Page 49 of The Barbaric Fae's Soul

The logistics of that depended on whether a mate bond was a relationship and a commitment, or just a simple physical connection. After what I’d found out about it creating attachment, I was starting to think it was more of a relationship.

“Clevv lost his mind when North broke their bond,” I said quietly.

“I was very much sane when Naomi broke mine. Don’t worry about me.” He wrapped a hand around my elbow, stepping closer to me, and our footsteps slowed as we walked together. “We will need ground rules, if you’re serious about doing this, though.”

“What kind of ground rules?”

“I need to understand exactly what I can and can’t do.” His voice lowered, because we were approaching the Wild Hunt guys.

“Hey, Dakota.” Mare flashed me a big smile, moving away from Ervo to hug me. I hugged her back, and Aev released my arm. When I stepped beside him again, his hand lifted to my lower back, and rested there.

“There’s the woman of the hour,” January said with a grin.

North looked out of it, like she was lost in her magic again, but Priel had her back pressed to his front, and didn’t look concerned. He was definitely the worrying kind—like all the other mated fae men—so I knew he would’ve been fussing over her if he thought something was wrong.

“Presley was the real hero. I just had to bark an order at a klynna,” I said, lifting one shoulder in a shrug.

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Mare countered. “We all saw how massive those things are.”

She was right; they were pretty terrifying. But also, really beautiful.

The other women questioned me about how everything had happened, and I explained my side of the events. Aev stepped up a little closer to me as I spoke, and his hand wrapped around my hip until he was holding me securely, with my side resting lightly against his.

“Can we talk, Teris?” I asked quietly, after the conversation had shifted and January and Mare were talking vibrantly about something, with their mates speaking too. It hadn’t passed my notice, the way Aev had reverted to his silent, aloof self while we were talking to the Wild Hunt guys. But I supposed it was natural after so many years of dealing silently with the pain his mate bond had caused.

“We can figure out rules afterward,” I told Aeven quietly, as he and I followed Teris away from the others.

He dipped his head, though he absolutely did not look thrilled by the developments.

“What do you want?” Teris looked wary, and I didn’t blame him. Honestly, I felt for him. He and Summer had been a terrible match, and I’d never really thought their personalities meshed well.

“Are you still in pain from the bond breaking?” I asked.

“Yes. Were you?” His gaze flicked to Aev, and I couldn’t read whatever emotion was in it.

“Constantly,” I admitted. “Until we bonded.” I gestured between myself and Aev, not about to enable Teris to ignore the gorgeous king next to me. “I need to ask for a favor. You can say no, of course—but it would buy you a little time without pain.”

His eyebrows lifted, and he looked at Aev again.

When Aev just set his jaw and said nothing, Teris looked back at me and asked, “You want to break your bond?”

“Yes. Temporarily.” I tacked that last bit on hastily at the end, needing to make sure things were clear. “Because the mating bonds seem to create feelings. I want to make sure Aev’s feelings for me are real.”

Teris scowled. “Mate bondsdon’tcreate feelings. If they did, I’d have accepted Summer’s advances long before she got with the scaly asshole.” He tossed a hand in the direction I assumed my best friend and her mate were. “A bond makes you possessive to the point of insanity, but doesn’t do a damn thing otherwise.”

“You were barely bonded for a few months,” Aev countered, finally speaking up. “You cannot possibly imagine the long-term effects of an ignored bond. The pain becomes mind-numbing, and the rejection, soul-sucking.”

He probably had a point there, but I didn’t want the men to start arguing.

“Everyone’s experiences are valid,” I said simply. “The bond turned Clevv insane, so obviously it affects everyone differently. There’s no clear description of what it does and doesn’t do, because it affects people’s minds. Men’s in particular.”

“He chose to embrace the insanity. We know how to fight it.” Teris gestured between Aev and himself. “How long would the temporary bond last?”

“How long did it take for your possessiveness to fade?” I checked.

“About a week.”

“Then at least that long. If Aev’s feelings fade with the bond, longer.” I glanced over at him, and found his expression dark.

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