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I left his world with a warm, bubbly feeling and a silly smile on my face that didn’t falter even as I made my way back to my home.
My Elf,he said, and that should not have pleased me so much.
13
Pyria’s bonding ritual was in two nights. Many of the females, young and mature, were busy gathering various herbs for different purposes like enhancing Pyria’s beauty, giving good health, or supporting an everlasting link between the future mates. Not that it was necessary; once a pair linked, they were mated till the end of their time—which was a lot, considering all the species lived for a long, long time.
Those who were not involved in her preparations—like the males—busied themselves with readying a feast that would be held in her honour tomorrow. Others took to travelling to the Fairies’ Market to gather more supplies and resources.
Homes buzzed with chatter and laughter. The air was scented with diverse aromas, steam dancing through the village and stringing the young along as they begged to sample some of the meals being readied.
Excitement bubbled under my skin. But I wasn’t grinning just because of the ritual tomorrow night. A certain male was on my mind, and every time I thought about him, I’d smile or blush. It was almost amusing how foolish he made me. I didn’t think I’d ever felt my heart flutter so pleasantly, and all because of a simple thought of a certain male.
The day could not move any slower. Each moment seemed to stretch into a lifetime. I wanted to go see the Cyrva male now, but it was too early. Was he waiting? Did he feel this untamable anticipation and thrill at the thought of seeing me again? How was he occupying his time? What was he doing this very instant?
“What’s gotten you giggling and blushing like a bride, child?” One of the females grinned, her eyes glinting as she picked a violet herb.
The other females turned to look at me. I stilled under their attention.
“Perhaps it is a male?” another offered.
My cheeks flamed even more.
The females stared at me, eyes wide before they shrieked at once.
“Who is it, dear?!”
“A strong Elf!”
“No! Her blush says it must be a handsome Fairy!”
“Could it be… both?!”
They shrieked again, and I couldn’t stop the roll of my eyes as they spun wild tales about me attracting not only an Elf, but a Fairy, too. Supposedly, both males vied for my attention, and I was torn between the two.
“Please!” I huffed, mildly mortified. “It is no such thing! I am merely excited about Pyria’s bonding, and the thought of so many handsome Fairies has me close to fainting.”
They flew with the lie, and they squealed and gawked andhoped. Half of them weremated,and to think that they still acted so childish, as if they were seeing a male for the first time.
When I made sure I had gathered enough healing herbs, I moved on to collect some more of the flavouring ones. Thinking about the food had my mouth watering.
“Have you not been impressed yet, sweet Kenia?”
I turned my head to the side, smiling warmly as Anaria’s lovely eyes met mine. She was a great friend to my family. Her ancestors and mine had a deep friendship, and I was happy that it continued with us. If only she had a daughter, but sadly all of her children weremales.
“I’ve had one male asking if I’d been impressed before,” I offered while asking Keia to pull a red spice that was too high for me to reach. “I don’t think I am quite ready for a mate just yet.”
“You will have to be ready sometime soon, my sweet.” She placed a hand on my head. “I understand you’re afraid, but it won’t be frightening. You’ll have a mate to protect and adore you. That mate won’t let a single eye of harm look at you, and he won’t let anyone upset you. You’d be truly happy, believe me, and when you start your own family with that mate, you’d feel so much stronger.”
Her words held some truth, but I was hesitant. A bonding or a linking were not things to be taken lightly. Once you agreed to a mate, you were paired to the end of your time. Choosing someone simply because they were attractive or because they mildly impressed you was wrong.
But the problem wasn’t just my hesitance.
It waswhatthat potential mate was.
The thought made me halt.
“Do you truly mean to tell me that you have no male in your mind, my sweet?” Anaria took my growing blush as an answer and beamed at me.
