Page 37 of All the Devils are Here

The spirit relaxed, but frowned. “Is that true, though? She’s human, and if she never came here, we never would have met her. How is it then that you can say we were always meant to be mates?”

“You’re right. We never would have found her,” I said. “But you can’t tell me you didn’t feel something before it hit.”

Ariel condensed himself fully into human form and dropped onto the couch, scrubbing his hands over his face. “Of course I did. But that doesn’t change the fact that it only clicked into placeafterProspero shoved magic into her. Why didn’t we know the second we saw her?”

“Think about it,” I snapped. “We weren’t born. Not into these bodies, anyway. All born of the same magic and not naturally formed. Our resonance is both unique and matched. Maybe Meg needed some of the island’s magic for us to sense the bond.

“But everything,everythingI’ve ever read about mates says that the bonds are formed at creation. Whatever kept us from knowing before, this?” I touched the center of my chest where the draw to Meg was. “It wasn’t created yesterday. It’s always been there, and you both know that. You can feel it, can’t you?”

Ban nodded. “Yes. Like I knew, and then Iknew.”

“She thinks it’s because she was lonely,” Ariel whispered. “That her deepest desire was for something to combat it.”

I shook my head, though my heart hurt for Meg. “No.” Ariel preferred to lurk among the humans when he could, while I, being much more limited, preferred to steal books from Prospero’s library and read them. “That’s not it.”

“Why?” Ban asked.

“Because it’s not just a deep desire,” I said. “It’s… the heart of someone. And it’s not something you can just know and identify. If you asked Prospero what his was, he would say revenge. We all know that’s not what it was. His was power.Truepower.”

And the island had given it to him, which was why the three of us were trapped, and the fact that Khalas had escaped was a miracle. But Meg…

I didn’t doubt her truth. She was lonely, and naturally, it’s what she would think. But being someone’s mate was never an accident, and never at the whim of magic. It was on a level so deep itcouldn’tbe changed or challenged. But given the unique way we’d been brought to life, it also wasn’t surprising the connection needed something more to be uncovered.

There were a few other places like this island in the world—isolated places of power out of sync with the rest of magic. Meg was now in sync with us, and we could never go back.

“Whatever her desire is, it’s down deeper than that. I’m sure we’ll find out what it is, and I hate that she feels lonely, but we’ve always been her mates.Always.”

“Really?” Ariel asked. “You’re not blowing smoke up my ass to make me feel better?”

I raised an eyebrow. “First, I would never blow anything up your ass. Second, yes. I wonder if Khalas—”

“I wondered the same,” Ban said. “He’s like we are. Created here. Maybe it will convince her.”

“Probably not,” Ariel said. “He rejected her already, and she’s incredibly aware of the fact. If anything, it will only make her think it’s worse.”

“We’ll get through to her,” I said.

Ban stood. “How can you be sure?”

“We have to,” I said. “She’s ourmate.”

I didn’t need to describe the bright, pulsing space in my chest that knew she was mine. It was the same in each of them, I was sure. Meg was my mate and would be forever. Even if she chose to leave and never return, she would still be my mate.

Mating bonds weren’t created. They simplywere. There wasn’t anything—not even the significant power of this island that could alter them, break them, or will them into being. They were soul-deep and from the moment of existence.

And no, it didn’t matter if your other half or halves weren’t born yet.

“I don’t want her to be sad,” Ban said. “But I don’t know how to convince her it’s real.”

Ariel no longer looked as angry or tortured. Which was rare for him. “That’s not what we have to worry about right now. We need to get the magic out of her. Before it starts making itself known.”

“How?” I asked. There had been others on this island. Men who’d been given the same power. None were left. And I was desperately ignoring the fear Meg would be next.

He shook his head. “I don’t know. But I’ll be working on it. And I’m sorry, Ban. For assuming.”

“Forgiven,” the shifter said. “I will wait by her window and listen. Even if he is weak, I do not want him near her alone.” He transformed and disappeared.

“Keep watch for Khalas?” Ariel asked.

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