Page 3 of Eternal Mate

She was pleased for a split second before I continued. “But we can’t just stop everything and grieve, either. Our friends are still missing, and people are still in danger. We need him.”

“Do we?” she challenged, eyebrow raised. “Everyone seems content to follow you right now.”

I sighed again, knowing that she had a point.

Our group had put their trust in me and I had to lead them forward, but deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we needed Auren. Without him, it felt like we were missing a vital piece of the puzzle… or maybe it was just that it felt like we were leaving him behind. I didn’t know, but I’d stand firm on my opinion regardless.

“We need him,” I repeated, my voice firm. “Auren is more than just a random group member. He’s the Leader of the Resistance. I can step in for him, but I’m never going to be him. Eventually, people are going to start wanting his input on these decisions.”

Then again, maybe this was just more proof of my issues. Auren was the Leader, but he wasn’t the only one who was invested in hybrid equality or the war. All of us were pouring everything we had into this mess, trying to claw our ways out of it.

Aria’s expression softened, understanding and compassion shining in her eyes. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on my arm.

My tangled emotions must have been easy enough for her to unravel, because warmth radiated from our bond as she pulled me into an embrace. “We can’t force him to join us or push him to heal before he’s ready. We have to give him the space he needs.”

I nodded, reluctantly accepting her words. I knew she was right, I just didn’t know how to navigate the landmines in front of me while he was out of commission. I didn’t have his contacts, or his intelligence, or even his authoritative demeanor. People were only following me because news of Kiyomasa had spread like wildfire and everyone knew Auren was grieving, but eventually, that compassion would wear thin.

Especially in a situation as perilous as ours.

Auren had experienced a devastating loss and needed time to process and heal—pushing him would only drive him further away. I knew that, too, but this sense of urgency wouldn’t stop picking at me. Then again, patience had never been my strong suit. Maybe I was just being extra paranoid because of how things unfolded recently.

“You’re right,” I admitted, my voice softer now. “We can’t rush him.”

No matter how badly I wanted to.

2

THE HYBRID'S TALE

ARIA

I eyed Ashe, my curiosity getting the better of me. After it had come to light that he was able to shapeshift and create portals, the fact that he was some kind of hybrid was the worst-kept secret we had. Everyone was dying to ask about it, but so far, we’d managed to keep the questions under wraps, focused on keeping everyone safe in our new home.

His dark hair was loose, hanging around his shoulders as he smirked at something Jack was saying. We’d all gathered for dinner at Elias’s, though things were still pretty tense; Sariel had been convinced that Ashe wouldn’t even show up with the way he was attached to Auren’s hip these days, but here he was. My mate’s gaze kept darting to the door, obviously feeling his brother’s absence keenly, and I scrambled for a way to distract him.

We’d been at a standstill ever since arriving here. Sure, we’d managed to drag all the traitors out into the light and get rid of them, but none of us knew where to go from there. Azazel was still out there, we’d lost so many people in such a short timeframe, and without Auren’s contacts, we were more or less blind to what was happening outside the forest. Barimuz relayed the bare minimum, keeping us hanging onto his every update; I’d also overheard Ashe refusing to return to his own duties for Elias until Auren was ready to come out of hiding.

Things were a mess.

“Hey, Ashe,” I called out, finally getting his attention when there was a lull in the conversation as I prodded at my spaghetti. “Remind me how you saved Jack and Zuzanna again?”

Jack scowled, then shoved his breadstick in his mouth. Elias didn’t even flinch, glancing at me with a small smile as I looked up.

Ashe’s eyes sparkled mischievously, clearly relishing the question. His eyes went hazy for a moment, and I grinned at the realization he was consulting with Auren about something.

“Well, I made a portal, and we all fell through it,” he teased, twirling his fork when Sariel scoffed a bit. “But what you really want to know is how I even made the portal to begin with, right?”

A smirk was sent my way, and then he shrugged. “I’m a hybrid. Half-demon and half-blessed-blood, to be exact.”

I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrows in surprise, more shocked that he had actually admitted it than what he’d said. Even Elias seemed caught off guard, probably not expecting Ashe to just come right out and say it.

Sariel and I turned to him when he choked on his drink, coughing into his fist. He shrunk a bit under our stares, trying to regain his composure amidst the sudden attention.

“I... I kept Ashe’s true nature under wraps for his own safety,” Elias confessed, guilt tainting his voice. “We’d been contemplating how to tell everyone, but I never imagined it would come out like this.”

His nephew managed to look at least a bit apologetic when he glared at him.

It made sense, though. Hybrids were always the center of bad press, and with Elias being a member of the Upper Council, he was uniquely positioned to keep Ashe out of the limelight.

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