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“She’s here?”
She smiled. “Yes, I thought it would be a good time for you two to meet when you arrived, but now that things have changed…” She trailed off. “We should still explain to her what’s going on. Besides, she’s not such a stranger.”
“Lead the way,” Arden said, swallowing a groan. “Let’s get this over with.”
They walked down the hall quietly. He knew his mother. She probably had a thousand questions to ask, but she was holding off. And he appreciated that. There was still a lot he had to wrap his mind around.
Anaya led them into a small study on the top floor. There was a couch, two chairs, and a desk with a computer perched on it. Books lined two of the walls and flowers hung from every perch and covered most surfaces. It was definitely his mother’s space.
Arden’s gaze tracked back to the couch where a familiar face peered at him. He froze and her eyes widened. She was up and across the room before he could think straight. Justice. He hugged her tightly and she squeezed him back just as hard.
“How long has it been?” she asked before she stepped back and gazed up at him. “I haven’t heard from you in so long.”
Arden’s lips tugged down. “Yes, I know. I had planned to reach out eventually but…” He trailed off. “Life got in the way.”
She shook her head. “We live for so long, I’m sure you would have tried eventually. I could have waited a little longer.”
Justice. He couldn’t believe she was in front of him just as graceful and sweet as she’d always been. But he knew there was more behind her eyes. Justice had been on the battlefield with him, her fierce ice magic striking alongside his own. But she’d been able to deal with the horrors of war and come out the other side far more unscathed. He envied her for that.
“You’re who I was meant to marry?” he asked.
“Yes, but I never thought you would actually show up. Even when you arrived I figured you would try to disappear.” She slapped his arm. “Jerk. But I’m glad you didn’t. Let’s discuss this marriage.”
Unease grew in Arden’s chest.Great. Now he would get to explain to her how that wasn’t going to happen.If she was a random stranger, it wouldn’t have mattered. But this was someone he gave a damn about.
“About that,” he started and glanced at his mother. “Um, yeah.”
He hated getting tongue-tied. Arden was always a confident man, but letting down Justice after not talking to her for years felt like a slap in the face. He loved his home, but their backward laws and traditions were a lot to take at times like this.
Arden cleared his throat. “I can’t marry you. I met my mates.”
Her eyes widened. “You did? Wait, did you say mates? As in more than one?”
He sighed. “Apparently yeah, more than one,” he grumbled, shaking his head at the surrealness of it all. “They’re here with me.”
Justice sighed. “Oh thank Goddess,” she sighed as she laid a hand on her chest and exhaled. “I was going to go along with this whole thing, but with some stipulations,” she said. “I know this kind of thing is done quietly, but well, let me introduce someone to you.” Justice waved a hand to the woman who had been perched on a chair, quietly watching them. “This is Mya. My girlfriend and my mate.”
Arden’s eyes widened. “You have one too?”
“Shocking, right? Especially after all that shit I talked about it.” She laughed and shook her head. “I was going to originally suggest that we get married and keep up appearances, but do our own thing. I know you don’t see me that way and I clearly am not into men.”
“That makes so much sense,” he said.
She raised a brow. “What does?”
He waved a hand. “The signs that you were gay.”
Justice burst out laughing. “There were no signs!”
“There were alotof them,” Arden said. “I always knew it deep down, but I didn’t want you to kill me so I kept my mouth shut.”
“You’re a moron,” she groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I told you, Mya. He’s nuts.”
She smiled at him, her blonde hair warmed by the lights. “I like him. He’s sweet.”
“Yeah, something like that,” Justice grumbled. “So, what now?” she asked Arden, the seriousness returning to her face. “How does this work?”
Anaya cleared her throat. “I think I’ve come up with the perfect solution to that. Let’s all have a seat and a drink,” she said as she sat behind her desk.
