Page 21 of Immortal Bonds

Eden paused, staring at his uncle with a sort of curious intensity. "I don't know if I should tell you. You still look a little dazed."

Thalric paused for a moment, weighing out what he should and shouldn't say to his nephew. Eden wasn't the best at keeping secrets, but it seemed he might have had some of his own. If Thalric was reading the situation right, Eden had a reason for getting these dragons, and it wasn't anything he wanted getting out.

Thalric sat down, letting his body go lax and his muscles loosen. He rolled his shoulders, clearing away the tension. "I met someone online years ago. We have kept in touch, but it has never gone past anything but texts. I've never even heard their voice.”

Eden sat with eyes wide, watching his uncle.

"They are the one I was just talking about. The one I worry doesn't have enough confidence in what they do. They sent me a picture today of a dragon with features and stitchwork like the one in your photo. If you knew who it was, then I thought for a second maybe it was fate's way of bringing us together. It could be the perfect timing for it all to pan out. I don't know. Maybe I'm just a fool."

Eden shook his head quickly. "You're not a fool, Uncle T. It could totally be fate. What if you're the next Saint meant to fall in love? I mean, I totally thought it was going to be me, but things change."

Thalric snorted at the incredulous way his nephew spoke. "You were convinced fate had you next in line?"

Eden shrugged. "I mean, I was going to help her along, you know. Maybe she needed it."

Thalric smiled, grateful that his nephew was such a fun person to be around. He could have been with anyone else when this conversation happened and might have felt wrong for expressing himself or judged. Instead, Eden agreed with him and saw the potential.

Of course, Eden didn't know that Thalric had already caught the scent of his fated mate. "You don't have to tell me anything for sure, Eden. But does the person you know live here in San Noctis?"

Eden nodded slowly. "They do. Why do you ask?"

Well, it was now or never. "Because the other day I was in town, and I caught a scent. That scent drew my attention, and I ended up following it to the local coffee shop. I don't know anything past that because they'd already left. But if my guess is correct, then the person whose scent I caught is someone important."

"Actually, your fated mate," Eden finished, his voice breathy and full of wonder. "Oh my gosh, I can't believe this is happening. That it's really happening. And I get to be the one to put the pieces together to figure it all out." Eden's voice rose with each word. Thalric could see the wheels in his nephew's head turning a million miles an hour.

"I can't say that your friend and the person I caught a hint of at the coffee shop are the same. But it's possible, of course. And if they happen to be my Little Biter—" Thalric didn't catch himself in time.

Eden froze at the nickname. "Did you say Little Biter?"

Thalric hummed noncommittally, but there was no taking it back.

"Oh, this is perfect. It's actually real and happening. And I have zero doubt that your Little Biter and my friend who makes my stuffies and the person you smelled are actually the same." Eden fanned his face, acting as if he had done some type of strenuous workout.

Thalric couldn't help but laugh. "Why are you so worked up about this?"

"I just — I love love, you know? And seeing my friend happy is going to be wonderful. And if he becomes part of the family, then maybe you'll actually stay in San Noctis, because if you take him away from me and he can no longer make my stuffies, I'm going to murder you." The sweet tone Eden had been using faded as the threats arose.

Thalric's brows rose. "Is that so? He means that much to you?"

"Well, yeah, but he's really shy, and I've wanted to be better friends with him, but he basically goes to his shop and goes home. I don't know. It's complicated."

"It sounds like it," Thalric noted. "Now then, how are we going to arrange a way for me to meet this friend? Because personally, if he is the man I've been talking to, I need to meet him as soon as possible."

Eden hummed, tapping his chin with his finger. "I mean, he did just tell me that my order was ready. So maybe I could convince him to bring it to me instead of sending someone to get it. That way he could be here, and you could catch his scent, and I can introduce you, and then you can follow up from there." He nodded to himself. "Yep, I think that'll work great."

Thalric shook his head. "I don't know that that's exactly how it will go. There are a lot of factors involved here."

"Factors schmackters. At the end of the day, we've got to believe, you know, because I really think that this could be the thing for you. He could be your one. And I want you happy, Uncle T. More than anything."

"More than anything?" Thalric asked, eyes sparkling with glee.

"I mean, maybe not anything. I've got a couple of dragons of my own to contend with."

It wasn't the first time Thalric had heard hints that Eden had his eyes set on two men instead of one. The fact wasn't all that surprising given how rambunctious Eden could be. He needed all the people he could get — hopefully both of them Daddies. If you added another Little with him full-time, well, that could be too much for one person to handle. It was going to be a lot with Eden as it was.

"Speaking of which, have you decided on a plan? You've gone quiet on me, Nephew," Thalric said, waiting for some sign that Eden was ready to help.

Instead of responding, Eden started typing away on his phone. He stuck his tongue out, nibbling at it as his expression moved from thoughtful to curious to happy. "Okay. I sent him a text explaining that with everything going on with the council and stuff, I really, really could use his help. And if he would bring me the new dragons, I would be eternally grateful."