Page 32 of I Married Kayog
The anger I initially felt about the priestess approaching Linsea on my behalf quickly faded. Beyond the fact that she had done it out of genuine love for me, it had also been the boost I needed to stop being so pathetic about being honest with my soulmate. If I couldn’t be truthful about myself with her, then we weren’t meant to be together. By talking to my dove, Isobel made her more receptive to what revelations I had to make.
My pulse racing with trepidation and anticipation, I flew to the campus and began my canoe training. My disappointment at not seeing Linsea show up at all turned into sorrow when I finished and entered the hangar to wash then store my canoe. I took double the time to complete that task in the hope that she might have slept in or been otherwise detained. Heartbroken when she still failed to appear, I went into the shower, trying to come up with any rational reason to explain her absence. Based on Isobel’s comments, she believed Linsea would come to my training. However, in retrospect, my friend never claimed that my mate had confirmed she would.
And then I felt her.
My heart leapt in my chest, and I nearly slipped and broke my neck in my haste to finish washing and rinsing myself for fear she would leave, thinking she had missed me. Other Temerns would simply lower their psychic walls enough to allow their counterpart to perceive their emotions and thereby confirmtheir presence. I couldn’t do that without causing significant distress to my mate.
I forced myself to come calmly out of the showers. Fuck me, she was beautiful! Standing next to my canoe, she was gently running her fingers over the edge. The most irrational jealousy surged through me as I wished she was caressingmethat way.
She jerked her head in my direction, a timid and slightly hesitant smile blossoming when she saw the expression on my face. Only once she turned to fully face me did I notice the two bags in her hand. I snorted and shook my head at her as I closed the distance between us.
“Hey! I thoughtIowedyoudinner?” I said with false outrage.
She glanced at the bag in her left hand before peering back up at me with a mischievous expression.
“Oops! You make a fair point,” she said with pretend dismay before shrugging. “I guess that means that you now owe metwodinners.”
I laughed and bowed my head in concession, my heart filling to bursting with joy. My wretched mind had imagined a billion different nightmarish ways in which our next meeting would go. But just like that, my dove had made it so easy and painless. She was truly my soulmate.
“Deal,” I said with a grin.
“How are you?” Linsea asked softly, the genuine concern she felt for me seeping into her voice.
That, too, had a pleasant warmth spreading through my chest.
“I’m doing good. Much better, thank you,” I said in a gentle tone.
Although I intended to go into far more details, I didn’t want to do it here.
“I’m glad to hear it. I figured you might be hungry after the type of intense training you perform,” Linsea said sheepishly, showing me the bags.
“I’m absolutely famished,” I replied sincerely.
I’d barely eaten since the incident, feeling too distraught to be able to stomach anything.
“Do you want to eat off campus?” Linsea offered.
“That would be great, if you don’t mind,” I said, my heart soaring.
“I don’t mind. Is there any specific place where you feel comfortable?” she asked, her emotions loudly broadcasting that she truly wanted me to be at ease, and not out of some misplaced sense of obligation.
I shifted on my talons and chose my words carefully before speaking.
“Truth be told, the most comfortable place for me would be my house. But I don’t want you to think I’m some sort of creep if I invite you there,” I said, tension audible in my voice.
To my shock, Linsea smiled, her aura radiating something akin to relief, as if she had hoped for that very answer… which didn’t make sense.
“Your house it is, then,” she said in a factual manner.
I gaped at her, flabbergasted by the ease with which she agreed.
“Are you sure?” I asked, uncertain.
“Yes, Kayog,” Linsea said firmly. “I trust you not to harm me.”
A powerful emotion nearly choked me as I basked in the divine light that emanated from her.
“Never, my dove,” I replied, shocked to even be able to form any word.
