Page 54 of Cosmic Soul

Chuckling, Caleb said, “You’re in for a shock.”

“Caleb is a unique soul,” I said before telling Serlotminden about my mate, my voice growing more animated with each word. When I finally stopped, I looked at my older brother who watched me. I cleared my throat and turned toward Caleb. He caressed my cheek, and I released a low moan, unable to help myself.

“I would like to get to know Caleb. If you will allow me,” Serlotminden asked.

Part of me insisted I deny him. Caleb getting to know my handsome, charming older brother almost felt like a threat, even though there wasn’t one. I wanted to keep my mate to myself, but that wasn’t right. Controlling Caleb was wrong, and I wouldn’t do that disservice to my mate.

“I would like that,” Caleb said, and I related it to Serlotminden begrudgingly.

“Hmm,” my older brother said, studying me. “I shall retrieve Kalvoxrencol and Seth. Will you meet us at the port?”

“Yes.”

When he disappeared into the palace, Caleb said, “I’m excited.”

I opened my legs for him to stand between, and once again, I surrounded him with my wings. “Haven’t you been on a shuttle?”

“Of course. But this will be fun.”

“It will,” I replied, keeping my face blank.

Caleb’s smile dimmed, and it shredded my soul to see him upset. “What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong? You’ve been…” He stopped, shaking his head. “What’s going on?”

Two different paths lay before me: lie to my mate or be honest to him. I refused to be dishonest with the one I wished to share my life with. “I’m jealous.”

His head cocked to the side, allowing me to see his cute, round ear through his brown curls. “Jealous? You’re jealous? That’s it? It’s not me? What do you have to be jealous of?”

“My older brother. You liked him.”

He blinked, then started laughing. Needles poked my soul. Foolish. I was beyond foolish for confessing such. Caleb and I were together, but from what Kalvoxrencol said, he might not even view our relationship the same way. Caleb and I courting might mean nothing to him, and it was idiotic of me to have, let alone admit such emotions.

A cold brush made me look up. Caleb rested his fingers against my chin. “No, Sunshine. Don’t do that. I can see you pulling away from me. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m not laughing at you. I swear. I wouldn’t laugh at you. Well, I would, but not in a mean way.”

I didn’t respond.

“I want to get to know Serlotmindenbecausehe’s your brother. No other reason. I mean, he seems nice and everything, but mainly, it’s because he’s your family. I want to know thembecause I’m with you, Fyn. We’re courting. We’re boyfriends. Your family is important to you, so they’re important to me.”

Heat rushed under my scales. My wings rustled, attempting to gather Caleb close, but they slid through him. “My Caleb.”

“We don’t have to go.”

“No,” I said. “You want to, and I know Seth would enjoy spending more time with you, as would my brothers.”

“I don’t want anyone else besides you. I promise.”

My soul jolted, racing in my chest, but the pleasant heat turned into something frigid. “Because I alone can see you.”

“No, Zoltilvoxfyn,” Caleb said. “I like you because you are you. I was attracted to you from the first time I saw you. You were so pretty when you stepped out of the greenhouse. You wiped dirt on your cheek.” He brushed my cheekbone. “Right here. It was adorable. You make me laugh. You make me happy. You make me alive, Sunshine.” He bit his lip. “I mean, if you hadn’t been able to see me, I would have stalked you. No. I don’t mean that. I mean, I do. Cause I would have. I swear I’m not being weird.”

I swallowed as Caleb continued to ramble about how he would have stalked me, in a non-disturbing fashion.

Caleb took a deep breath, stalling his rapid speech. “I like you. That’s what I’m saying. I like you for you. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“Good.” His fingers roved over my face. “When we get back, we should go on our date.”

“I would like that.” Unable to stop myself, I growled, “You are mine, Caleb, and I will not let you go.”

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