Page 31 of Bullied Mate

Empathy struck me then. This bully of a man did what he did because he didn’t actually know what to do. Shifters were typically intuitive creatures, and he was faced with something that completely disregarded instinct. Sickness came for us all in the end, whenever that ended up being. But for his mother, it had come too swiftly.

And it was taking her just as fast.

My legs froze when I thought about walking out of the brush. No, it was best to watch for now. Watching and waiting were pastimes I knew from war. Though no dangers lurked here, I didn’t want Xavier to know I had heard his prayers.

Prayers were such private affairs. Mine were done mentally to avoid being overheard, but his were so loud, so vibrant with outrage. Auras like his usually billowed with a kind of scarlet flame, but his contained more yellow this time. Yellow should have been a far more content color in his form, but right now, it was a catalyst for his anger.

White joined his aura. He was burning like a star.

“Lost,” he repeated. “I’m—”

He collapsed near a tree.

That by itself was enough for me to reveal my location. I tentatively approached him, trying with all my strength to turn myself back to the hidden clearing. Those mushrooms would be better company than this aggravated man. Good Goddess, the way his image sucked me in was like one of those catching spells cast by my Elderling elders.

Turn back, I kept telling myself.Go back now before you do something harmful.

I just wanted to talk. I just wanted to make sure he was alright. Horrid as his attitude was at times, he was still a shifter worthy of having peace. All of us were owed this much. Our lives were fickle and complicated. Contentment was among the things we craved, and our nourishment relied on it.

“Avi,” I spoke without hesitation, “what are you doing out here?”

He jumped back and shoved his hands behind him as if he was hiding something. “What? Who?” His eyes narrowed. “Oh, it’s you.”

“It’s lovely to see you too.”

And my, it was a lovely sight. Men who took care of their bodies were more appealing than the others available. Such great detail went into his sculptured physique that displayed his dedication to health. Were we not at complete odds, I would have invited him to pose for me regularly.

But those thoughts had to get out of my mind if I was to determine the true nature of our relationship.

Whatever it ended up being. “At ease.”

“I’m not one of your soldiers.”

“I was never a commander.”

Surprise inspired his brows to furrow, and then the cold template was back in place. “Sorry.”

“It’s quite alright. I never took to having that much responsibility.”

“How long were you a soldier?”

I gestured for him to take a seat in the tall grass. Desire bloomed in my core while I settled on the ground near him, doing everything in my power to resist admiring his body. “My duties never ceased.”

“I mean, how long was the war?”

“To my knowledge, it hasn’t ended.”

A merciful frown appeared on his face. “I’m sorry to hear that, Lanthie.” He clamped his jaw shut and sighed. “I mean, Galanthia.”

“No, it’s alright.” I waved off the apology. “We should feel free to be familiar with each other, should we not?”

“Should we?”

The daring tone of his inquiry doubled my lust. “I’m not sure.”

“Then why the hell would you come here?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose.”

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