Page 52

“Little Mate.”

I push myself up at the sound of Soren’s rumbling voice, wincing when something pulls in my back.

Sending my strength to Caelan last night took almost everything out of me. I was already running on empty, but when I saw him, I had to try.

I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew it could be done, and I fumbled through until it finally, blessedly, started to work.

It helps that I finally broke down the barrier between us. With my hands on his skin and his heart pulsing under my fingers, it was almost too easy, in fact.

And I managed to push every ounce of strength I could spare through the Bond before Gavran ripped me away.

I still can’t believe I’ve been so close to him all this time.

And worse—I know now that if they’d just taken me to him, I could have healed him myself right away. Sure, it took a second to get a handle on it, but it was mostly instinct. Like my Bond already knew what to do and just needed the freedom to act.

It’s a massive weight off my shoulders, knowing he’s going to be alright.

Especially now, with another Mate who needs me.

I glance over, finding him sitting sideways, leaning against the bars separating his cell from mine. I frown, realizing he’s in the same position he was in last night when I finally fell asleep.

I vaguely remember him refusing to move, telling me he was content to stay where he was and watch over me, but I didn’t really expect…

Fates… did he really stay there all night?

“Did you sleep?” I ask, finally forcing myself to move. I stand up, biting down on my lower lip to keep from whimpering in pain as I shuffle across the cell.

“I don’t need much sleep,” he answers, frowning when I hesitate a few steps away from the bars separating us. “What’s wrong?”

“I—”

What is wrong?

I… I don’t know.

I can’t pinpoint what it is, exactly, but I feel a sudden sense of unease the closer I get to Soren. I know it’s not him, but whatever it is grates like sandpaper rubbing against my nerves.

The feeling’s familiar, and after a moment I realize why. This is how I felt at first after my father locked me in the basement.

When I see the worry in his eyes at my hesitation, I make myself shake off the sensation, determined not to worry him needlessly.

“Just a bad memory,” I tell him, and with what I hope is a reassuring smile, cross the final few feet between us and take a seat. We’re less than a foot from each other, but I may as well be as far from him as I am from Caelan.

His long blond hair hangs loose to his shoulders, threaded with tiny, intricate braids. The top and sides are pulled back, secured with a plain strip of leather.

I want to reach out and touch his hair the way he did with mine last night, but I keep my hands to myself. I don’t even know how to act, or what I’m allowed to do or not do.

Everything’s changed so much since the night I met Caelan, and I feel lost. Unsure of every choice I make.

“Is this how it was when you met your vampire Mate?”

My eyes widen in shock. “Can you read my mind?”

He chuckles, and when he laughs, almost invisible lines appear around the corners of his green eyes. He shifts, resting his elbow on top of his knees

“No, Little Mate. If I happened to say what you were thinking, it was just a coincidence. You have a very expressive face.”

I chew on my bottom lip, trying to decide how to answer. Will he be angry if I talk about Caelan? What happens when Caelan wakes up? Are they going to get along? What if they hate each other? Should I keep my relationship with Caelan separate from Soren and vice versa?