Page 82 of Warrior’s Mate

"There always is."

He glanced around. "You said we would talk about the bond."

Maelis followed his gaze toward the crowded hall. "This seems like a terrible location."

"Agreed."

"Find us a door."

It took forty minutes.

The best Kaiven could secure was a small administrative office whose previous occupant had abandoned it for emergency duty. The room contained one desk, two chairs, a storage cabinet, a narrow couch, and—most importantly—a door that closed.

Maelis stood inside while Kaiven locked it. Silence settled around them.

Not true silence. The relief station remained audible through the walls: footsteps, announcements, the distant hum of generators. But no one was asking either of them for a decision.

Kaiven turned. For the first time since recognition, Maelis saw uncertainty on his face with no command mask over it.

"Tell me," she said.

"The bond is not required for us to remain together."

"I know."

"It is not required for sex. Or partnership. Or family."

"I know."

"I need to say it anyway."

She nodded.

"For my people, completing a solmatu bond is permanent in the sense that it changes how we perceive one another. It doesn't remove free will. It does not make either partner obedient. It isn't ownership. But it is intimate and it cannot be treated as casual."

Maelis leaned against the desk. "And what do you want?"

"You."

The answer was immediate, then he shook his head.

"That was inadequate."

"Very."

"I want a life with you. I want arguments about maps and bad tea and which one of us is being unreasonable. I want to know where you are because you choose to tell me, not because I have the right to demand it. I want to wake beside you when the world is ordinary again, if we are fortunate enough to see ordinary."

His voice roughened.

"And if we are not, I still want whatever life we have."

Maelis stepped closer.

"That is better."

"I practiced none of it."

"Also better."