“Not right away—it happened when several of the other males were trying to bully me.”Severinspoke so seriously that she tried again to picture him as a small boy with blonde hair and big blue eyes getting bullied.Itwasn’t so hard to imagine—especially if he was wearing glasses back then, too.
“So what happened?”she asked softly.
“They were angry becauseIwouldn’t help them cheat on a test—for some reason they thoughtIhad all the answers.”Heshrugged.“Ididn’t, of course—Ijust studied, that was all.”
“So what happened?”Cassieasked.
“It was three against one—Iwas getting my ass handed to me, as you humans put it,”Severinsaid dryly.“That’swhenRavikstepped in.”
He cast a glance overCassie’shead at the bigBeastKindred, who was eating his cauldron of stew steadily—she was glad she’d made a lot of it since both warriors had big appetites.
“I was small for my age but he was big for his,”Severinwent on.“Hebeat up the bullies and the two of us became friends.”
“I think that’s a wonderful story.”Cassiesmiled at him.“Sohave you been best friends since school then?”
TheBloodKindrednodded.
“I helped him with his studies and he watched my back.Afterwe graduated, we entered theKindredGuardCorpstogether.Ibecame a scientist and medic andRavikwas a pilot and a demolitions expert.We’vebeen on more missions thanIcan count together.”
“No wonder you couldn’t let him go when he got infected,”Cassiesaid softly.“Imean, if you’ve been together that long.”
Severin shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling.
“He’s my best friend,” he said simply.“Hewouldn’t abandon me—Ican’t abandon him.”
Cassie felt like she could understand a little more now about the bond between these two.Theywere best friends for life—it wasn’t surprising thatSeverinhad been reluctant to part with the bigBeastKindred, even whenRavikgot infected with theHungerVirus.
“It sounds like the two of you are inseparable,” she remarked.“Butwhat happens when one of you finds the right woman and decides to get married…er,Joined?”
Severin shook his head.
“We’ve come close—both of us.Butit’s never really ‘worked out,’ as you humans say.Icould never seem to get along with the womenRavikliked and he never much cared for the onesIfound attractive, either.”
“Hmm, so it was a deal breaker to date someone your best friend didn’t like?”Cassiearched an eyebrow.“Areyousurethe two of you are just friends?”
“What?”Severinlooked honestly mystified.“Oh—do you mean doIloveRavikin a romantic way?No, of course not.”Heshook his head.“Neitherof us is a lover of men.Wejust prefer to spend a lot of our time together.Ifthe woman one of us is consideringBondingwith doesn’t like the other, it makes things difficult.Well, to be honest—impossible.”Hesighed and ran a hand through his hair.“Atthis point,Ithink the two of us have pretty much given up onBonding.”
“Why?You’restill young,”Cassiesaid encouragingly.“Maybeyou should look for sisters to date,” she added.“Thenthe two of you could spend as much time together as you want.Youcould?—”
She broke off as a huge yawn ambushed her.
“Oh, excuse me.”Sheput a hand over her mouth.“Sorry—It’sjust been a long day,Iguess.”
“For us too,”Severinsaid.“It’stime to rest for the night.”
“Mate is sleepy,”Ravikspoke up andCassiesaw that while she andSeverinwere talking, he’d finished his enormous serving of stew.“Ravikwill take mate to bed and pleasure her with his tongue,” he added.
“No, no—nobody said you could do that!”Cassieexclaimed, a shiver racing through her.
“It’s not your tasting week yet—remember?”Severinsaid quickly to his friend.
Ravik frowned.
“ButIneed to taste my mate,” he rumbled.“Hersmell is good but her taste will be even better.Imusttaste her.”
“You can’t break the rules of theClaimingPeriod,”Severinsaid firmly.Helooked atCassie.“Pleaseforgive him—he doesn’t know what he’s saying.”
“Uh…okay.”Cassieshot an uncertain look at the hugeBeastKindred.“Ijust…don’t understand why he’s so hung up on, er, tasting me,” she added in a low voice.
