Page 32 of Fae's Mate
“Alright, so, have sex, exchange words, and then… mates for life?”
We reach the edge of the orchard, and I gesture for us to sit in the tree line. This side of the orchard looks out over a meadow, then it’s only forest all the way to the mountains.
Seki sits down, arranging her dress around her legs and hugging her knees, waiting for my reply. I consider whether or not to tell her everything, but the thought vanishes in an instant. She deserves to hear it all.
“There’s more… there’s… magic involved, too.”
“Magic?” She questions cautiously.
I nod. “Yes, when the bond is accepted, a sort of… exchange takes place.”
I consider how to explain it to someone who has no experience with magic. “Do you have puzzles in the human realm?”
“Excuse me?”
“Puzzles? Sheets of thin wood that have images painted or carved upon them, then the wood is cut into pieces and the game is to fit the pieces back together to make an image.”
“We have something similar, yes.”
“Alright, so a fae’s magic is like a puzzle, and each puzzle is made of, say, ten pieces. When a fae comes of age, they can put their puzzle together, but only nine pieces belong to their image. The tenth piece belongs to someone else’s puzzle, it belongs to their mate. When a mating bond is accepted, those puzzle pieces are exchanged, and each person’s image is complete. A completed puzzle unlocks that fae’s magic—”
“Wait, so before the mating bond, your magic is… incomplete?”
“It’s a weak, diluted version of what itcouldbe.”
She frowns as she absorbs what my explanation. “You said, ‘the magic in your realm is dying’… is that because there have been no mating bonds for so long?”
I can only nod.
“So, you want a mate to replenish your magic and heal your court?” There is a touch of hurt in her voice.
Shit.
“No… I mean… yes… but,” I sigh, frustrated that my words won’t flow and try again, “Having access to full magic and for your court to flourish is the wish of all fae. But given the choice between magic or a mate… any fae, high or low born, would trade every kernel of magic, every puzzle piece for a mate. Having that one person who is destined to be by your side, your perfect companion… that is the true blessing.”
Seki releases a long sigh and stares out over the meadow. The sun has now reached the mountains, and the snow shimmers under the last few rays of golden light.
As the silence stretches, my fears grow and the air between us thickens, threatening to suffocate me. “Please say something,” I beg.
She lets out a long, wavering breath. “I still have questions.”
“Then ask them.”
When she shakes her head, strands of her inky hair fall across her face, and I ache to tuck it back behind her ear.
“I can’t. Not yet. It’s… It’s a lot to take in. I’m not sure I could handle any more information right now.”
“When you are ready, I will answer any questions you have,” I promise.
When she turns to face me, her eyes glisten like morning dew, and the sight makes me ache. I ball my fists at my side to stop myself from reaching for her.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “It will be dark soon. Maybe we should head back.”
I nod and rise, unable to agree with her because I don’t want our time together to end.
We begin back through the orchard in silence and my mind races. I try to anticipate her other questions and stamp on my own. I must answer hers first, even though it pains me to have my own unanswered. Will she reject the bond? That thought alone makes my knees feel as if they will buckle.
“Wait,” she whispers, and I realise she has stopped.
