After last night, I knew without a doubt that Beth was as into me as I was into her. And it wasn’t only because of the bond. We had a history, and we cared for each other. I just had to keep reminding her of that.
“You miss me already?” I teased when I answered the call.
“You know I always miss you,” my mother chided lightly. “How are things in Los Angeles?”
“You heard about the Lilin?”
“Tristan told me last night. It’s not often you see an active Lilin in the US. Everyone is talking about it.”
Between Beth and the situation here, I’d been too busy the last few days to pay attention to anything else. I could understand why the Lilin would interest everyone, and I’d bet there were a lot of warriors who wished they were on this job. I’d gladly give it to them if it meant getting Beth away from here. But she wouldn’t go willingly, and I couldn’t abandon my duty, not unless her life was in immediate danger.
“Your father and I told Tristan we’ll go home if we’re needed there,” my mother said.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“I’m sure it won’t with you and Nikolas on the job,” she replied with pride in her voice.
I walked outside and sat on one of the chairs by the pool. “I’ve been meaning to call you and Dad about something. Is he there?”
“He’s gone for the day. Is everything well with you?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” I said quickly to reassure her. “It’s great news, actually.”
“Are you planning to move to Germany? That would make me very happy.”
“No, but another visit might be in order.”
She laughed. “Are you being cryptic on purpose? Tell me your news.”
“I bonded.” I grinned, wishing I could see her face.
There was silence on the line for a moment before she cried, “Bonded? Who? When?”
“It happened last week.”
“Last week? Christian Kent, are you telling me you’ve been bonded for a whole week and you’re only telling me now?”
I rubbed my jaw. “A week’s not that long, Mom, and this blindsided me. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around it.”
“Bonding will do that to you,” she said in a softer voice. “Do I know her? More importantly, are you happy?”
“You do know her, and she’s perfect for me. I just have to convince her of that.”
“She doesn’t want it?”
The incredulity in my mother’s voice made me smile again.
“She has doubts, for good reason. We have a history, and I hurt her. She hasn’t forgiven me for that.”
“I don’t remember you being involved with a Mohiri female, not since you were young.”
“I haven’t been, not romantically. But I used to be very close to this one up until a few years ago.” I took a deep breath. “It’s Beth.”
My mother’s gasp was loud in my ear. “Beth? Our little Beth?”
I remembered the feel of Beth in my arms last night and smiled to myself.
“She’s not little anymore. She’s twenty now, and a warrior.”
“Oh, my,” my mother murmured. “Who would have thought that the little girl who followed you everywhere would one day be your mate?”
She paused, but before I could speak, she continued. “What do you mean you used to be close? You love Beth, and you’d never hurt her.”
“Never intentionally.”
I dragged a hand through my hair and told her everything that had happened between Beth and me four years ago. Guilt and shame washed over me again when I related how I’d left Longstone and hadn’t seen or spoken to Beth again until a few weeks ago.
“Do you mean to tell me you left and cut off all contact with her because you were afraid of the feelings you had for her?” my mother asked in an admonishing tone I remembered all too well from my childhood. “Christian, how could you? That girl loved you, and you abandoned her.”
“I meant to go back,” I said in a weak defense of my actions.
“You know what they say about good intentions. And you could have called her to let her know you still cared.”
“I know.”
I stood and paced around the pool. Knowing I’d handled things poorly was one thing. Hearing my mother lay my mistakes out for me drove home how badly I’d screwed up, and it made me wonder if Beth could ever forgive me.
“Now you know why she’s not happy about the bonding,” I said thickly. “I can tell she still cares for me, but she’s angry and hurt about the past.”
“You’ve been bonded a week, and she hasn’t broken it off. That tells me she might be more willing to forgive you than you think. The big question is, what will you do to win back her affection?”
“Be my usual charming self,” I quipped without humor.
My mother snorted delicately. “Charm only carries you so far. You’ll have to do better than that.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“So, she’s the one?”
I pictured Beth’s face and smiled. “I think she always has been.”
Beth
I sank down on a chair at the outdoor café and watched Jordan arrange shopping bags around her feet. I liked to shop, but she took it to a whole new level.
“Do you really need two new leather jackets?” I asked, shoving my sunglasses to the top of my head.
Jordan rolled her eyes at me. “You sound like Sara. And I didn’t see you saying no to those suede boots you found. How many pairs of boots do you own now?”
“Touché.”
I caught the eye of a waiter and waved him over. We ordered sandwiches and soda, and he hurried away to get our food.
Leaning back in my chair, I watched people walking past on Rodeo Drive until Jordan waved a hand to get my attention.
“You haven’t said how it went at Club Nyx,” she said. “What did you think of the lovely Adele?”
I shrugged. “I can see why Sara doesn’t like her. She’s a bit much.”
Jordan grinned. “Did she try to move in on your man?”
A snort slipped from me. “He’s not my man.”
Even as the words left my lips, my stomach quivered at the memory of dancing in Chris’s arms. I’d lain awake for a long time in bed remembering the feel of his body against mine. As a girl, I’d dreamed so many times of him holding me that way, but the dream had been only a shadow of the real thing.
“True. He’s your mate. That’s even better. Speaking of that, have you told your family?”
I lowered my voice even though there was no one sitting nearby. “Bonding with someone doesn’t mean you’ll mate them. And no, I haven’t told Rachel yet.”
I didn’t know why I hadn’t told Rachel about me bonding with Chris. Maybe because telling her would make it real. Or maybe I was afraid she’d ask what I intended to do about it, and I had no answer for her.
Jordan chuckled. “You don’t continue to live in the same house with someone you don’t plan to stay with. It’s clear Chris isn’t leaving. If you didn’t want him, you would have gone already. Not that I want you to go,” she added quickly.
“It’s not that simple.” I wrung my hands in my lap. “I admit I feel something for him, but I don’t trust him not to hurt me again.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “Trust is important. So, you do plan to break the bond?”
“I tried to, but he wouldn’t let me.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “He wouldn’t let you? I don’t think you need his permission.”
I chewed my bottom lip. “He was so insistent, and he said he’s going to prove we should be together. It was impossible to say no to him. I’d feel like a total jerk if I up and broke the bond right after that.”
“Oh, girl.” She shook her head sorrowfully. “You’re a goner. Of course, I can think of a lot worse ways to go.”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t going to break it. I just need a few days. That’s all. Maybe a week. I mean, how much can a bond grow in a week?”