Her smile disappeared and she immediately leaped back.
“Is this… your fated mate?”
“Yes,” Layak said. “Let me introduce you. Ava, this is Xat, my oldest childhood friend.”
Xat bowed at the same time I extended my hand.
“Oh,” I said.
I hastily bowed as she extended her hand.
We burst into nervous laughter, shook hands, and bowed at the same time.
“A dual-species greeting!” Xat said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ava. I know Layak has been looking forward to meeting his fated mate since forever.”
Layak nudged her with his shoulder and looked a little shy.
Xat planted her fists on her hips.
“Well, it’s true, isn’t it? And you’re so lucky to get such a beautiful creature!”
She turned back to me.
“I’m sorry. I don’t even know what your species is. I’ve never seen one like you before.”
“I’m human.”
“Human,” Xat said, rolling the word around her broad lips. “I like it. How are you finding the Citadel?”
“We haven’t gone inside yet,” Layak said, taking control of the conversation. “And we’ll be late if we keep talking.”
Xat raised her hands.
“Sor-ry. I didn’t realize we were on one of your schedules.”
She rolled her eyes at me and giggled.
We moved inside the Citadel and the sight took my breath away.
The M’rora who’d both succeeded and failed in their united mission to return with their fated mates were male and female.
I didn’t know why this came as a surprise.
I guess because I had only seen the males battle it out for their fated mate.
Many—I would guess around half—were female.
“What happens to those who fail to bring their fated mates here?” I said.
“They choose from the others who also failed,” Layak said.
He glanced in his friend’s direction and her face dropped.
I couldn’t imagine failing was a small deal in a culture built around the entire event.
I felt sorry for Xat and relieved she wouldn’t have to be single forever.
I wondered if it was the same policy in the Shadow Realm.
Would Kayal pair up with one of his own species?
A deep sinking sensation pinched my insides.
Although I was glad he wouldn’t be alone forever, it still stung that he could so easily replace me.
Strange, I thought, that the thought of Kayal with someone else bothered me a whole lot more than Layak embracing Xat.
They might only be best friends, but I couldn’t ignore the warm smile that spread across her face when he hugged her.
I felt for the throb in the heart of my chest that led to Kayal halfway across the galaxy.
The M’rora filtered into a giant ornate hall with golden swirls, twined around porcelain angels.
They were carved into the walls and pointing at us passing below them like a river, unmoving and yet seemingly alive.
Layak pulled up sharp and turned to me.
He took my hand in his and looked me deep in the eyes.
His expression was deep and warm and made my knees wobble.
Kayal used to look at me like that…
“I want you to know that I don’t care our bond is broken. To see you every day is more than enough for me. The bond might even heal with time. What I can promise you is I will never force you to do anything you don’t want. I will take care of you always and forever. We may not have had the best start, but it’s how we proceed that counts.”
I could have cried.
He was offering me everything I’d ever wanted in a life partner.
Love and understanding that would last the ages.
Where Kayal was dark, in the M’rora, I saw only light.
White against the dark.
My white knight.
He had slain the dragon, which in my story could only mean Kayal, and brought me to his castle.
The Citadel looked every inch a magnificent mansion.
And it was with him I would live out the rest of my days in perfect happiness.
It was my fairytale come true.
And yet, a dirty worm of doubt remained.
Layak looked at me expectantly.
I smiled and nodded at him.
“That would be… nice.”
If he was disappointed with my response, he didn’t show it.
He extended his elbow and, with butterflies pummeling my stomach, I took it.
He led me into the hall.
We formed two lines.
Those with fated mates ran down one side, and those alone stood on the other.
I spied Xat on the other side and smiled comfortingly at her.
It couldn’t be easy to be here alone.
Her eyes drifted over to me and Layak a couple more times before dropping to the floor.
A trumpet sounded and the big door at the far end opened, spilling golden light along the floor.
It was so bright I had to shield my eyes from its glare.
A dozen figures entered wearing thick white cowls that trailed behind them.
These figures were uniform in appearance, like all M’rora.
They each sported a pair of horns on their heads, some standing straight up, others twirling about their ears, and others still that reminded me of magnificent stags back home.
They carried themselves with grace and purpose.
At the center was a powerful creature with large eyes and a single pair of horns jutting from his forehead.
“Welcome to the Citadel,” he said, bowing graciously. “I am the Chief Elder. No doubt you are surprised to find yourself in this place. Not every species is born with a fated mate, and even fewer are aware of them out in the cosmos. But that is why you are here.
“Although the universe has chosen what it believes to be your perfect mate, you still have a choice. You need not choose those who have been picked for you. You need only listen to that voice deep inside that will tell you if this person standing beside you is the one. If there is any doubt, you must pay attention to it, for it will not end well in the months and years to come.”
He moved down the middle of the hall and turned to address those without their fated mates.
“Not all of us can succeed. Some fail due to their actions, but most of the time, it is little more than bad luck. But that doesn’t mean you
