Page 129

Before he could say more, she straightened. With a sigh, she walked to the forest edge, with him following her.

"I'm going to honour the bonding contract between Kenji's family and mine," she said lightly. "I'm tired of waiting. I want a family."

The words had shattered him.

"There is no contract—" he stuttered.

She held his gaze. "There was always an understanding. You know this."

Sora lost his composure then. He seized her wrist desperately and pulled her into the trees where no one could hear.

"Why are you doing this, Aiko?" His voice cracked. "I won't accept it."

"This is the way it needs to be," she said, her voice steady, even as something inside her broke. "You will find your lifemate, and I will be left behind."

"I will never do that," he breathed. "Never."

"You should not have to make that choice." Her face emptied then—carefully blank, as though she were stepping behind glass.

He searched her eyes. "You guessed," he said slowly. "You know Eira is mine."

She did not answer. Just hearing him call Eira his almost made her break apart.

"It doesn't matter," he insisted quickly. "It doesn't change anything."

But she had already turned.

He did not see her close her eyes against the pain. He did not see the single tear slip free before she mastered herself.

She walked toward the gate.

He followed, panic rising, and dropped to his knees behind her, arms wrapping around her waist, holding her as though he could anchor her by force alone.

"Don't go," he whispered. "Don't go."

The salt of his tears perfumed the air around them.

From where she stood, she could see Kenji and Fae watching. They could see her face—torn open and raw.

Slowly, gently, she pried Sora's hands from her.

She did not look back at him as she walked to Kenji.

He stepped forward without hesitation and drew her to his side.

"I will take care of her, Sora," he said quietly.

The words were calm, but final.

They climbed into the Jeep.

As it rolled forward, dust rising behind them, Kenji glanced sideways at her.

"Did you have to be so cruel?" he said softly. "You know there is no such contract."

Aiko kept her eyes on the road ahead, her voice just a whisper. "I had to be cruel to be kind." Her voice broke as she said, "I love him too much."

***