Page 58 of Owned By Two

It was like a Reading — a supernatural and much-esteemed ceremony carried out by a holy Seer who could read our futures in the unique latticework of our scales.

In our species, it was said that Fate herself engraved our destiny within our scales and could be read… if a powerful enough Reader could be found to decipher them.

But the Reading paled in comparison to the meaning of the Joisa.

It was a Sign — the one Sign all Elkik wished they would see in their lifetime.

The foretelling of your fated mate.

It was so rare to discover that most gave up ever finding it.

But I had never given up.

Although I didn’t know Lizzy would turn out to be my fated mate, I would never forget the powerful feeling I’d experienced when I first set eyes on Lizzy’s photo all those years ago.

My every sense knew she would be entwined with my future.

Somehow.

I sensed the bond that would draw us together.

There was never going to be anyone else in my life that came close to giving me the kind of love she would…

And when I saw it at the base of her spine…

I knew.

I knew what it was.

Although I had expected — or at the very leasthoped— to see it, I didn’t hold my breath.

The Joisa.

It had the appearance of a tattoo but grew naturally to inform its wearer they had found their fated mate.

The one they were destined to be with forever.

Iwas her fated mate, just asshewas mine.

There could be no doubt now.

I also knew that if I were to check the base of my spine, I would see it there too, a perfect reflection of hers.

I tugged Lizzy closer and nuzzled her neck.

I breathed in her scent, that deep, rich earthy smell I associated with my earliest days on the family farm.

The days when I had worked my hands to the bone — often to bleeding.

It might have been unbearable to some but to me, it was a happy childhood.

I got to work to support my family.

And now Lizzy would be a part of me forever.

Once the sun dipped lower behind the jungle foliage and the darkness began to surround us, we got up and, shyly at first, began to dress.

We cast looks at each other, admiring glances of our pleasing naked forms, before silently tugging the moss from our hair, horns, and clothing so we looked, at least on the surface, normal.

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