Page 43 of Fated to Monsters

I sigh and shake my head. “You’re overreacting.”

Bo’s dark gaze widens. “You’reunderreacting.”

“What’s this really about?” I ask him while drinking my third glass of orange juice. I’m not sure what they put in this stuff, but it sure is tasty.

Simple pleasures, Sydney calls it.

Whatever it is, it’s reason enough to want to stay in Arthlia for as long as I live.

“It must be nice.” Bo folds his arms over his chest. “Knowing that no matter what, she’s coming back to you.”

“What?” I lower the glass and stare at him.

“The fated mate bond. It’s like a fucking guarantee that you two will always find each other.”

“You’re jealous?” I try my hardest not to laugh.

Bo’s jaw tenses and the vein in his forehead bulges. “No.”

I let out a chuckle. “You’re jealous.”

“Well, at least I gave her a choice in the matter. Who’s to say she isn’t with you just because of the stupid bond? She may be your mate but at what cost? Her free will? No.” Bo kicks off from the counter. “No, I’d rather die than force her to be with me.”

He storms out of the kitchen, leaving me behind with the unraveling thought I do my best to keep concealed.

Bo might be an arrogant asshole, but he’s right.

The mate bond that Wren and I share is unbreakable. Our connection will overcome any obstacle. It is sure and steadfast, and nothing could hinder our loyalty to one another. There isn’t anything me or my hound wouldn’t do for her, and if I had to take my best guess, I’d say that she feels the same.

But as certain and secure as it may be, is that really the best thing for her? A love she cannot choose to escape. A love that would chase her to the ends of the universe and not once stop until it found her again. I would traverse hell and back to worship at her feet. Even in death, I would come for her. I would die a thousand deaths just to be near her.

I knew it from the very moment I laid my sights on her.

My hound growled deep within my chest, claiming her as his—asours.

I did what I could to resist the carnal desire to be with her but I was no match for what fate had in store for us.

Would my love be that powerful without the magical bind that ties us together?

Would she still choose me if given the chance?

I thought I was doing the right thing in allowing the bond to tether us, but was I a fool for following through with allowing her to link herself to me permanently? I wanted it—Angels, I needed it. Perhaps I was blinded by the visceral plea my soul had been screaming out to make her mine.

Have I doomed her to a worse fate because I couldn’t defy what was already written in the stars?

Jade waltzes into the kitchen and plucks an apple from the bowl on the counter. “What’s got Bo’s panties in a bunch?”

“You know, typical Bo.” I drain the rest of my juice and rinse the glass out in the sink. “I’ve been meaning to ask you.” I turn toward her once I’ve placed the glass in the dishwasher. Another mysterious and magical creation of this realm.

“Oh Angels, what is it?” She bites into the crisp apple and wipes at her mouth.

Fruit from back home doesn’t even remotely compare to that of Arthlia.

“Do you and Everest have plans for the future?” I rest against the wall and do my best to come off as less overprotective brother as I can.

Still, I can’t help but want the best for her, especially now that she’s gone through what she has. I’ll never begin to understand what it was like to be held captive in Rockbridge for such a long period, but if my short stint there was any indication, Jade deserves the best life has to offer. And what kind of person would I be if I tried to prevent that from happening?

Do I want her to go off on her own with some random man? No, absolutely not. But he was one, if not the main reason for her survival, and if he’s what brings her joy, I support that.

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