Page 68 of Dark & Dreadful Brutes

“Let’s go to the idorr first. Jern and Gora can wait.”

His lips curved upward as he glanced at me. “Alright.”

There weren’t many fae in the streets as we made our way through. I assumed most of them were resting or just enjoying being home after so many weeks in Jirev.

The cultists lived somewhere outside the city, according to Ravv. Since the mated pairs lived beneath it, the king’s warriors were the only ones who lived inside the walls.

A flash of crimson caught my eye, and my excitement faded as I saw the Demon fly over our heads. His movements were slow and lazy, as if he was making an effort to let us know that he was confident he could kill us at any moment.

“The elves are still holding the shield, right?” I asked Ravv.

“Yes. They’ve been put in a protected wing of the castle, with guards that we trust implicitly. I doubt even the cultists would try to take the elves down though; no one wants to deal with the Demon.”

I didn’t blame them, either.

“This section of the city belongs to the idorr,” he told me as we approached a large street. “Most of them are mated at this point, and the mated ones share homes the way fae who are life partners do.”

“Where do Coarse and Gleam live?”

“They have a home here, but they spend most nights snuggled in my bed.” Ravv’s words were a grumble, but I could tell he wasn’t bitter or annoyed. He probably liked having two big fuzzy pillows to cuddle with. “They have a room across the hall from mine, too. I assume they’re in there right now, but Gleam’s still asleep so I can’t ask.”

We turned onto their street, and I stopped in my tracks for a moment.

Despite the large houses on both sides of us, there were idorr outside. Everywhere.

Draped over stairs.

Plopped down on the street.

Walking around lazily.

I even saw two tiny ones wrestling. They must’ve been babies, and that about melted my heart. Maybe I’d bond to an adorable, tiny idorr.

“How do you choose one?” I asked Ravv.

“You don’t choose. When it’s right, your souls catch on each other and the bond forms. There’s no fighting it or swaying it. Fate decides.”

Well, I guessed that was good. If fate paired me with an idorr, it couldn’t be angry with me, at least.

Probably.

A bunch of their heads lifted as they looked at us, and Ravv put a hand to my lower back, making sure I didn’t stop.

“How long does it take for your souls to catch?”

“It can be instant, or it can take time.”

Veil, that was nerve-wracking.

His hand remained on my back as we walked slowly through the town. When some of the idorr murmured friendly greetings, we greeted them back. I didn’t feel any tug on my soul, unfortunately, even when the adorable furball cubs ran over.

Ravv crouched down to greet them, his expression soft as he scratched them behind the ears.

My heart melted a little at the sight, though I had to keep that quiet. I kneeled beside him, petting the babies too. One of them snuggled right up against me, and I smiled at the soft brush of fur.

“So if I don’t bond with any of them today, it doesn’t mean it’s hopeless?” I asked.

“Not at all.”

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