Page 43 of Fae's Mate
“I need to see her brother…please,” he begs.
“I still do not know which one is your mate.”
His eyes flick up to mine, and when I see tears rolling down his cheeks, it makes me ache with guilt. Chestnut irises churn as a battle clearly rages in his mind while he considers telling me. Eventually he folds. With a nod and a sniff, he describes her.
“Her skin is dark, the colour of rich, fertile soil after it’s rained,” my brother’s words are like a caress, as he closes his eyes and conjures the image of her, “her hair hangs in soft bouncy brown curls past her shoulders, and her eyes shine, like polished bronze.”
That narrows it down.
“I need more than that.”
He frowns at me, considering what else he might know of her.
“There are two humans, similar to your description. One wears circles of glass in front of her eyes to help her see.”
My brother’s brow creases further.
“I have not seen her wear such things in any of my visions, but… when she talks, she uses her hands… they dance and twist in front of her…”
Yasmin. “I know of whom you speak.”
“Brother, will you… will you tell me about her? I have only seen the briefest of flashes.” The desperation in his voice clenches my heart, and I excuse his second question, even though we have made no bargains for them.
“She is… lovely, as beautiful as you have described, quiet and gentle. She uses her hands when she speaks because she does not hear as well as the others; the signs she makes are a type of communication aide.”
Joy and sorrow mix on my brother’s face. “I wish I knew her name.”
“I do. Humans are not protective of their names as we are. She is called Yasmin.”
“Yasmin,” he repeats, the name a whisper.
“I will speak to her brother, but you must accept whatever she decides.”
He nods.
“I just want to see her…”
“Trust me brother, sometimes the more we have, the worse it is. The harder it will be if she chooses to leave.”
He looks at me, understanding flickering over his face. He swallows, and stares at the stone floor.
“I will return when I have spoken to her,” I tell him, and turn to leave.
“Brother wait!” I turn back to him. “Will you give her a message from me?”
I simply nod. He is clearly weak with iron to ask three questions of me. I decide not to hold them against him.
“Tell her… I’m sorry for dragging her away from everything she knows. Tell her I will make it right. That I only did it because…” his voice cracks, “Because…”
“I’ll tell her,” I confirm gently.
I leave then, making my way back up the stone steps to the ground floor of the palace. I know what my brother was trying to say; that he was desperate. Desperate to meet his mate, to love her. Desperate to unlock his full magic and help restore the court. So desperate he had not considered the consequences of his actions.
As time passes, I find it harder to be angry with him. What he did was reckless, there is no denying it. But a mate… there is no greater blessing, and had I known of Seki… if I, instead, had my brother’s gift of sight… would I have been able to show restraint, where he failed? I’m not so sure. From the first moment I laid eyes on my Seki, I knew I would do anything for her, break any rule, risk any consequence.
I realise then that I would also cast aside tradition for her. If she truly wishes it, then I will take her to my bed. I will give her whatever she wants, whatever she desires, and when I have given her my everything, heart, body, and soul, I only pray that she does not choose to leave me. For it would be a fate worse than death.
Chapter 25
