Page 111 of Unbound By Shadows
“He didn’t tell you?”
“No. I think he meant to, but there wasn’t time.”
Hal nodded, and Selene was grateful he didn’t ask her to elaborate. “Our kind believes that fate matches us with another to increase our power. If you’re his mate, then he can share his strengths to enhance your abilities, while you do the same for him. It looks like that’s already happened with the shadows.”
“But what about the claiming part? Does it mean I’m like, his property?”
Hal threw back his head and laughed. “I take it you’ve never met any female demons, huh? They would never stand for that.”
“Then what does it mean?”
“It just means he’s felt the bond and wants to be yours. He wants other demons to know that you’re his mate, and not to be trifled with. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept his claim. Oh, that must be the problem. You haven’t claimed him, have you?”
“I can do that?”
“Yep. Our kind believes in fate, but we also believe in free choice. He can claim you all he wants, but until you claim him, the mating bond isn’t fully in place. He really should have told you these things. Has he taken on any traits of yours?”
“I’m human. I don’t have any traits worth sharing.”
“Now, that can’t be true.”
She reconsidered. “Actually, he said I calm him.”
“My, my.” Hal raised his eyebrows. “That’s a precious gift to a demon.”
“Is it?”
Hal nodded.
Selene slumped in her chair. “It sounds like a lovely sentiment, but I don’t want to be in charge of his emotions.” Her gaze bounced around the bar anxiously. “I can’t take that on. I don’t want to.”
Hal adjusted his hat. “No, no, no. He’s got it all wrong. Mateshelp bring their partner’s inner qualities to the surface—they don’t control those traits. Have you felt differently since meeting him? Acting in a way that people say isn’t like you?”
“I’ve been a lot angrier,” she said. “My tolerance for BS is gone.”
“Do you think that came directly from him? Or was that anger within you all along?”
“Definitely within me,” she said thoughtfully. “It always felt trapped, though. Bottled up. For decades.”
“Exactly.” Hal smiled. “Your mate pulled the cork on that bottle. You did the same for him, but with a different emotion.”
Selene considered his words. She was going to question him on the topic further, but found herself asking, “How does a human claim a demon? Do we have to live in the Underworld?
“Not unless you want to,” Hal said then shrugged. “I’m not sure how the claiming works with non-demons, honestly. But I do know this—the first step is to decide you want to. What is it that you want, Lady Selene?”
Her jaw tightened. She thought back to that day when Sam asked her about her ideal life. “I hate that question."
"Why?"
"It's not easy to answer. There's a lot to consider."
Hal gave her a skeptical look. "Is there?"
"Always."
Then shaking his head, he said, “Darlin,’ I'm feeding on your delusion right now."
Before Selene could reply, Kevin was at her side, nudging her with his elbow. “How much have I sold?”
