Page 8 of Orange Lake
“You can’t see what’s in front of you. To make it plain,” he said while stalking me. I do not dare take a step back. “You have the mate tendency with Brynn.”
“What?”
Roqs stood only a foot from me but I feel this great distance between us. His arms tried in front of him, looking like a shield. His face stony. “You heard me. This has nothing to do with your parents. You are acting irrationally towards Brynn because she can be one of your mates.”
He said it in such a soft voice but I heard a roar. A great thunder from a distance.
Impossible. Me? Mate with Brynn?
The idea repulses and excites me at the same time.
Yes, my beast whispered.
No, I denied it. I turned my back on Roqs and scowled at the lake. The suns are setting once again on the horizon. The scene looked so peaceful. A stark contrast to what I feel right now.
Why, of all people, should it be Roqs who tell me this?
I know him. He will fight this with his tooth and claws.
He stood next to me, looking at the lake. Just two manasties trying to enjoy the sunset.Like Roqs said, bullshit.
“Zirc, I know what you’re thinking. It looks impossible. Even I try to deny it. But we cannot reconcile what is theoretically impossible, to the reality of how you react to her. And I know what you’re asking.” He placed a hand on my shoulder.
I stilled. I know what it means when he does it to me or to anyone.
“I don’t feel the same way about her,” he pressed harder on my shoulder. I would rather he punched me in the face. What he’s saying -
He is not finished.
“If I look at her as a mate then I should exhibit the same conditions as you.”
“What kind of conditions?”
“You are possessive and obsessive about her. You feed her. You feed her using your hand, knowing we only do that to children and potential mates. Your beast urges you and a part of you as well even if you are stubborn as a musat. And,” he paused.
I glanced at him. “And?”
“Back at your domain, where you left her, you removedmypillow on the stack of pillows you provided for her.”
I stood still. Then exploded out of his reach. “The fuck you saying about those pillows?”
Roqs just snorted. “You know damn well about what we feel about pillows. You subconsciously removed mine! She did not lay down on any of my pillows while she was there.”
He continued. “Alas, I do not feel these strong emotions to her. I tried even when I am with her. But I don’t feel the same intensity of what you feel. I feel more about you.”
“Maybe that is because you want me more?”
“No!” he grabbed my shoulder again. “We cannot fool each other with regards to this. Our beasts will not settle. I only feel fondness for her. In our history, we always knew from the start. The males of our species is the first to know when he is mated to a male and a female. The longest is two weeks. It’s been more than a week.”
When he dropped his hand, I felt a disconnect so severe as if one of my large veins was cut.
“I still feel deeply for you, lover - “
“Yes,” I agreed. “I feel deeply for you too, Roqs. Whatever is happening between me and Brin doesn’t diminish what I feel for you!”
“Exactly!” he hissed. He moved closer to the edge of the lake. Then he faced me. “If I wasyourmate, I would feel the exact mating urges you are feeling right now for her. Our race is built to mate for life. Even if our mates turn out to be cruel, it has always been that way to make sure we survive. You are lucky enough to have a mate granted to you by the gods. Your parents are looking out for you in the afterlife.”
That hurt. And what Roqs is saying makes sense. “Don’t say she is my mate. We do not know for sure. You were always the one who believes in my parents even if others think they don’t deserve to be placed in the Alpha List. But, there are always exceptions to every rule. Maybe your beast is not yet used to Brin.”
