Page 126 of Let It Snow
I sigh and give him a wistful smile.
"When the epidemic wiped out all the women on this planet, the collective soul of humanity split in two. Everyone born after that became a half, desperately searching for the other part. Some started finding them. Those are what we call True Mates. But those are human souls, Summer. That doesn’t apply to us. Along with the alien blood came another doorway. The powerfulsouls that gave life to the aliens began coming to our planet, matching with the bodies of those with a higher percentage of alien DNA."
Summer’s aura vibrates again, this time in shades of turquoise. He’s curious, fascinated.
"That’s me and you?"
"Yes. There are a few more, but overall we’re a tiny handful."
Summer lets out a bitter laugh.
"In a way, NFH is right. We are an alien invasion."
I tilt my head. "That depends on us. Whether we become a force that adds to destruction and ruin here, or whether we support and respect this world as our new home, taking care to keep it healthy and beautiful. Only noble intentions separate builders and creators from invaders and pillagers."
"How do they call us?"
"There are so few of us that it’s hard to give it a name you’d find in a dictionary. In ancient times we might have been called devas or demigods, maybe something like Greek heroes. Some say it has happened before on Earth, that now and then a human body appears with a doorway letting in an alien soul. Who knows."
"So to each other we are just… fated mates? That sounds so general."
"This is a general term. But specifically for us… we can be called Twin Souls. We were created from one seed, but instead of being torn apart, we gently split in half and grew into two separate souls, but still are made from the same seed. Our souls aren’t cut halves, but astral twins. Our bond is equally eternal, and we will always be drawn to each other."
Summer swallows with some difficulty but stays silent.
"We do have the same traits as True Mates, like healing each other, rejuvenating, sensing each other. You could say we’ve got all the benefits of being True Mates without any of thedownsides," I say, trying to smile reassuringly, but… itdoesn’tland.
Summer’s eyes are wide, his aura flickering, darkening.
"Does that also mean if one of us dies, the other… doesn’t? With True Mates it’s inevitable."
"Yes. There would be suffering, but we wouldn’t die. We can keep on living," I say gently.
"What about separating? There are no spikes in veradiol, I already checked. We don’t experience that kind of death-dealing stress when we’re separated…"
"Correct. We could go our own ways, and again we would suffer, but we would not die."
"What about cheating? True Mates can’t cheat, it gives them… pain, physical pain, and there’s no arousal…"
I hesitate, since I already know where it’s going. I know how much it all means to him. To the point of pain.
"It’s… possible, I guess, but it would be difficult. Still, we have free will, Summer."
"That doesn’t sound like an upgrade to me," he whispers, lowering his head, disappointment filling his tone. "Their bond makes it all special, intense, magical, crazy, romantic, and permanent, they’re… everbound, Snow! Sealed!" He snaps his head up, tears gleaming in his eyes.
"And we? It’s just like the soft bond between High Mates, plus… healing. That’s it! There’s not even the real Pull. We lived under the same roof for weeks and all I got was a constant boner. Your parents lived together for five days, and they did end up almost dead because theydidn’ttouch!"
Summer lets out a breath and shakes his head.
"The Pull, the ferocity of it… the magnetism that holds TMs in its grasp for their whole life? The obsessive love that this magic throws at—" he cuts himself off.
I stay silent for a moment. I can feel his trembling in his very energy, his dismay, misery, and sense of loss.
"I’m sorry you’re disappointed," I say quietly. "But I’m not. I’m happy I could try to earn your love fairly, because it can grow naturally between us. Nothing will force you; if you give it to me, it will be only your decision, your heart. And that will be so much more precious to me, Summer."
Summer closes his eyes and makes a strange, strangled sound.
"I know! It’s… just… eh! So much I hoped for was robbed from me, Snow. So much! A chance to be normal, living free of these ridiculous powers, being just a regular omega, a chance to have my own kids, a chance to find my True Mate, likeallmy brothers and most of yours! And I’m not even human! I’m a monster, a freak. It’s… fuck. It’s just a lot! I simply don’t belong anywhere…"
