Page 6 of The Bonds of Nyx
Did he resent the fact that she’d claimed me? That she knew?
I swallowed hard as he sighed and ran a hand through his tousled red hair. Rowan cracked a half smile that made me breathe out sharply. “So, you’re the new queen’s mate. Wonder how your mother will take that.”
By the Goddess. I couldn’t imagine how I’d tell her. My mother had never formed a mate bond with any of the princes from the queen before her. And from what I vaguely knew, neither had my mother’s former mentor.
“I don’t think I want to tell her over a video chat,” I replied, shaking my head. “Your mother is probably having a field day.”
Rowan snorted and strode over to the bed before dropping onto the dark grey blanket. “You’re right. My mother is probably high fiving herself as we speak.”
Something about those words tickled a sense of disbelief within me, like there was truth to that statement. As ridiculous as it was, maybe Seer Sable was more aware of what was going on than we ever realised.
I sat down beside him and rested my head in my hands. “I don’t know what to do. What if we aren’t actually mates? What if it was just the ramblings of a half-dead mage wishing for more?”
“Trust me,” Rowan said, voice tense, “we saw it. There was something…different—powerful—about how Ivy saved you. Something as strong as a mate bond.”
I blew out a breath. “I’m sorry.”
Rowan looked up at me with surprise. “What?”
I forced myself to look over at my best friend. He raised a brow, and although confusion swirled in his hazel eyes, there was also uncertainty and disbelief.
“I know I said…” I stopped myself as a twinge of doubt shot through me. Sucking in a breath, I sat up. “I know I said you and Ivy might be mates, and I’m sorry if all of this blindsided you. Although Iwantedit to happen to me, I didn’t think it would come at your expense.”
Rowan’s lips dipped into a frown; he was silent for a moment before barking a strangled laugh. “Shit, man, I’m not mad you’re her mate.” He ran a hand through his hair again as he sat up. “Am I a little jealous you were claimed first? Sure. But I sure as hell amnotenvious of the situation in which you found out.”
I grimaced and rubbed the spot on my abdomen where I’d been stabbed. “Not my finest moment.”
My friend snorted again. “Look, neither of you could have helped it. The bond made itself known because you were in danger, and I can’t fault either of you for that. I’m glad it came out because otherwise, you’d be dead.”
I nodded silently while he continued, “I still have my own shit to deal with before I can really give myself over to Ivy. I want to be her mate so bad, and it hurts knowing that when we return to Avalon, I might be pulled back because of her training, but fuck I’m glad you’re both okay.”
“I don’t want you to resent me, Ro,” I replied. “I know how much you care about her, and I don’t want you to think—”
“Think what? That you stole my girl?” Rowan shook his head and got to his feet. “No offence,princeling, but you’d have to try harder than that. She’s not going to know what hit her when our bond snaps into place, and the passion drives us to complete the mating.”
It was my turn to snort, though my stomach turned as his words replayed in my mind.
Complete the mating. My magic simmered in my blood at the thought, and a tug at my chest forced me to sit back. The need to find her, to take her and complete the bond rose within me so fast I hadn’t anticipated it.
Rowan must have read it on my face because he laughed. “Remember when Burrows found his mate back at the academy, and she refused to acknowledge him for a whole month during exams? He followed her around like a lost puppy wanting to complete the bond, while she was too focused on not failing out of Oberon.”
I groaned and scrubbed a hand over my face. “I can’t pine over her for a month. The bonds between us are stronger than normal because she’s the daughter of Nyx. Griffon used to tell me how quickly Mom mated Magnus and my dad because of how strong the bonds were.”
Griffon, my oldest brother, was around the same age as Maeve and had two mates of his own. He oversaw some political crap somewhere in the Fae realm for our mother, but he’d been around when my father had first found out he was our mother’s mate. Sir Theon, my father, had been a scholarly mage sent to Oberon Academy, and during a tour of the palace—the library, specifically—his mate bond appeared.
Finding out he was Queen Greer’s mate shocked everyone and changed his entire life. A couple years later, Sir Magnus appeared and joined Mother’s mate circle.
Both times, Griffon had been forced to witness the quick developments of their relationships. Both times, my brother hadn’t expected anyone else to join our mother’s circle.
“You also need to complete the bond for her magic,” Rowan added, drawing me out of my thoughts. “Not the most romantic reason, I will admit.”
No, certainly not.If I could have the luxury of holding back, I’d be working on proving to her that I’m worthy to be at her side. Grovel, especially, for my lies and betrayals. Beg for her forgiveness and be the mate she deserved before tying our lives together.
The way I’d hurt her…I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to forgive myself. The last thing I ever wanted was for her to think I was using our connection as a way to manipulate her into coming with us. Taking her the way I had, tasting her desire and having her come on my tongue—it had changed everything for me. And I couldn’t have her doubting that.
It made more sense now as to why I’d been pulled into her orbit. I’d learnt my lesson when it came to mixing work and pleasure, but with her…
I’d been foolish, and now I had to make it right. I would prove I was worthy of her, not just because of the bonds Nyx wove between us, but because I could be her partner, her friend.