Page 23 of Heartsong
“I don’t know. Art theft happens. But a big statue is…gutsy, to say the least. Everyone is pretty baffled. The security system was tampered with, so there don’t seem to be any leads on who did this.”
“Even more reason not to go back.”
She hit him with another dangerous look from under her lashes. “They’d be stupid to come back. And the owners are putting in better security.”
Frey stood, tail lashing behind him. No mate worth a damn handed over the safety of his woman to someone else. Certainly not someone who’dfailedbefore.
“That doesn’t matter, my mate. The museum is unsafe. I won’t allow you to put yourself in danger.”
Anna snapped a small cloth off one of the machines to dry her hands with all the effectiveness of throwing down a gauntlet.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” she declared. “I want to discuss this mate thing you keep bringing up.”
Frey couldn’t help an irritated huff flaring his nostrils. “What is there to discuss?”
“You seem to think it’s important. And you keep calling me ‘mate.’ I want to know what you mean.”
“I mean you are my mate. My heartsong. My fated one, chosen by the goddesses.”
She blinked at him, silent for long enough that unease tugged at his gut.
“You mean like a soulmate.”
“Is that the human word for it? Then yes. My kind were made to have one. We may lay with others, love others, but there is only one heartsong for all our life. It is the only soul we may have younglings with.”
The color drained from Anna’s face, and she held the cloth out as if to shield herself.
“Whoa,no.That’s not—kids aren’t happening.”
“It is too early for younglings, I agree. I want you to myself for a long while yet.” He hoped his grin might soften her, even seduce her a little, but if anything, it only alarmed her further.
“I’m human,” she squeaked. “I can’t—we can’treproduce.”
He did not like how she said that last word. “Guardians have found their heartsongs in humans before. It is not common, but it has happened. Even one of the First, the rock-born, had his soul claimed by a human maiden. We were made by human druids, with human blood. I assure you, my Anna, we are compatible.”
A choked sound left her throat that he found difficult not to be offended by.
“It’s just—it’s not possible. I can’t be your soulmate!”
“Of course, you are,cân fy nghalon. Even before last night, I stirred whenever you were near. My kind, even imprisoned, were aware of the world around us. At least in glimpses. But when you came to me, it was like I could finally see. It was your touch that woke me.”
Abandoning the cloth, Anna walked past him into the main room of the dwelling, wringing her hands as she sat on the large cushioned bench.
Frey followed carefully, and when she didn’t say anything, knelt on a knee before her. She looked up, startled, taking in his stance, and he watched her pulse beat rapidly at her throat.
“I know it is much to accept,” he said, gentling himself for her, “but the goddesses surely know why they brought you to me. You are my hope, Anna. For myself and my kin.”
She let out a pained sound, and Anna buried her face in her hands. “That’s…no, you can’t put that all on me. I’m no one, okay? I’m not special.”
His throat rumbled with a displeased growl, and he covered her knees in one of his hands. “I won’t hear you speak of yourself so. You are the most special human I’ve ever met. The goddesses may have chosen for us, but I am well pleased by their choice. You are everything I could want, my Anna.”
She shook her head vehemently, making Frey’s chest go tight. His hand slipped from her as she jumped up, turning her back to him.
“You don’t even know me. You don’t…” Something in her voice made Frey think it wasn’t just to him she spoke.
When she turned back to him, it was with her arms crossed over her chest. It pained him to see her shielding herself from him in every way.
“I just don’t believe what happened can be because of this mate bond. If you turn back to stone in the day, then the curse isn’t really broken. And if it’s not broken, then I’m not really your mate.”
