Page 87 of Soul of Fire

I like it. He’s age-appropriate.

I’m at least fifteen years older than him,I argued. I had bonded with Kindra four Riftings ago, and I’d nearly been twenty-five at the time. Arne wasn’t an old man, but he must be in his late forties at the youngest.Why don’t you tell me how to help him if you want to be helpful.

Kindra rolled in my mind.Simply place your hand over his heart. I shall do the rest. It will make me weak for a time, so you must warn the others.

Won’t it cut me off from you entirely?I felt like my head was swimming, the words Jorgen was shouting to Branka muffled as if beneath feet of water.If this is mistletoe—

I will not be taking the poison from him, Kindra said, her voice calm and sure.Just protecting his heart from its effects. Your hand, now.

I nodded, placing a hand over his heart.

Skin to skin,Kindra corrected.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Rev,” Jorgen demanded, shaking my shoulder as I pulled back the cold, wet towel and replaced my hand. “Wait for the healer–”

The skin beneath my fingers flared suddenly golden, and the sick man seemed to sigh as his brow smoothed out.

“What the—“

“He is our mate.” The words came out as barely more than a whisper,

“He’s you’re what?” Jorgen was staring at my hand. At the gold light pulsing steadily into Arne’s chest.

“My mate. Kindra says he will be. She is trying to keep him alive.”

“He’s Chaosborn?” Branka asked, her jaw dropping.

“Must be,” Jorgen murmured, his voice more gentle than it had been a moment ago. “Might explain how he made it here in this condition. Can you grab that stool, love? Yes, that one.”

“Sit,” Branka commanded, gently but firmly. “Gods, Revna, I’m so sorry. We didn’t know.”

“Neither did I.” I had no idea what to do with my body other than keep my hand over Arne’s heart.

Branka pushed me firmly into the stool and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, exchanging quiet words with Jorgen that I didn’t hear.

This man would be my mate.Ourmate. And I knew nothing about him, aside from the fact that he was Arik’s uncle. Would that make me Arik’s aunt?

I shook my head, unable to think about that as Kindra’s magic continued to flow into him. I could almost see it wrapping protectively around his heart like a golden cage, protecting the vital organ from the ravages of the poison in his veins.

Hearthmother, please, I begged. I wasn’t even sure I believed that the Goddess heard such prayers, but the rising panic that this was ourmateand I was losing him fueled me.Please save him.

“The healer’s coming.” Ingmar stopped short at the door to the room. “And there’s nobody—what the fuck is going on?”

Jorgen explained, the conversation washing over me as everything else had for the last ten minutes.

“How can she have a human mate?”

“We think he must be Chaosborn.”

“What about Dragejakt?”

“Only son of a jarl. Probably got an exemption as part of the betrothal of his sister to the king.”

“Out.” It was too much. Too many voices in my head as I was trying to focus my energy on Kindra. On saving this man’s life. “Get out.”

The room went silent, and I could feel their eyes on me as mine remained locked on Arne.

“We’ll be right outside.” Branka squeezed my shoulder once, then shooed Jorgen and Ingmar out.