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“Yes.”

“I can understand that.” Jace let out a sigh. “When I was sick, I hid from my parents how bad it was. I didn’t want them to worry and I didn’t want them to think I couldn’t live like a normal person, even though I really couldn’t.”

“We wish to bring only joy and lightness to those we care for,” Khoth agreed. Then after a momentary pause, he added, “But, Jace, that cannot be how we are together.”

“No, no, we need to be honest with one another,” Jace said.

Khoth was pleased. He knew Jace meant this. He was here to lighten Jace’s burden and Jace lightened his. That was the core of what it was to be mates. They were there for one another beyond all else. He just hoped that Jace continued thinking this when Khoth objected to Jace grinding himself down without rest.

“There’s one ta’na left on your spine that I don’t know the meaning of or, maybe I do.” Jace touched the mating ta’na. “This one’s us, right?”

Khoth smiled broadly against the pillow. “Yes, it is us.”

When Jace touched it, there was the sensation of a silent chime ringing throughout his body. He curled his toes again. So much pleasure. So much contentment.

“It’s shaped like a tree with roots that are growing down through the other symbols along your spine,” Jace said, tracing those roots.

He’d only seen a glimpse of it in the mirror himself as he’d carried a sleeping Jace to bed. He would look at it closely another time. Besides, all that mattered was that it was there, not what it looked like. Still, he was pleased by the shape he’d seen and Jace described.

“A mate connects all life events as one,” Khoth said.

Jace was quiet for a moment and then with awe and glee in his voice said, “I can’t believe it. You’re mine and I’m yours and it just happened! Shouldn’t there have been a ceremony or something? This seems bigger than marriage! And how are we going to tell everybody?”

“These are all good points.”

Khoth turned over onto his back and pulled Jace against him. He’d gotten the young man to sleep for about an hour after their mating, but he’d woken to find bright, blue eyes watching him.

“You didn’t think this was going to happen this way, did you?” Jace asked, as he snuggled down against Khoth.

“No, I would have informed you if there was a risk of this,” Khoth assured him.

“Yeah, yeah, of course! Though I’m curious what you would have said and if I would have understood it. Because this is so much more than I’d ever hoped for,” Jace sighed in contentment.

“While I did feel that tingling along my birth ta’na when we were kissing earlier, I did not believe it would simply happen.” Khoth kissed Jace’s head. “Spontaneous matings like this are very rare. In fact, I’ve never actually heard of one in real life. There are only stories told of them. Great, fated lovers who moved the universe.”

“I think that resembles us, don’t you? Though just saying that feels a little arrogant,” Jace admitted.

“Yet, your role as Pilot is to do just that.”

“And your role as Commander is to help me do it. I’ve felt from the beginning that I couldn’t do this without you, Khoth,” Jace said quietly.

“You do not need to do it without me,” Khoth assured him and ran his hands through Jace’s short hair.

They should create some selchitte for their family. Their nascent House. It had to be something that would suit Jace’s preferred cut, though Khoth would like to see him with long hair at some point. He smiled as he considered designs and materials. They would have to be as unique as Jace.

“I wonder if it happened so fast between us, because I needed it to,” Jace murmured. “I know you were freaked out that you’d somehow trapped me with you for eternity or something and I didn’t want it.”

Khoth swallowed. “Yes, I was. I had not warned you in full about our mating practices. I had thought we would make a decision together. But then my body… Well, it did what it was meant to do, I suppose.”

Jace’s head snapped up to look at him. “I do want this, Khoth. I mean I’m in your head now. You didn’t exactly agree to that, but you’re okay with it.”

Khoth nodded. “Yes, Izail, it is most pleasant. Though it could be distracting if we indulge in speaking that way too much.”

Jace gave a reluctant nod in return. “You’re not hearing my thoughts now, are you?”

“No, I just feel your presence. That is all.”

“Good. That’s what I’m going for,” Jace told him.