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“Yes,” I said, holding her gaze.
“You’ve been killing them, one by one.”
“Yes.”
She nodded slowly, then crossed her arms over her chest, eyes narrowing at me. I braced for whatever would come next.
“Is that why you asked me about moon juice this morning?” Ravena asked, her voice cold enough to freeze an erupting volcano. “As a warning you will have to kill any male offspring we might conceive?”
“NO!” I shouted, jumping to my feet, seething with anger. “No one will ever again harm my woman or child because of genetics.” My hands fisted spasmodically with fury and the urge to break something. “Thirty-eight years ago, I failed to show the same courage that Krygor had when he allowed Anton to live. He faced contempt and challenges to his leadership of the clan for standing by his convictions. He and Lissy opened my eyes. I have devoted my life to abolishing those barbaric laws. But that only goes so far. No matter how severe the punishment, people will still break laws. It is mentalities that must change, and that takes time.”
She studied my face as if hoping to find there the answer to some question. I withstood her examination stoically, not daring to let hope blossom that she might forgive my crime.
“Do you still love her?” Ravena asked, with a neutral tone.
“Yes,” I said, matter-of-factly. “I will always love her. Some say it was nothing but puppy love, that the tragic events and my guilt have made me embellish what had only been a childhood fling. Others, like my father, claim she’d been using me, ensnaring the future ruler of Braxia with her wiles in the hopes I’d elevate her station from slave to concubine.” I shrugged. “Either could be true, or both could be false. It doesn’t matter to me. Growing up under my father was a never-ending nightmare. Lissy gave me the rare moments of happiness I ever experienced back then. For that alone, she will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Ravena pulled her long braid before her again, fingers fiddling with it as she began pacing. Lost in thoughts.
“You never married. Why?” Ravena asked, observing me from the corner of her eyes as she slowly strolled back and forth.
“Marriage is optional on Braxia. Most males do not take a mate but will take any number of concubines over the years. There is no concept of legitimacy for offspring here,” I said, walking around the table to reduce the distance between us. “Most unions only seek to form lasting alliances between houses and clans.” I paused and took in a deep breath, getting to the heart of her underlying question. “After Lissy, no female made me want more than mere sexual release, or a good bloodline for my heirs. Until you.”
Ravena stopped her pacing to look at me, a strange expression crossing her features.
“What of you?” I asked. “Why is such a beautiful, smart, and independent female unwed and childless?”
She shrugged. “Until recently, conceiving was impossible with any species other than Korletheans. Considering Guldan’s enslaved them to breed with Veredians, they weren’t really eager to hang out with me or any of my kind,” she said, with sarcasm dripping with an undisguised contempt for the Korletheans. “But I didn’t mate and avoided serious relationships because an Oracle had told me early on that I would meet my soulmate shortly after my brother’s death and being reunited with my mother. So I waited.”
My heart leapt. She’d claimed me as her soulmate during our ride to the forest. In light of my confession, did she regret the wait?
“Veredians are barely coming back from the brink of extinction,” Ravena said, resuming her pacing. “Contraception is anathema to us. You and I have been pretty active. What if I’m already pregnant?”
I didn’t try to hide from my face the pleasure such a prospect gave me. Yes, there would be challenges, but whatever the future held for us, I wanted a child with this woman… and more.
“Then I will happily fight for both of you, to keep you safe and ensure no one ever threatens you.” I marched up to her, forcing her to stop her pacing. “But what of you, Ravena? If you are pregnant, would you want a child sired by me?”
She recoiled. “Of course,” she said, as if I’d asked a ridiculously obvious question. “You’re my soulmate.”
My stomach knotted, and my heart leapt.
I swallowed hard, my eyes flicking between hers. “Even now? Even after what I’ve done?” I whispered.
Ravena’s expression softened as her gaze roamed over my features. She closed the distance between us and pressed her palms to my chest. I shivered, my hands covering her much smaller ones, hope taking root again deep within.
“I cannot deny that your tale is deeply troubling,” Ravena said in a soft voice. “But you were a boy under the tyrannical rule of a fanatic. We’ve all done terrible things in our past. Believe me, mine is far from pristine.”
The haunted glimmer in her eyes made me wonder what dark secrets tormented her. She cupped my face in her hands, her thumbs caressing my cheeks. I closed my eyes and leaned into her touch, my heart melting with affection for my mate.
“What matters is what we do about it today,” Ravena continued. “In the short few days I’ve known you, I’ve seen the relentless battle you’re leading to bring about change and to prevent such horrors from ever happening again. I know what you’ve done for Anton to help ensure his safety and that of his family. They’ve never given me any details, but I can see that Anton is still haunted by things he has done to Grace in the past. The guilt and remorse he continues to feel was impossible to miss during one of our conversations at Risqué. Whatever happened, I am glad Grace forgave him because that man worships her.”
“They are soulmates,” I said, carefully drawing her into my arms. “He has sacrificed much and more to be with her, and to make her happy. Whatever the future holds, on my honor, I will fight for us.”
“That is all I can ask,” Ravena said.
Rising on to the tip of her toes, she pulled my face towards her to give me a short, but tender kiss before resting her head on my chest. My arm closed around her slender waist, my free hand slipping through the silky length of her long hair to hold her nape.
Joy, fear, gratitude, and uncertainty all battled for dominance within me. She hadn’t rejected me for the horror I’d committed; her whose people cherished every new life as they fought for the survival of their species. It further cemented the improbable emotions she’d awakened in me. I barely knew Ravena, but every fiber of my being screamed to me that she belonged by my side, that no other would ever complete me like she could.
