Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“Yeah. I believe I’ve heard that before.”
“It’s not as powerful as a Tether. We can’t feel each other from a distance, or hear each other’s thoughts, but we can feel the connection. The moment we find our mate, a bond is created and there’s this feeling I can’t quite explain. It’s like the heart swells, your blood pumps faster, and all you want is to claim that person. To hold them and keep them close. To…be inside them all the fucking time.”
I can’t help giggling, even as Killian blushes and purposely avoids my eyes. “Is that what you feel with Hannie?”
He nods, cutting a glance at me. “As soon as I saw her, I knew it. She was the one for me. And she knew it too. I could tell she felt it when we were in that club. The way she sized me up and made her little jokes was merely her deflecting what she felt when we locked eyes.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Because women like Hannie don’t like to be bound. Women like her live freely, especially when they possess the kind of power she does.”
“Oh.”
“What we have—well, what we had…it’s complicated. Doesn’t matter how much I want her or how much she wants me, we can’t be together. She’s been born into a family that’s like royalty, you get it? And with a status like that, the heirs don’t get to decide their futures.
“After that party where Juniper took it upon herself to start a fucking blood bath with the Rippies in Iron Class, Hannie’s and Tomán’s family started feuding. Both families are Gilded, and the Gilded are rare, so in order to end the feud, they made an agreement.” Killian sighs, placing his teacup on the tray with a gentle clink.
“What was the agreement?” I ask.
“She and Tomán will have to marry each other. It was arranged by their families. In order to gain more power and to protect the Gilded bloodlines and their rare abilities, they must come together. The wedding is in a few months.”
“What?” I gasp. “Well, you have to say something, Killian. Try to stop it, at least. If she’s your soulmate, you have to fight for that.”
Killian doesn’t say anything. He looks out the open wall at the snowcapped mountains instead.
“What did Hannie say?”
“She’s torn. We were sneaking around, even after the arrangement was made, but Hannie’s mother found out. She told her to put an end to it before Tomán’s people came after me. She didn’t right away, of course, but with the wedding getting closer, she’s been with her family preparing so I’ve seen less and less of her.”
“Oh. I see.”
“I can tell she doesn’t want this marriage to happen, Willow.” He looks at me again, eyes saddening. “She doesn’t want to be with him, but she loves her family, so she’ll do it. She knows this will continue the Gilded bloodline, and they carry that like a badge of honor, so she’s willing to sacrifice her happiness and freedom for it. And believe me, I’m sure she doesn’t care about cheating on the bastard, but even if we did work something out in secret…I can’t be with her and know she’ll only run back to him. I can’t see her become pregnant one day with his child—the child that should be mine.”
He drops his chin, clenching a fist.
“But I have no right,” he murmurs. “This is what she’s dedicated to, and if it makes her happy, I won’t interfere.”
I grab his hand, and he looks down at it before raising his eyes. “You should fight for her,” I tell him.
“Fighting won’t be enough.”
“Do you love her?”
He falters. “Yeah. I do.”
“So fight for her. Look, once we’re out of this mess, you can’t just let her slip away. Just like you said about me and Caz being bonded by fate, it’s the same for you and Hannie. Doesn’t matter if a Tether isn’t involved. She’s yours and clearly she’s been yours for centuries.”
Killian is quiet for a while as he contemplates that.
Then something rare happens.
He smiles.
“You’re always so optimistic,” he chuckles.
I laugh. “Wow. It’s nice to know you can actually smile.”
He chuckles again. Silence fills the room. Calm. Comforting.
“Even if you and Caz weren’t mates, he’d be a fool not to hold on to you,” Killian says after a few seconds. “Before you, he walked through a path of darkness and refused to veer off and find the light. You’re his light, Willow. I’m glad he has you—that we have you.”
My eyes sting, and my throat thickens with emotion. I lean forward and wrap my arms around him, surprised I can close them around his large body.
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, Killian.”
He huffs a laugh, patting my back. “Yeah, yeah. I know.”
I pull away, laughing as he rises to his feet. “You should get some rest. Hopefully by tomorrow we’ll be freed from this shitty place.”