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“Okay, so Julian mentioned something about doing things a certain way so the bond will stick.”
Sunny’s frame stiffened. “Did he?”
“Yes. He wouldn’t let me, um—” How to phrase what happened—or didn’t happen—last night? “Let’s just say he’s not letting me reciprocate and I would very much like to fucking reciprocate.”
Sunny’s bottom lip disappeared between her teeth and I got that feeling she was hiding something again.
“What’s going on, Sun?”
Her cat-like gaze stayed fixed on the table. “You’ll have to talk to Julian about it, Eden.”
Except Julian had a way of making my whole brain fall out of my head. “I can’t seem to remember to ask important questions like that when he’s around. It’s like questions don’t matter when he’s close. But once he’s gone, questions are all I think about.”
Sunny nodded as if she understood. But how could she? Sunny had never been in the midst of a confusing-ass mate bond. “Maybe try writing them down?” she offered quietly.
“Actually,” I said, polishing off my sandwich and starting in on the tomato and cucumber salad. “That’s not a bad idea.” I found a piece of blank paper and jotted down the things I wanted to know.
1. Why did the healer say my bloodlust symptoms didn’t matter because
of the mate bond?
2. Did he really only let me keep the diamond so he could use my building as a hiding spot?
3. How do we make sure the mate bond sets? What happens if it doesn’t?
4. RECIPROCITY!!
I showed Sunny the list and her nose reddened as she read the last item.
“Is there anything else I should ask? Anything I don’t know?”
Sunny let out a long sigh. “I’m not sure, Eden. But I’ll let you know if I think of anything,” she lied. Sunny stood, straightened her hemline, and sauntered to the stairs. “I’ve got some witches to wrangle into submission before the incursion, but I’ll text you for dinner.”
Not wanting to put Sunny in an awkward position, I didn’t push the issue. I wanted to. God, did I want to fire question after question at her. But I knew she was walking a delicate line between doing as her boss, the king asked, and what I, the new mate wanted.
Twenty-Six
Why wouldSunny lie to me?
I sat at the work table long after she’d left and replayed her last few moments with me.
Sunny’s heart rate had fluttered in her chest like a trapped bird, while only the smallest ring of green showed around her blown pupils as she excused herself from the table.
Almost like a human fear response.
But Sunny wasn’t human—not entirely, anyway.
And I’d never heard her heartbeat before.
In fact, that was how BDD caught me trying to swipe the diamond. I’d listened, but I couldn’t detect his heartbeat just outside the door. I hadn’t even heard his approach.
I sent a quick text to Sunny asking for BDD’s number and she immediately responded with his contact card. I called and left a message since BDD was normal and didn’t answer calls from numbers he didn’t recognize.
He called back less than ten seconds later.
“Eden?”
“Hey, B, I was hoping you and I could have a chat soon.”
