Page 31 of Song For His Siren
He cocked his head, not knowing quite what she was referring to.
"You've found your mate. Now what? Is your magic fixed?"
"There is a little more to it than that."
"Okay," she said and then waited for him to continue. He wasn't sure if it was the right time, but he needed to be honest with her.
"We have to complete the mating bond for the magic to take hold."
"How do you do that? I've read some books, and I would think what we did might be enough. Maybe we need to try again, see if it will work this time," she said with a saucy smile that filled his heart and had his cock twitching to life.
"For the bond to take hold, there are some other steps to follow. We must have a ceremony...and there is a bite involved."
"So I would have to go to the monster realm with you. Is that even possible?"
"You would want to come to the realm with me?"
A look of confusion crossed her face as she turned her head. She looked so cute, Khuldruk could barely stand it. "Isn't that what we need to do to restore the magic or whatever?"
"That was the plan."
"So why has the plan changed?"
"I just..." He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, taking in her face. "I didn't think it through."
"Why? Do you not want me to come?" she asked quietly.
"No. Nothing would make me happier than to have you by my side always. I thought I would come and find my mate and take them back, and everything would fall into place, but I was being selfish."
"How is trying to help your people selfish? That sounds like the opposite of selfish to me," she protested.
"Because I didn't stop to think that my mate would have a life. She would have a family and things she wouldn't just want to leave," he said, letting his finger trace her chin.
"Oh..." Even in the dim light from the fire, he could see doubt dance across her beautiful features. "So what? You just go back and find someone else?"
"No, my little mate. There is no one else for me. I’ll go back and try to save my people, but my heart belongs to you," he said plainly, because that was the truth of it. It would kill him to go back without her, but he would never take another lover.
"And what? I just stay here feeling like I don't belong, knowing you exist but unable to ever talk to you again?" She sat up straight, pulling away from him. "I want to go with you."
"What about your life here?"
"What life? My band that is breaking up? The small town I ran away from years ago? I have been floating from town to town, band to band, trying to find a place that felt like home, and I never found it. I never found it until I met you. I know that sounds crazy, but it seems there is a reason for that, and?—"
He cut off her rant, pulling her close and claiming her mouth with his. He was overcome. Just the thought that she might want to come with him lit a fire inside of him.
She broke the kiss and looked up at him, staying close in his arms. "Would we be able to come back? I don't see my sisters often, but I’d miss them."
"Of course, we could come back. We can spend time with your family whenever you want."
"Do you want me to come with you?" she asked with a sense of apprehension.
How could she even ask him that? "Yes, of course, I do. I just don't want to pull you from your life. I want you to be happy. I’d do anything to make you happy."
The firelight danced across her features again, but this time, it wasn’t doubt. This time, a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips, and Khuldruk felt like he was soaring.
She sat up and turned fully, facing him. "I’ve been living my whole life feeling like I never quite belonged. I’ve always felt like there was this barrier between me and other people keeping me from fully connecting with them. As much as I tried, nothing ever felt like home." She paused, searching his eyes. "I've never felt that until I met you. I know that doesn't make any sense. Maybe that’s the bond you keep talking about. This all sounds crazy, but it doesn't feel crazy. Ugh! I don't know how to even say it, but maybe, I might feel at home there... I don't know. I think I would just feel at home wherever you are, and now that I know what home feels like with you, I'm not sure if I can?—"
"Calli," he said, taking her face between his hands. "Breath, my pet," he said calmly and then modeled a slow breath. "Nothing you’re saying sounds crazy. I think what you're feeling is due to the bond because I feel it too. I never wish to be parted from you. It was my greatest dream to find my mate, lead my people, and bring back some of the magic, but then I met you. Now, the greatest dream I have is for your happiness. I want nothing more than to have you by my side."
