Page 88 of Radiant Shadows

Excited it was. I certainly wasn’t expecting that reaction.

“Y–you’re not…put off by that?” I asked nervously.

“Why would I be?” Kai asked, like I was the one missing somevital understanding. “You can’t control who you love, and by shifter law, imprints are infallible.”

I flattened my lips as I tossed that idea around in my mind. If only I’d realized it sooner. Not that it mattered now anyway.

“Okay, but what about the minor detail that she’s a little young?” I added with extreme discomfort.

“Again, imprints are infallible,” Kai retorted, shaking his head matter-of-factly. “They trigger as soon as you meet your mate, age and circumstances aren’t important. Did you know that my father imprinted on my mother when she was ten years old? Granted he was fifteen, so not a terrible age gap.”

I grimaced reflexively. I could imagine how uncomfortable and scary that would be, being so drawn to someone so young. I was grateful that wasn’t the case with Shea and I.

“What most of our kind just doesn’t understand is that an imprint isn’t about sex,” Kai explained. “It’s not something dirty or shameful. The imprinted is compelled to be whatever their mate needs, and that evolves as life stages progress. If you meet when your mate is young, you’re compelled to be their guide and confidant, their protector. Then as they mature, you’re compelled to be their lover and partner. And when they’re old and gray, you’re compelled to be their caregiver. None of that is wrong, I don’t care who you are.”

His soliloquy deeply touched me. I had never thought about it like that before, but that was a good description of how I felt for Shea. It was so much more than simple desire. I needed her, but I also needed her to be happy, whatever that meant. That was why it was almost easy—eventually—to accept her affection for Julian.

“I’m glad you said that, Kai,” I said. “But like you said, mostof our kind doesn’t understand that. As evidenced by Celeste’s reaction to Shea just being a witch, I don’t think she would have taken reasonably to my imprint on her.”

“I’m inclined to agree with you,” he said with a mournful look. “I think I might be getting over her.”

I laughed and slapped his back. “It’s about time!”

He blushed and looked away.

“Oh, wait,” he said suddenly, turning back to me. “You said earlier that this somehow involved your vampire spy. How does he have anything to do with your imprint?”

Nail. Coffin.

But then again, Kai had been surprisingly receptive to everything so far. Might as well take a leap of faith.

“Right, so the thing about that… Shea is also romantically involved with Julian,” I informed.

Kai just stared at me for a moment, seeming frozen, and not for the first time, I wish I could readhismind.

Finally, he pinched his brow. “Okay, let me just see if I’m understanding correctly. You are imprinted on a witch who’s in love with a vampire?”

I nodded.

“And she doesn’t love you?”

I squirmed slightly. “Well, I mean, we haven’t used that word yet, but I believe she does.”

“So your witch—”

“Shea,” I corrected.

“So Shea loves both of you, and you love her?”

“Yes.”

“And the vampire?”

“Julian,” I offered. “And yes, I believe he also loves Shea.”

He frowned, looking at me skeptically. “Are you punking me? Because this sounds like a fucked up version of Twilight.”

I snorted a laugh despite myself. Why did he have to be right about that?

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