Aurin was sad he’d missed seeing their relationship blossom. Well, their bond. Same thing.
And then Dylan came through the door, swiftly followed by Hendrix, who had his arm around Kellan. Aurin’s hearts swelled at the sight of them and how utterly content they looked. Aurin had missed the beginnings of their bond as well.
He’d been here, but he’d been so distracted. And to be completely honest, he’d opted for some distance from it all. That evening Ciaran had found him on the pier and asked how he was feeling, considering now he was the only one not bonded. Aurin knew he’d meant well. He’d replied that he wasn’t alone—he had Salem, after all—but there was a residual sting in that observation.
He wasn’t bonded to Salem.
It didn’t mean their love was any less true, but it made him wonder...
What if someone else came along, and fate decided to play the cruellest trick and Aurin found himself bonded with someone else?
Or worse still...
What if Salem bonded to someone else?
Oh, by the gods, no...
Aurin felt suddenly ill, his stomach souring at the thought, and he pushed the rest of the pizza away.
Salem cast him a curious raised eyebrow. “Have you had enough already?”
He tried to smile for him, his sweetest Salem. “For now, I think.” And then, because he didn’t look convinced, Aurin added, “I don’t want to overdo it.” He glanced up at Dylan and whispered to Salem, “I’ll just be one sec.”
He stood and went to Dylan. Taking his hand, he stood close enough to whisper, “You look thoroughly sated. Please tell me everything.”
Dylan laughed, his cheeks pinking up. “Oh, well, yes. It’s, um...” His eyes went to Hendrix and Kellan, who were now talking with Sawyer. “Three times the fun.”
“I bet it is,” Aurin said with a laugh. Then he looked at Dylan properly. “You look good, Dyl. You look really happy.”
“I am,” he replied simply. “Isn’t it the craziest thing?”
“I’m so happy for you.”
Dylan pointed his chin at where Salem sat, and Aurin now saw that Fray and Tobin had joined him.
Oh dear...
“And Salem, huh?” Dylan winked. “Always thought you were a bit too fond of that cat.”
Aurin chuckled. “It’s a long story.”
“And you spent time with the mountain folk? How was that?”
Aurin really wasn’t sure how to explain it. “Incredible.” Then he made a face. “Weird, but incredible. I guess I’ll be telling everyone here all about it tonight, save myself relaying it a dozen times.”
Hendrix came over then. He slid his arm over Dylan’s shoulder as he smiled at Aurin. “You feeling okay now, Aurin? You were a little green before your swim.”
“Hungover and dehydrated,” Aurin said. “Feel a bit better now.”
“He needs another honey mead,” Fray called out, clearly having heard their conversation.
“Ugh,” Aurin said, his hand pressed to his stomach. “Hey, Fray,” he began.
But Fray laughed, not even needing Aurin to finish that sentence.“Hey, Fray, fuck off”was all too common a phrase here.
Tobin slung his arm across Fray’s shoulder, grinning wide, and Aurin’s hearts ached at just how in love they were. How happy they looked.
He drew his gaze to Salem, who was watching him, head tilted a little, eyebrows knitted. He was always so observant, and his curiosity never waned, that was for sure.
