Page 41 of The Right to Bear Claws
"I can still feel him, even now. Like he's sitting in the back of my mind, whispering doubts and fears. Making me question everything I thought I knew about the people here, about you."
Elias's jaw clenched with helpless rage. Bad enough that this creature was stalking her dreams, now it was poisoning her thoughts while awake too.
"We need to talk," he said. "Tonight. There are things about our situation, about what we might be able to do to protect you, that I should have explained sooner."
"What kind of things?"
"The kind that are better discussed somewhere private, without walls listening in." He gestured toward the window, where the first pale light of morning was creeping across the mountains. "Can you meet me at the lake tonight? Around sunset?"
Kaia's expression grew wary. "The lake where you found me? Where I've been sleepwalking to every night?"
"I know it's not ideal, but it's also the most protected spot in Hollow Oak. The wards there are stronger than anywhere else, and if we're going to discuss supernatural bonds..." He trailed off, realizing he was getting ahead of himself. "Just trust me, okay? I'll explain everything tonight."
"Supernatural bonds?"
"Tonight," he repeated firmly. "I promise, no more secrets after today. But I want to do this right, and that means having a proper conversation in a place where we won't be interrupted."
She studied his face for a long moment, and he could see her weighing his words against whatever poison Tobias had been whispering in her dreams.
"Okay," she said finally. "Tonight at sunset. But Elias? If you're planning to tell me something that changes everything between us, I need you to promise me you'll be honest. Completely honest, even if you think the truth might scare me away."
"I promise. Complete honesty, even if it's terrifying."
The rest of the day passed with agonizing slowness. Elias threw himself into construction work with single-minded intensity, but even the familiar rhythm of hammer and saw couldn't quiet his churning thoughts. How did you explain to someone that they were your destined mate without sounding like a possessive lunatic? How did you ask someone to consider a claiming bond that would bind their souls together forever without making it sound like an ultimatum disguised as a choice?
"You're brooding again," Finn observed during their lunch break, settling beside him on a stack of lumber. "Want to talk about it?"
"I'm telling Kaia about the claiming bond tonight."
"Ah." His youngest brother was quiet for a moment, processing the implications. "How do you think she'll take it?"
"Honestly? I have no idea. She's been through so much, learned so much about the supernatural world in such a short time. Adding mate bonds and claiming rituals to the mix..." Elias grabbed the back of his neck trying to focus. "What if it's too much? What if she thinks I'm trying to trap her?"
"Are you?"
The blunt question made Elias look up sharply. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean, are you offering her the claiming bond because you think it's her only chance at survival, or because you genuinely want to spend the rest of your life with her regardless of supernatural threats?"
"Both," Elias said honestly. "I can't separate the two anymore. I love her, Finn. Can't imagine my future without her in it. But I also can't stand the thought of losing her to something I can't fight."
"Then tell her that. All of it. The love, the fear, the desperate need to protect her, and the choice that's entirely hers to make." Finn's expression grew serious. "But make sure she understands that you want her, claiming bond or no claiming bond. That your feelings aren't conditional on her accepting the mate connection."
"What if she says no?"
"Then you respect her choice and find another way to fight Tobias." Finn clapped him on the shoulder. "But she won't say no, brother. Anyone with eyes can see how much she cares about you."
That evening, Elias arrived at the lake shore early, setting out a simple picnic on a blanket beside the water. Nothing fancy, just sandwiches from the deli, a thermos of hot coffee, and the kind of chocolate chip cookies Kaia had mentioned loving during one of their conversations. But he'd also brought candles for light and warmth, creating an intimate atmosphere that felt appropriate for the conversation they needed to have.
When Kaia appeared on the path at exactly sunset, Elias felt his need grow. She'd dressed carefully for the occasion—a flowing dress in deep blue that brought out her eyes, her hair loose around her shoulders, the anchor stone pendant catching the last light of day. Beautiful and ethereal and absolutely perfect.
"This is lovely," she said, settling onto the blanket beside him. "Very romantic for such a serious conversation."
"I wanted it to be special. Whatever we decide tonight, I want you to remember this moment as something good."
"That sounds ominous."
"Not ominous. Important." He poured from the thermos, buying time while he organized his thoughts. "I need to tell you about claiming bonds. What they are, what they mean, and why they might be our best option for protecting you from Tobias."
