"If you want to work out the mate bond, and if you want to date, then that's okay. I think we can," I say.

"You want to date me still?"