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They spot us as easily as I saw them and I wonder if they feel drawn to me in the same way. Their gazes heat but frowns mar their beautiful faces when they see Quilo relaxing beside me and laughing.
Whit heads for the bar and Yas comes straight for us. Or more accurately, for me. He drops down on my other side and leans over to kiss my cheek. It makes my heart rate pick up a little. He’s so handsome and refined, and different to Quilo...how can I like them both?
“You look gorgeous,” he whispers in my ear, his warm breath tickling the sensitive skin. “Hello.”
“Dude, bit full on,” Quil complains, pouting. “Aren’t you going to say anything about how I look? I put a lot of effort into this outfit, I’ll have you know.”
“I can see that. Your jeans have hardly any rips in them. Jeez, I would have thought you of all people could afford some nicer clothes,” Yas teases, shaking his head. I laugh.
“Does being a skate rental attendant pay well then?” I ask, before clapping my hands over my mouth in horror. Oh my god that was so rude! Why did I say that?
“I’m guessing you guys do more than just work together then,” I say desperately trying to cover my tracks. They don’t seem to mind though and I can’t help but relax and smile at their easy banter.
“We’ve been best mates forever.”
“Oh, so we’re not going with honesty is the best policy here then?” Whit says as he joins us and takes a seat opposite me, passing Yas a beer and keeping one for himself. The glasses are etched with the Silver Steins Brewery logo on them. God I hope they’re drinking non-supe brews. Some of the magical beers have nasty side effects.
“Ah, okay. You want to be totally open and honest?” Quilo replies. “Be my guest. You can go first, windy.”
I frown. What is going on here? It’s clear that these three are all good friends but there’s a definite undercurrent of rivalry? Competition? I’m not sure but there’s a definite edge to Quil’s teasing.
“I thought we were just going to talk, explain, get to know each other,” Yas says with a frown. “I’m pretty sure we came on too strong the other day and we want the chance to put this right. And I suspect that Lumi here thinks we’re fucking this up. Again.”
“I’m just confused guys,” I admit honestly. I don’t know what else to say. I feel stuck in some weird kind of limbo where I can’t move forwards or back. What’s supposed to happen now?
“Well, she knows I’m a Crin. And we have mates. Fated mates. When the bond is activated, we instantly know. That’s how I’m sure I’m not mistaken.”
“I’m a shifter too,” Yas tells me. “My kind can be cold and aloof or way over affectionate, hence the inappropriate kiss just now. Sorry about that. It just felt like the right thing to do. We’re kind of all or nothing.”
“It’s okay, it was nice. I kind of liked it.” I give him a shy smile.
“I’m a polar bear. Shifter. Obviously. And yeah, I’m feeling the exact same bond as Quil. It’s mighty powerful, right?”
I take a deep breath.
“Is that...normal? For multiple mates I mean?”
“Well, I’m not the one with multiple mates here...you are. So I guess it would depend on you and your species, since you’re clearly not human. In the wider bear community it’s not unusual, but polar bears are a little more monogamous normally. It’s also unusual for us to mate outside of our species.”
“Not mine,” Quilo declares cheerily. “We’ll love anything.”
“Yeah like a horny stray dog,” Whit quips, making me giggle.
“What about you?” I ask Whit, turning to him in an attempt to put off my own reveal for as long as possible.
“I’m Boreas.” I scrunch my nose up at his comment, perplexed.
“I’m sorry I don’t know what that is,” I say apologetically.
“Not what. Who. I’m the God of the North Wind and Winter, first in line to inherit the throne to the kingdom of the north, and, as we’re going for full honesty here, I’m also currently in Silver Springs because I’m betrothed to someone back home that I really don’t want to marry.”
My jaw hits the table.
If I ever needed confirmation that this bond was real and not some elaborate joke, it’s the searing pain I get in my chest when Whit tells me he’s intended for someone else. I feel totally devastated. Crushed. And it’s an absolute battle to keep my face neutral. Once I pick my jaw up off the table that is.
I take a moment to consider the feeling inside my chest. It’s not even the disappointment of finding the guy I like isn’t interested or that we’re doomed to be star-crossed lovers. I’ve only ever felt agony like it once before in my life: when Lumi’s father ripped my heart out. That’s how I feel now hearing that Whit is engaged. Heartbroken.
Which is ridiculous. Because bond or not, no one falls in love that quickly. Right?
