Page 36 of Bearing Secrets
“Technically, to be eligible, you need to have a mate.”
“Which is where I come in.”
Kirell snapped his fingers and pointed at her. “Exactly.”
“Right. Okay. I understand that. Sort of. I just have one question.”
Leaning back into his chair he invited her to continue with a hand wave. “Ask it. Anything.”
“What the hell is a mate?”
The big man laughed, deep chuckles vying with the crackle of the fire. “It’s kind of complicated to explain in exact detail. There’s some science to it, not some sort of magical arm-wavy stuff, though that also plays a factor. What it means, however, is that a mate is the one person that a shifter will spend the rest of their life with.”
She worked her jaw slowly as understanding sank in. “Like a wife. A marriage, you mean. Just with different terms?”
“There’s more to it than that. This is more permanent. Divorce isn’t really an option.”
“It’s not? I thought I was just here to—”
He held up a hand sharply, looking around. Then he lifted a finger to his lips and came over to her. “Remember. You have to pretend like we’re together. We should be safe out here, but I’d rather not take chances. Not everyone is my best friend.”
Politics. Shehatedpolitics. Of course, a House like this would have them.
“Am I in any danger?” she more mouthed than spoke.
He shook his head. “No, darling, you’ll be fine.” He spoke in a normal voice, giving her head a gentle stroke before taking his seat again.
“You trust me with all this information?”
“You’re my mate,” he said, just a tad forcefully, emphasizing that he knew it wasn’t the truth. “You have to find out sooner or later. May as well bring you into the mix now, instead of trying to keep secrets from you.”
“As you say, darling.” She relaxed into her chair as much as possible, eyes darting around outside the firelight.
Kirell seemed embarrassed about having spoken so freely before that he was trying to make up for it now, but she had questions. Questions that had to do with their deal, not what he wanted everyone to believe.
“I’m cold.” She got up abruptly, making a decision. There was no time to rethink it.
“Oh. I can help with that,” Kirell replied as she climbed into his lap, resting her head so she could speak directly into his ear.
“I’m sure you can.” Tentatively, she reached out and kissed him on the cheek, for the benefit of everyone watching. “Don’t get any ideas,” she whispered. “How long do I need to keep this up?”
He chewed on his lip, thinking it over while she waited for an answer. “Officially, the ceremony is in a little less than two days.”
Tingles ran down her neck as he spoke into her ear from so close. Dammit, why did he have to feel so comfortable to sit upon? She had snuggled up into his arms as if it was something they’d done hundreds of times before, immediately finding a spot that she could curl up in. Now he was giving her chills just from talking.
“I sense abutin there.”
He smiled. “A few weeks would be best.”
A few weeks of acting like he was her life partner wasn’t a huge ask, especially not for what she was getting out of it. Moneyanda means to stay in-country.
“What do you need from me?
“To stay here. With me, at the House.”
She stiffened. “That wasn’t a request.”
“I won’t kill you if you decline,” he said just as quietly, but without humor. “You will, however, sign a legal document before you go that will ruin you if you speak about what you saw here or what we agreed to.”
