I fall silent for a moment as I ponder his curious statement.
“Helena is human… but she is truly King Theron’s fated mate, rather than a concubine?” This question feels particularly dangerous. But I must know. I must know if it’s true that the fae can sometimes be fated to humans. Some of the traveling merchants claim it’s possible, while others have said it’s a myth.
He stares at me unblinkingly and gives a slow nod. “Yes, she is truly the king’s fated mate, though from what I’ve heard, she was fae in a former life, and in that former life she was KingTheron’s mate then as well. She was born into this life as a human, however, and King Theron found her again.”
“Oh. So… your people are only fated to humans if the human was fae in a former life and…” My voice trails off as I think about the outlandishness of what I’m trying to ask. Maybe I should drop the subject entirely.
“King Theron and Helena are a special case,” he says, still staring at me unblinkingly. “I have never heard of a reincarnated soul finding their mate again in quite the way they have. But my people are sometimes fated to humans and even orcs. It’s rare, though it happens.”
His eyes flicker with longing, and even if I couldn’t sense his emotions right now, I would know what he’s thinking. What he’s feeling.
He desires me. He wants to claim me.
Does he think I’m his mate?
My stomach flips at the prospect.
I try to glean his thoughts and feelings on the matter, but when I try to brush my mind against his, it doesn’t quite work. It’s as though he’s blocking me.
But if he believed we were mates, surely he would’ve told me by now.
Surely he wouldn’t keep it a secret.
A question lingers on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t bring myself to ask it. Maybe I really am a coward. I want to ask if he’s met his fated mate yet. I want to ask if he has a female waiting for him at the war camp or perhaps living in one of the new fae settlements beyond the borders of the fading Winter Court. Gods, he might even have children—children who could easily be older than I am.
“Well, I imagine it’s rather tragic when one of your people is fated to a human or an orc. I mean, fae live for thousands of years. Humans and orcs are lucky to reach ninety years or so.”
He leans forward, then reaches across the table to take my hand.
My pulse thunders in my ears.
“When one of my people is fated to a human or an orc, as long as they physically consummate the union and live together more days than not, the human or orc’s lifespan will end up matching that of their fae mate’s.”
I gasp. “How is that possible?”
His eyes glimmer with excitement. “Fae magic,” he says, squeezing my hand.
“Well, I suppose it’s not as tragic as I imagined then.” I try to extract my hand from his, but he doesn’t release me. My heart won’t cease racing.
All at once, I wish I were alone. Not because Merak has done anything to offend me or make me angry, but because I desperately want some alone time to consider all he’s just told me. I keep sensing his emotions and catching fragments of his thoughts, and I’m starting to fear what it might mean.
A dark suspicion lurks at the back of my mind, trying to push to the surface, but I am afraid to examine the idea while in Merak’s presence.
What if he can also sense my emotions… or worse, my actual thoughts?
A loud thump sounds on the balcony. I startle and peer toward the sound. It almost sounded like a bird flying into the glass, but surely a bird wouldn’t be out in this storm.
Merak growls, releases my hand, and pushes up from the table. He approaches the balcony with slow steps, and I nearly gasp when I notice the blue light gathering in his palms. I doubt it’s healing magic. It’s not quite the same shade of blue as the light he used to mend my festering wounds. It’s darker, and I swear I can sense the vicious energy behind it.
Though he’s promised never to hurt me, I can’t help but fear the extent of his fae powers.
If he ever turns into a monster, if he starts treating me as his people usually treat their slaves, how will I survive him? How could I hope to escape him?
He can summon wings and fly great distances.
He possesses powerful magic.
And he seems very determined to keep me.
