CHAPTER 2
Krusk
How does it feel that your younger brother found a mate before you?
I pushed aside the question that Rok had asked me as a joke. It had hit me harder than I thought it would.
For some reason, I always assumed that everything would happen in order. I was the eldest of my brothers, so I should be the first to find my mate and start a family. As it turned out, that assumption wassoincredibly wrong.
Instead, my beloved brother Enka had found his other half in a beautiful witch who already had a tiny, hellion witchling daughter. I eyed them walking together, their daughter Gabbi cradled in the safety of my brother’s arm as he had the other wrapped around his mate Tasia’s waist.
The pang that hit my chest wasn’t jealousy. It was longing. I wanted what they had, but after all these years, I wasn’t anywhere closer to getting it.
The fear that I’d been cradling in my heart, that I hadn’t allowed myself to look at too closely, was inching toward the surface. I had to acknowledge it.
Am I never going to find her?
I took a deep breath, struggling to hide the panic that was bubbling inside of me at the thought. I struggled to distract myself, focusing on the building we had just entered instead. When I’d heard about the Magickal Bureau, I’d expected it to be like all the other government buildings we’d visited since coming to this plane; older and a bit crumbling, with no overt decorations or pieces of interest. This building was the opposite. It was a skyscraper made of glass and metal. Natural light poured in from the huge glass windows and reflected off of the white marble floors.
Impressed, I scanned the open space, watching people move around with busy intention. The ceilings were high and brushed aluminum signs pointed in the directions of the elevators along with the different sections.
I was still looking around when I noticed my other brother Savla. He was studying our surroundings as well—completely ignoring the people and focusing on the pieces of art that were on the walls instead. The expression on his face was more pensive than usual.
What if he’s feeling the same way I am?
Taking a deep, fortifying breath, I was just about to make my way over to him when a sound reached me that drew my attention right away. Something that twitched at the fine hair in my ears. Something I would have ignored in any other moment.
A sigh.
It was a sigh of longing and resignation. One that I was well used to, because I made the same sound myself all the time. But it was different.Somethingwas different. It soundedfamiliarsomehow, but that couldn’t be right.
I didn’t know anyone on this plane other than my clan and the coven that had joined us. I looked over toward where I’d heard the sound and froze in my tracks. A female stood there. Abeautifulfemale.
Themostbeautiful female that I’d ever seen, in fact. And she was standing right ahead, long dark braids falling down her back and over her shoulders. Her curvaceous body looking sinful in a fitted pair of pants and a white, crisp shirt that Iwishedwas buttoned a little lower. Just to show off what had to bespectacularcleavage based on her large breasts pushing against the fabric. She looked away at once, but there wasno wayI was going to go anywhere without talking to her.
“Go ahead without me,” I told Savla and he shrugged, continuing on while admiring a painting on the wall to the right of us. No one else would notice that I was gone until they’d reached the elevators, I was certain.
Swallowing hard, I changed my trajectory, turning so I was headed toward the female instead. That was when I noticed that there was another female with her. I hadn’t even realized.
I tried to look at the other one, if only to see if she was watching me approach, but I couldn’t pull my eyes away from the human female. When I was closer, I drew in a deep breath and almost froze again—but my feet wouldn’t let me. They continued their path toward her even faster than before.
Mine.
Awe filled me, replacing the fear and shame I had been experiencing previously. Instead, other things that I hadn’t known existed took their turns creeping around inside of me. Huge emotions that I couldn’t begin to name.
The female wasn’t looking at me anymore. Her eyes were focused on some envelopes that she was shuffling in front of her on a cart. I wanted—noneeded—for her to look at me again. To see me. To validate for me that I wasn’t insane. That I hadn’timagined her.
Please, Gods, say I didn’t imagine her.
I was almost upon her when she turned without looking at me, walking down the aisle between desks, her fingers nimble as she placed envelopes onto desktops and designated trays. I slowed, wondering if I would be disturbing her if I spoke to her.
I stared after her, one foot in the air, just hovering, while I tried to decide what to do. The little squeak next to me drew my attention and I nodded at the pretty harpy who was standing there. I’d forgotten all about her and had accidentally stepped on her tail.
“Sorry,” I yelped, backing up a step.
“No problem. Hi,” she said in a voice so high-pitched, I had to wonder if it was her natural tone.
“Hello,” I replied, already staring after my female again.
