Page 43 of Twist of Fate

He brushed his fingers over Luke’s wrist, settling into the contact rather than breaking it. Luke didn’t pull away. His grip loosened around Connal’s arm, but his thumb remained pressed over Connal’s pulse as if he still needed to feel its steady beat.

The bond had driven Connal toward Luke from the moment they met. This desire carried something gentler with it—relief, gratitude, and a tenderness he had not expected.

Connal’s gaze fell to Luke’s mouth.

Luke noticed. His breath caught, but he remained close.

Connal leaned toward him, slowly enough to give Luke every opportunity to refuse. “May I?”

Surprise briefly softened Luke’s expression. Then his fingers tightened around Connal’s wrist. “Yeah.”

Connal closed the distance.

The first taste of his mate sent warmth rushing through him. Their connection answered, warm and eager without settling into the completed bond Connal still longed for.

Connal groaned and slid one hand around the back of Luke’s neck. Luke opened for him and returned the kiss with an eagerness that sent satisfaction through Connal’s chest.

When Luke finally pulled away, his breathing had changed. He touched his lips and stared at Connal.

“Okay,” Luke said. “That was definitely magic.”

“Yes.”

“And it has something to do with you calling me your mate.”

“It has everything to do with it.”

Luke studied him. “I knew you meant more than friendship. The feast made that fairly obvious. But I thought ‘mate’ was your word for someone you wanted. A partner, maybe.” His gaze dropped to the hand resting over Connal’s wrist. “I didn’t realize you meant an actual magical bond.”

Connal frowned. To him, the distinction had always been obvious. Luke was human, though. He had no reason to understand what the Goddess had created between them.

“So what does being your mate actually mean?” Luke asked.

“The Goddess has blessed me with the one person who is fated to be mine. My partner, my companion, my everything.” Connal held Luke’s gaze. “That is you, my Luke.”

“That’s a lot to put on someone after one kiss.”

“You believe I expect you to love me already?”

“I’m still figuring out whether I believe fate dropped you into an airport to claim me.”

“The bond brought us together,” Connal said. “It does not create love. That comes through the life mates build together.”

“And you’re certain we’ll get that far?”

Every instinct urged Connal to say yes. The bond had recognized Luke, and Connal could imagine no future that did not place his mate at his side.

But he could not decide that future for both of them.

“I intend to,” Connal said. “What you choose is yours.”

Some of the tension left Luke’s shoulders. “That sounds slightly less terrifying.”

“Slightly?”

“You’re still a giant fae warrior telling me a goddess picked me to be his everything. I’m allowed to be overwhelmed.”

Connal could accept that, especially when Luke had not moved away. “Do you feel the connection between us?”