The Lonely Laird (Dani’s POV)

Of all the awkward experiences I have had during my friendship with Kat, sitting naked in bed with her mate Hue, Ian’s mate Briar, and my boyfriend Oliver sits fairly high on the list. I have a high tolerance for nudity and even I was feeling a bit uncomfortable. “So when will Kat be back?” I asked.

Hue was preoccupied with his own thoughts but snapped back to the present when I spoke. “She’s with Ian until tonight,” he answered.

“So they aren’t coming back here today?” I poked.

Hue shook his head. “Ian can only have the company of one person the day of the ceremony. As expected, he chose Kat.”

“What will they do?” I wondered out loud, but knew by everyone’s looks what would be happening. “But you’re her mate,” I argued.

“I am, but I’m not blind. She loves him just as much as she loves me. I just happen to have the luxury of being her mate. As Briar is Ian’s.” Hue looked over at Briar who looked perfectly content to read her book.

“But it’s different. She loves you. Hue, if she hadn’t rescued you…” I stopped to let out a sad breath. “Cariss wouldn’t be the only funeral this summer. I would have lost her.” I wiped away the tears that had collected in the corners of my eyes.

“Ian wouldn’t have let her,” Hue said distantly.

I suddenly remembered. “Your mental link. You can see and feel everything that Kat does, can’t you?”

Hue nodded. “As well as Ian.”

I sat stupefied while I processed those words. Oliver was able to articulate what I could not. “You have a link with Ian?”

“Yes. We didn’t really interact until Kat, but we’ve come in contact with one another several times in the last two hundred years. Fate has a strange way of leading people together.” He rolled off the bed and went to stand by a window. “We’ve been aware of each other for a long time, but a lot of it has been chalked up to there being so few of non-Humans in Tarell.” Oliver nodded in agreement. “When we emerged from the lake and I watched the way she collapsed and felt Ian’s heart stop as she fell, I couldn’t deny the bond.”

“Does Kat know about your connection?” I asked.

“Of course,” Oliver said with a look of discomfort. “Because she has it too.”

I looked back and forth between Hue and Oliver quickly. “Wait, what?” My mind raced with the possibilities. “So she has two Soul Mates?”

Hue turned to face us. He leaned back against the window. “No, she is my Soul Mate, but she also has a bond with Ian I can’t deny. Our best hope is to return to Everbloom or Drakemoore, complete our bonding, and hope that it ends the connection.”

Something about Hue’s assumption that she was his irritated me just a little. I started to say something but Oliver squeezed my shoulder and shook his head, cutting me off. Oliver cleared his throat. “Have you ever thought that maybe it’s the other way around?” Hue leveled his gaze with Oliver. “Maybe she is destined for so much greatness that you’re her Soul Mate and Ian is too.” Hue rolled his eyes.

“She is destined for greatness, but I will be the one to protect her. I’ve done it in the past and will do it again.” Hue looked angry now, like he was past the point of being on edge. I wanted to urge Oliver to relax and let it go for now.

I broke the standoff. “You wouldn’t have the bonding ceremony before we returned from Italy, would you?”

Hue backed down and looked amused. “I had planned to complete the ceremony upon returning to Everbloom, but the actual celebration would likely wait. I know she would want you there at least for the celebration.” His face softened and he smiled. “Unless you are volunteering to witness the consummation?”

I felt my cheeks turn red. “Nope, I can wait for the celebration.” Even Oliver smirked. They forgot that although I had never witnessed a binding ceremony, I had read about several. I stood and walked to the door. “I’m going for a walk,” I announced.

Outside the sun was warm and I wondered how long it would be before I started turning pink. While it wasn’t cold, Scotland was certainly cooler than Seoul in July, but still every bit as sunny. I imagined myself turning the dreaded pink that Kat so mercilessly teased me about. I was so lost in thought I didn’t see the young woman standing in my path until we collided with each other. I staggered back a few steps and began apologizing for running into her. When I looked up I realized she was dressed. She was the first clothed person I had seen in days. “I am so sorry I ran into you. Are you all right? Are you lost?” I asked.

She shook her head and smiled. There was no happiness in her eyes though. “I’m sorry, I should have paid more attention. My name is Tessa, I’m on my way to meet with the new laird.”

“Ian?” I asked.

She nodded again. “That is correct.”

Remembering what I had learned earlier, I decided to politely recommend that she come at a different time. “His father just passed away. Today is a ceremony in preparation for tonight and he’s a little busy.”

“He will see me. I saw him walking with the Princess atop the tower.” She pointed at the south end of the manor where an out of place turret stood.

“How could you see that far?” I asked her.

“I saw them when I flew over,” she explained.

“Oh! You’re an otherworlder. Got it!” I breathed a sigh of relief. “You mentioned the Princess, do you know Alizeyah?”

“We met briefly last night, but it’s more that I know of her.” Tessa seemed polite enough but something about her didn’t make much sense.

“I still don’t think now is good. Can I deliver a message?” I offered.

“Tell him not to lose hope. The Dragon and the Wolf are one and the same,” she told me.

“You mean they are both her Soul Mates?” I said, looking back up at the tower, for the first time wondering if Kat really did have a choice.

“No. They are the same,” she whispered. When I turned around to ask for clarification she was gone. Right now my fingers itched for my library.