Page 11 of The Highseer's Mate

“I realize. But I found her,” I say.

“You should have left her in the marshes.” Mydros lips pull up as he looks at my mate in disgust, but I will forgive him for this disrespect. He still does not know.

I eye her, terrified and making herself small against my wall. I want her in my arms. I need to comfort her and heal her. The glows across my chest flare bright and the council gasps in unison.

“A mate?” Mydros asks. His eyes widen as he watches the luminescence spread across my chest, beating and brightening in tandem with my heart.

Elyra shakes her head. “But she is not a Vrut nor a Thachien.”

I shake my head. No. My woman is not of our people, nor of our enemies.

I suspect she is lost. As though she was never meant to find our lands in the first place.

“I wouldn’t have taken her if we weren’t chosen. She is mine and the council must accept it.”

All three members eye my woman and then, after a moment of silence that makes my blood boil, they bow their heads.

It is done.

The mating bond is too important. It is the highest law among us. Our numbers are dwindling and only mates can keep us alive.

My woman’s face is pinched in confusion, but soon it will all be over. Soon I will be able to go to her.

“She can stay,” Kylor confirms again.

“Were there others?” Mydros asks.

I shake my head. “None that I could see. Though I was more worried about taking care of my mate than finding others.”

Elyra nods. “Send Draxel to investigate. If there are others, there could be a chance for more bonds to appear.”

Or trouble.

Mydros is thinking the same thing by the way he whirls around, glaring at Elyra. The youngest among us, he is still too impulsive. Too quick to anger.

I bow my head to the council, acknowledging the decree. As they leave, I call in Draxel and give him the order.

“Past the marshes you will find the ship. Search it and ensure there are no others. If there are, we will decide what to do.”

Draxel bows and leaves.

Suddenly, the silence swallows me whole. I turn to see my woman, her eyes blinking heavily as she stands sagging against the wall.

She is dirty, damp, bloody, and hurt.

Scared.

Of me.

But I will not allow her to continue in this state. It is my job to protect her and I will do it whether she accepts it, or not.

Chapter 6

Paige

The other aliens just left and now I’m alone with him again.

It’s nice to not feel like a monkey in a zoo anymore, but the way my captor is looking at me is even more terrifying.

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