Page 29 of Song For His Siren
A roar of frustration ripped from him.
"I'm afraid I don't understand. Ye came here to find yer mate, did ye not?"
"Yes, I did, but I didn't think it through. What am I supposed to do? I can't stay here and leave my people, but now I don'tthink I can leave here. I cannot be in two places at the same time, but I cannot be whole without the other. What am I to do?" he asked in desperation.
"Bring her with ye," she said simply.
He looked at her and expected her to continue, but that was all she said.
"Bring her with me?"
"Yes."
"Why on Earth would she leave her home to come to another realm with a near stranger?"
"Because ye’re her mate. Have ye not told her?"
"No. It doesn't seem to work the same way here."
Bridget nodded as she finally began to understand his predicament. "I see. I think ye should tell her."
He shook his head.
"Look, I know I don't understand the magic of the mate bond in the monster realm. I know it works differently in all the realms, but I assure ye, she feels it. As a human, I experienced the mating bond as well. It may not feel like it does in the monster realm, but I can assure ye, she feels it. Also, Calli doesn't belong here."
"What do you mean?" he asked. Bridget's words were kindling hope inside him, but it still seemed insurmountable.
"I've known her for years. I’ve been able to feel something about her, but it never made sense until now." She paused and waited for him to say anything, but he didn't know what to say. "I think ye need to tell her."
He nodded and gave a deep sigh. "I agree. It must be done."
"Well, try and cheer up. It's not like ye're on yer way to the gallows," she said with a pat on his arm.
Funny, because he sure felt like he was on his way to the gallows. But Bridget was right; he did need to tell her why he had come.
So, he went about his day, which consisted of watching Calli's sets and bringing her lunch. When they were walking down the throughfare, a necklace caught her eye. After her last set, when she was busy with the band, he walked back to the jeweler.
"How much for this necklace?" he asked.
"$50," answered the woman at the booth. He was glad the gold pieces he had brought from his realm turned into the proper currency for the human realm as he pulled out a couple of bills from his pouch.
After getting the necklace, he slipped it back into his pouch along with the change from the woman, and he set back on his way to Calli's tent.
Later that night, they sat with the band around the campfire. Something about the camaraderie felt familiar to him.
"So, Calli, do you know what's next for you?" asked one of her bandmates. "We finish up here in three days. My offer still stands for you to stay with us."
Khuldruk stilled, waiting for the answer. He was interested in knowing her plans too.
"I appreciate that, but I'll be good. Good things are coming for me, I can feel it."
"Okay," said the red-haired man next to her with a sigh. "I think I'm going to turn in... Try to not be late tomorrow," he said with a cocked eyebrow.
"I make no such promise," she quipped back at him.
Before long, all the other members of her band turned in, leaving Callie and Khuldruk by the fire alone. Calli was sitting between his legs, his little mate's back pressed to his chest and her head resting on his shoulder. The rightness of her body pressed into his was intoxicating.
"Can I ask you something?" she asked as she laced her hands through his that were resting on her soft belly.
