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She leans forward. “When our ancestors signed this alliance, the dragon shifters didn’t have soulmates. The bonds had stopped because of the war that killed off… nearly all of your species.”
I nod. “I know that part.”
“Well, the dragon shifters knew the mate bond would eventually come back.” She squeezes my hands. “So, it’s in the magic of the contract that neither of us will have a soulmate. It was to protect us.”
I blink, slowly absorbing her words. “Let me see if I understand this—you’re telling me that I’vewastedevery day since we got married trying to convince myself not to fall in love with you when I could’ve just given in and been happy?”
Her grin widens. “Yes, that is exactly what I’m telling you. Though, it is a little your own fault too. You were the stubborn one who decided to hide the fact that it was bothering you this much.”
“Yeah, but you were all… perfect. And I felt all these things for you and my very soul felt like it was going to be ripped in half.” I try to put it into words, but I can’t even explain. “But it doesn’t even matter now.”
“It doesn’t,” she says. “But I am sorry that you had to go through all of that. I knew there was something bothering you, but I wanted to wait until you were comfortable enough to talk to me about it. Had I known, I would’ve said something.”
I watch my wife, her eyes a swirl of purple, blue, and pink. I think of all the times I’ve walked away from her, reminding myself that she couldn’t be mine. I wasn’t always careful with my words—they were sharp. I was trying to push her away just as much as I was trying toconvince myself that Wisteria wasn’t special. But I knew better. Nobody is more special than her.
“Are you disappointed?” Wisteria chews on her bottom lip as she watches me with an expression that I can’t quite read. Her eyes now have a slight orange hue to them. I want the pink back.
“Disappointed about what?” I ask, unable to understand her question.
“About not having a mate,” she clarifies. “I know that soulmates are really important to your species. Do you regret not having one?”
I slowly shake my head. “Why would I? I have something even more rare and special. I don’t need a soulmate bond to tell me that I love you.”
Her eyes, now purple, widen a fraction. “You love me?”
“Yes.” I furrow my brows. “You didn’t know?”
“No. You’ve never told me. I thought the way I feel for you is one sided.” Her eyes turn pink again. “I love you, Stellan.”
My lips turn upward at her words, almost without my permission. “I know.”
“Because of my eyes.” She groans. “I knew I should’ve kept my emotions hidden from you, but you made me trust you and then I kept forgetting to hide them around you. The only other person I can drop my mask with is Cypress.”
“You never have to hide from me. I’ve been in love with you as long as you have with me, I just couldn’t tell you because it wouldn’t be fair when I was hiding this big secret from you.” A secret that I didn’t need to hide. I should’ve just told her the truth from the beginning. Everything would’ve been so much simpler.
I watch my wife, torn between carrying her back to ourrooms for a moment of privacy and eating the meal packed for us.
Wisteria answers for me. She leans forward, her eyes wide with excitement. “Can we eat now? I’m starving.”
I start pulling bowls from the basket and setting them out on the table. Wisteria glances warily at all the food like she’s wondering how we’re supposed to eat everything. So easily she forgets that shifters require a lot more calories than she does.
She bounces a little in her seat when she sees me pull out a container of brownies. I laugh at her exuberance.
My wife is absolutely adorable.
Wisteria
When we eat dinner with Stellan’s family, he can’t keep his eyes off of me. My stomach is full of butterflies as I try not to look adoringly at my husband at the dinner table. Still, his little brother notices. He wrinkles his nose at us, but I can see the humor in his eyes.
Unfortunately, Stellan’s father also notices. He takes turns glaring at Stellan and then at me. I wonder what I’ve done to annoy the dragon king—he’s always been nice on the rare occasion that we spoke previously. Maybe he just doesn’t like me being married to his son.
Or, maybe…
I look at King Basilicus, the earlier proclamation of Stellan’s love making me bold. “Is something wrong, King Basilicus?”
“It’s just Warrick,” Dove says.
King Basilicus makes no move to nod at me, making me think he’d rather I not drop the formal title.
