Page 6 of Monster's Mistake

Without meaning to, my gaze slips to Meic, who is doing everything he possibly can to avoid my attention. Which is new. Normally, he’s doing everything he possibly can to gain it.

I should make the most of his silence.

CHAPTER 3

Meic

No matterhow much I try to get the knowledge of Nati’s tea leaf reading out of my head, I can’t. If anything, it’s making me think about the gorgon even more than I already was, and that’s saying something. She’s constantly been on my mind since the day we met, driving me crazy and making me want her at every turn. Not that I’m doing very well at showing her that. Most of the time, it seems like I push her away every time I open my mouth. It’s not intentional, I just don’t know how to actually act around her.

But yesterday was the day I finally got confirmation that what I’ve been feeling about her since the day we met is true. She’s my fated mate. Someone who can make me feel whole in a way no one else can.

And now I know for sure. Either that, or someone else at Blackthorn Academy is going to claim the same and she’ll reject me for them.

A low growl slips from my throat even at the idea. I didn’t think I was a jealous person until I came here, but there’s no denying it now.

“Are you done?” someone asks, snapping me back to reality and reminding me that I’m supposed to be finishing making my smoothie.

“I’ll be one sec,” I respond, scooping up some of the grey powder which keeps my cravings at bay and dumping it into the mixer. I press the button, and the loud whirring noise fills the air until it’s made. “All yours.” I gesture to the station and move away, taking my smoothie with me.

I scan the dining home, finding Cethin and Afan in their usual spot. I head over to my friends, setting down my smoothie and joining them.

“How did you tell Anja she was your fated mate?” I ask my friend without any preamble. If I’m only going to be able to think about Nati and what we might be to one another, then I might as well know everything I can about it.

Afan groans. “This again? What is it with the two of you and fated mates?”

“You’ll understand when you find yours,” Cethin tells the merman. “It’s like nothing you ever experienced.”

“You mean the sex?” Afan asks. “Are you sure it’s not just that Anja is a good lay?”

Cethin lets out a low growl. “Don’t talk about my girlfriend like that.”

“You’re the one who has gotten all kinds of ridiculous since you met her,” Afan mumbles.

Cethin shrugs. “It changes your view on things.”

“At least you have an excuse, I don’t know what Meic’s is.”

“I just want the best sex of my life,” I respond, assuming that’s the reason he’s going to understand. Though it’s so muchmore than that. I’ve seen how happy Cethin has been since meeting Anja, and I want that.

“Feels like it’s not worth it to me,” Afan says.

Cethin looks at me, clearly not knowing how to deal with our friend when he’s dismissing something that feels so real to us both.

Afan rolls his eyes. “Well, I’m not sticking around to hear the two of you moon over fated mates.” He gets up before either of us can say anything to the contrary and heads off, though I’ve no idea where he’s going.

Cethin sighs and picks up his coffee, taking a sip.

“So?” I prompt him.

“So?” he responds.

“How did you know Anja was your fated mate?”

“It was just a feeling,” he responds. “When I looked at her, I knew.”

I nod. “And how did you tell her?”

“Really badly.” He let out an amused laugh. “I blurted it out when she tried to have sex with me.”

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