Page 43 of Those That Defy the Realm

“I’m still not seeing the issue.”

“What if he doesn’t like me?” Antares says in such a soft voice that if I didn’t have supernatural hearing I wouldn’t have heard him.

“That’s not possible.” My irritation fades at seeing Antares genuinely worried. He doesn’t usually let anything get to him this way.

“It’s entirely possible. It’s even probable, I know I’m not the easiest person to get along with.”

I have to nod, conceding to him there. He’s loud, unapologetic and does have a tendency to rub others the wrong way. But he’s more loyal than I’ve ever really given him credit for, and his morals are in the right place. “Doesn’t the whole mate thing guarantee it though?” I ask.

“No. It doesn’t, and that’s the worst bit. And although he’s clearly part Fae, I really don’t think he feels it.”

It was quite the revelation when Antares dragged me aside the day after the fight to tell me Atlas was his fated mate. I knew Fae had them, worked with several Fae that had experienced it, and were happily mated. But seeing as Antares had been turned Vampire I hadn’t thought he would still feel a bond this strongly. I also wasn’t naive to think it was some instant love situation, the bonded had to work at their relationship just like any other, but I liked to believe the magic of our realm wouldn’t be so unkind as to give such a bond to anyone who was completely incompatible.

“Well, the more you hide away from him, the less likely that anything between you could happen. He needs to get to know you if you actually want to pursue this,” I tell Antares, a slight bit of hypocrisy calling me out in my own mind. Physically, I might not be hiding from either Ash or Claire, but emotionally there is an argument to be made that I am.

“Urgh, why are you always so logical?” Antares throws himself back on his bed, bringing his palms to his eye sockets.

“Sorry, but you know I’m right.” I chuckle.

“Do you think I should tell him?” His voice is once again soft.

“That is a harder question. Would you want to know? Want to know that a stranger feels a predetermined bond that will stick you together forever?”

“Would you?”

I think about that for a second. Vampire mate bonds are just as strong, the wolves too. You only have to look at Rory and Ty, or Ash’s parents, to see how their souls are intertwined and that the love they carry for one another is unbreakable. But I can see how that level of emotion could be terrifying if you’ve not eased into it. Both the vampires and the wolves choose our bonds, the connection only formed when we create it. “I think I’d want to at least know the person somewhat first.”

Antares doesn’t reply for a while. I’m about to finish sorting my stuff out so I can leave when he mutters. “You’re right. I will keep it to myself for now but I’m going to make an effort to get to know him. I just hope he isn’t pissed that you all know before he does.”

“I’m sure he’ll understand. And I’m sure he’ll love you, once he gets to know you.” From my interactions with Atlas so far, he seems like a great guy. He might be built like a brickhouse and would be scary as all hell if you met him down a dark alley but he’s a giant softy underneath his tatted, stacked exterior.

“Yeah, I guess we’ll see,” Antares says as I head out the door.

I’m not ready for this goodbye.

My bag is packed, my ferry leaves the dock in ninety minutes and I’ve got to get to the harbour. It’s plenty of time for the journey but Ash has been at the government offices all morning and we haven’t had a chance to see one another since yesterday, and even then we had to keep our hands to ourselves because other members of my pack, and his, were around.

I wait around until the last possible minute to avoid having to rush my travel, but Ash still hasn’t turned up. The knot in my chest restricts the blood pumping through my heart in a regular fashion.

Claire is with Rory in the outbuilding, I say farewell to everyone in the main house and Ty walks over with me to the site where the females are going over even more plans.

“Feels odd that you’re leaving,” Ty says as we stride the short distance across the lawn.

“I know. I wish I wasn’t going so soon, but at least this is a short visit. The autumn is going to be much longer.”

“Are you looking forward to some peace at least? I know how much being crammed in with all the others the last few weeks must be affecting you.” I feel touched by his concern, he knows that I am quite the hermit usually and am happiest when I’m shut away from the world and doing my own thing.

“It’s strange, and don’t get me wrong because I still need some alone time, but the last few weeks of chaos have not been that stressful,” I reply truthfully.

Ty laughs. “Yeah, because setting up a pack, renovating a property, and thousands of meetings with the authorities about changing the literal law aren’t stressful.”

I laugh too. “Okay, yes that’s stressful. But I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in what we’re doing. And we’re doing so much more than I ever thought possible.”

We step over the threshold of the dilapidated building and immediately spot the girls pouring over the blueprints spread out on a table we moved in here a week ago.

Rory immediately comes over to her mate, rising on her tiptoes to kiss him as he catches her around the waist. I won’t be missing the sounds of those two going at it at every opportunity they think we’re out of earshot. Seriously, they’re insatiable.

Then Claire looks up, meets my eyes, and I understand it. I’ve not had nearly enough time with Claire over the last few days either. She got her period, stating she wasn’t up for any naked fun as it made her feel horrid.