Page 58 of Mountains of Mist and Magic

“No, please come in.” Julietta bit her lip. “I—I think we should talk.” She moved aside, and he entered her room. Her sweet scent of sandalwood hit his nose, permeating throughout the borrowed room. It was uniquely her, and now he was so in tune with it that he would recognize the scent anywhere.

Julietta perched on the bed, her hands lacing and unlacing nervously. He longed to rush to her, to take her in his arms and comfort her; take away whatever thoughts were racing through her head. But instead, he moved to the far corner, trying so hard to resist the pull he felt. It was as if he was no longer in charge of any part of his body, and instead, every single part of him belonged to her, and longed to be reunited.

“I...I don't know how to say this,” she murmured, looking at her feet. He followed her gaze, glancing at her toes again. They were petite and perfect, just like her. “But...I'm not sure if we'll be strong enough to break the bond.”

The pull finally overcame him, and he stalked towards her. Her eyes widened as he came near, and he knew she felt the same rush of relief he did.

As if being near each other was the only way they could breathe.

He joined her on the bed, his hands on his thighs, itching to touch her. “I agree.”

Julietta shifted nervously, and he was glad they were on the same page. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that...he needed her. He wanted her. She belonged to him. Why would he give up the gift he had been given? She was sacred, made by the Fates just for him. If legends were true, her soul was created at the exact same moment as his own, two halves of the same coin.

“Good,” she responded, smoothing her nightgown. “I think we need to confide in someone then. Perhaps Renya? And maybe Grayden? Someone who can help us, make sure we don't give in to our urges. To make sure we actually go through with it.”

Triston's stomach lurched. She still sought to break their bond? After everything they had been through?

He swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady. “Yes...Grayden. Renya. Sounds good.”

“Triston?” Julietta's brow wrinkled as she studied his face. He wanted to meet her eyes, but he couldn't. If he looked into them, he'd be lost. He would push her back against the sheets and claim her. Then it would be too late, and they'd be mated and neither one of them would be strong enough to break their connection at that point. He contemplated it for a split second, but then pushed the thought out of his head. He'd never take advantage of her like that, and the thought sickened him. He knew she wouldn't resist, but using their physical bond to tie her to him like that was wrong.

“Something is bothering you. Tell me,” she implored. “I know we aren't fully mated, but I can still sense that you're upset.”

He debated telling her. Begging her to reconsider. But his pride and fear got the better of him, and he stood up, heading towards the door.

“I'm just tired. We'll meet with Grayden and Renya tomorrow.”

Julietta and Triston sat in the parlor, facing each other. Triston thought it wise not to sit directly near her. She was wearing another borrowed dress, and it clung to every single curve she had. Her body was shaped like the hourglass in his study back at the Tidal Kingdom, and he had no idea how he would go back there and look at it without thinking of her. The dress she wore was a bright teal, bringing out her eyes and her soft complexion.

Triston's muscles tensed, his body rigid with nerves. He didn't know why he should be nervous; this was what needed to be done.

Wasn't it?

Grayden and Renya walked into the room. Grayden's eyes sparkled with intrigue, but Renya wore a small, knowing smile. Had Julietta told her of their bond?

Renya and Grayden squeezed into a large chair across from them. It was really too small for both of them, but Renya just squashed against Grayden. It reminded Triston of how it must feel to be fully mated. They shared everything, even a chair.

Grayden spoke first, his hand resting protectively on Renya's stomach. Triston's eyes widened as realization struck him. Renya must be expecting a babe. Another surge of emotion went through him, and he tried to sort out his feelings quickly. Why should he care if Renya was carrying Grayden's child? But the second he saw the pride in Grayden's eyes, he envisioned Julietta with a rounded belly, his own baby growing inside of her.

“So, what's going on?” Renya asked, her voice gentle.

Triston was still wrapped up in his own thoughts, but Julietta answered.

“There's been...a...well...a surprise.”

“I take it you two are together?” Grayden's eyebrows shot up. Renya elbowed him in the side.

“What Mr. Subtle means to ask is, what's going on and how can we help you?”

There was a long pause, and Triston pulled himself out of his own inner turmoil to answer. He saw the red creeping up Julietta's cheeks and figured he should at least be the man in this situation, since he would never be the man in her life.

“When I was at the Twilight Kingdom, Julietta and I discovered that we are fate-bound.”

An even longer silence permeated throughout the warm, open air of the parlor. Then, absolute astonishment.

“You're kidding me!” Grayden's outburst was far louder than Renya's exclamation of, “Oh, wow!”

While Grayden just gave Triston a knowing look, Renya went over to Julietta and gave her a sweeping hug, whispering something in her ear.

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