Page 135 of The Price of Ice

It wasn’t until halfway through the third go around—they’d both resisted much longer the second time, until Kallen had shifted his focus to get them to move closer toeach otherand they’d folded in a matter of seconds—that Taylor came over to whisper in Kallen’s ear if he’d noticed that once one of them gave in, the other immediately followed.

After that, he’d sent Richard to the next room. He’d had Anthony on his feet in less than ninety seconds. They werebonded, naturally. It didn’t always happen right away, but it would have been difficult for an alpha and omega to be in a long-term relationship without completing the bond their feelings for each other would have opened between them.

He’d known it was a chemical process and not simply a piece of paper, but the moment Richard also stood in less than two minutes, it became clear it was also more than the sum of its parts.

Together, they’d been making Kallen work for it for a good six minutes before giving in.

“Are you aware of each other or just me?” he asked once he’d topped up their teacups.

Richard was frowning a little, but it was Anthony who spoke, “I’m always aware of him. Even when he is not in the room.”

“Oh.” So it was the bond. And none of the other volunteers were bonded couples, which likely meant the data wouldn’t be relevant to Tami’s spreadsheets. “What does it feel like?”

“Warm,” the alpha said, glancing at his partner and seemingly getting caught up watching him. “Like knowing instinctively where the sun is without looking. Although of course the sun is everywhere, and so is Anthony. All I need to do is call him.”

“Call him? Through the bond?”

Anthony was looking right back at Richard. “It feels a bit like your magnetism, a bit of a pull and I know I’m wanted, and I know where he is. I mean, the kitchen or the garden,” he clarified, meeting Kallen’s eyes. “We haven’t tried playing hide and seek.”

Richard laughed at that. “It does feel similar, does it not? Except for me it’s not a pull... More like an invitation, as if there was an empty space that needs filling that I can move into if I want to. Somewhere warm and safe.”

THEIR FIRST PRACTICALwas declared a roaring success, leaving half their volunteers wanting to join the class. Thankfully Taylor had put his foot down and said they’d revisit the issue in the coming year after the traditional three-week break.

They had one more class scheduled before then since Kallen had opted for not having one the week of his own heat. He’d been half afraid of Taylor asking why, but the other man had simply taken him at his word when he’d said he didn’t think he could make it and asked if Kallen would mind if they all tried to muddle along together without him.

Kallen had gone quiet for too long and Taylor had raised an eyebrow, “What’s with the face?”

“Um, well, am I really doing anything much? At the beginning, maybe, but now you can all figure it out on your own, right?”

Taylor had just looked at him for a moment, face impassive. “Would you have said that to your coach?”

“What?” His last coach hadn’t exactly been his favourite person, but without even trying Kallen could think of several times the man had improved his game with his instructions. “That’s not really the same, though. He knew what he was doing, he’d played hockey for twenty years before becoming a coach.”

“Sure,” Taylor said. “And you know what you are doing because you have done it. None of the others could get either of Leo’s grandfathers to move an inch while they were together.”

“And you think they can learn it? That it isn’t just...” He huffed. “Natural talent or something?”

Taylor shrugged. “Can’t know that, can we? But seeing someone do something means it’spossible. None of us had really paid much attention to lure before, and you made it real.”

“So I’m like an inspiration?”

“What do you actually think a teacher is? Or a leader? Someone who knows all the answers already?”

Kallen swallowed, looking away. “Someone who knowssomeof the answers.”

“That can work, though often you get someone who thinks things can only be done their way. The best teachers I have had are the ones who know they are still learning and who make no effort to hide it, so we can learn together without fearing making mistakes, knowing that learningrequiresmaking mistakes.” Kallen dared to meet his eyes, warm and serious. “You are good at this, Kallen. I’m not flattering you. And when I suggested we can do some work without you, I didn’t mean we don’t need you. Sure, maybe we could get somewhere on our own since you have given us the tools, but I think we could get further with you. I bet you whatever you want we’d have tons of questions the next time we meet after the break.”

He sighed, giving in and getting to his feet. “Okay, I... I hear you.”

And he did. He wasn’t quite sure hebelievedit, but he wanted to, and he trusted Taylor wasn’t buttering him up. “So I’ll see you guys in April?”

“Or you can see us on March 21st, we’ll be here from about seven till midnight to ring the new year together.”

“Oh.” He hadn’t actually made any plans for it. “How’s that...?”

Taylor grimaced, but it soon became a self-deprecating smile. “Baudu just got confirmation we can have the space yesterday, so I don’t actually know anything. But we thought it would be nice to have a place where everyone could come over, in case people’s families are not supportive. Or just far away.”

Like Levy’s, Kallen realised. He hadn’t asked his boyfriend about his plans, either. “I’ll let you know. But it is a great idea, I’m sure lots of people will appreciate it.”

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