Soren tilted their head slightly as if the question was surprising for them. "Yes, mate bonds are permanent," they agreed. "And as for if you needed to leave, I imagine my brother would come with you. Being someone's mate is a really big deal. They are the person perfectly built for you, meant to live their life by your side. It is not something easily forgotten or pushed away."
Archer nodded. "True, but what if I die? I'm human. That would be bad, right? He would get hurt?"
Soren shook their head. "No, not necessarily. I cannot recall a human and dragon pairing, but it does not mean it has not happened. Typically, with mates, they live a long time together. My guess would be that Fate is going to interfere somehow and make you as immortal as we are."
Archer fell back against the couch. His body was in shock, his jaw open and all thoughts gone.
Soren chuckled, rising to lean back as well. "I can see I have startled you. You must know that Fate in our world is precise. They do not put people together that they do not believe will be perfect. As a human, you bring about a different life to our horde. You have different perspectives and knowledge that we do not. We have lived among them, but to know how they feel and think, how their bodies work is not something we have gone in depth on. Truly, I believe you to be a gift."
"A gift?" Archer asked, his voice coming back to him at the positive insight from Soren.
"Yes, a gift. Not only are you my brother's mate, the one who will make him happy, but you are our connection to a world that so many fear."
Archer didn't truly understand what Soren was getting at. Yeah, he was human, but he wasn't powerful or anything. It's not like he could become a politician and waltz somewhere to explain,"Hey, there's a supernatural world. You don't need to be scared."
He was just himself.
Soren must have picked up on it because they used a foot to tap Archer's leg. "You doubt yourself?" they asked.
Archer swallowed thickly. "Yes, I do somewhat. Other people have made it clear that I’m not worth their time or anything."
"Come on. The people who failed you are to blame. Anyone who failed to see your true value in this world werenotevidence of your worth. That is defined by you. They were evidence of their own limitations. They were assholes, to put it bluntly."
Archer laughed and Soren smiled for the first time around him. It was beautiful in a way that Archer could appreciate, purely for aesthetic reasons. His heart was with Romilly. Butthe entire family did have the genetics of freaking Greek gods or something.
"Tell me about this person that hurt you," Soren said after a brief pause.
Archer battled with himself over whether it was a good idea to explain Robert and the parents who never took care of him, of all the so-called friends that had belittled him and let him down through the years. It would hurt to talk about, not because those wounds were necessarily still biting at him, but his past self, the younger version of him, was deeply hurt and had suffered.
"I have always been somewhat of a loner. People don't tend to want to be around me. Not for long anyway. They say I'm too needy with their time and energy, that I'm just sucking the life out of them."
"They clearly have never met a vampire," Soren joked. "Thatis getting the life sucked out of you."
Archer went wide-eyed, a visual coming to mind of him being bitten and drained dry.
Soren waved a hand. "My brother would never let it happen and hopefully you will never have to see it. It is a real doozy. Is that the word you say?"
Archer nodded before continuing on. He explained a bit more about his past and vaguely he mentioned Robert's betrayal which led him to run. Soren listened raptly, giving advice where they felt compelled to. Each time they shared and spoke, it made Archer feel better. He was very happy that he’d wound up going to Soren for advice.
When he had finished all he could say and ask, Archer clasped his hands together and sat up straight. "You know, you don't have to tell me everything that's going on with you, but I've been told I'm a really good listener. At least I like to think I am. I could be a sounding board for whatever's bothering you."
Soren stared at Archer. His gaze was steady, but Archer could tell their mind was going a mile a minute.
"You are a good listener," Soren said. "And while sharing with you might help me, I find myself in a bit of a quandary. There is someone I have complicated feelings about. I do not know that I will ever be able to properly break down those feelings and what I want to happen with this person. They are connected to the situation with the Fae. Are you aware of any of that?"
Archer twisted his hand in the motion to say he kind of knew and kind of didn't. He'd been listening to conversations Romilly had and understood that there was some tension.
"Basically, I liked someone I should not have. There was a betrayal, much like that of your Robert experience. All in all, I should not still like them. Sadly, my heart and body do not always agree with my mind."
Archer smiled softly. "Yes, that has happened from time to time, hasn't it? If it helps at all, I think that you should take your own advice."
Soren raised a brow. "And what advice was that?"
"To trust Fate." Archer beamed at them. "You told me that Fate never puts people together that shouldn't be, that they know what they're doing, and if that's the case for me, then it should be for you as well. Let Fate handle it. Don't stress so much."
Soren gave Archer another smile. Then they laughed and stood from the couch. They tucked their hands in their pockets and rocked back on their heels briefly. "I think you are right. I am going to go lay down and rest. I feel like I have traveled through time talking with you. You are so wise."
"For a human, you mean," Archer teased.
