Braving the Elements (Darkness #2)(15)

“I’m homeless. Charles burnt all my possessions. I’m hated. I now sound like a whining jackass—a little compassion might be nice.”

The wisps of a smile were back. He apparently found my black moods humorous. “An account has been opened for you. Funds have been deposited for your employment within this clan, as a mage in training, and as recompense for Charles’ accidental…sabotage. Buy new possessions.”

“I can’t buy new memories.”

“No, but with a computer, you can re-download your photos. Or did you not back up to the cloud?”

Oh yeah. I had. I had signed up with my new computer before I even knew what I was signing up for. Then it just kept backing up there because I didn’t know how to stop it.

Fate was getting awfully nosy.

Sensing a losing battle, my eyebrows lowered again. “Okay, why are you hiding me away in a secret residence?”

“We have a leak somewhere in my clan. The enemy seems to know important information they shouldn’t. I don’t want you accessible. They know I protect you, which means they know you have value. Now that you’ve demonstrated your kind of power, they’ll pull the walls down to get you. You, me, and Charles know where you stay. For your own safety, that needs to remain between us, alone.”

“Why are you always such a dick to me in front of others?” I fired next, trying to unsettle his perfectly calm demeanor.

A large breath escaped his mouth in a whoosh. He shook his head, the first sign that he didn’t sit on top of the world like he pretended. Guilt flashed again, my curiosity starting to get out of control as to why. “I suddenly regret this honest discussion.”

He put his hands on his h*ps and leaned against a tree, looking out at the falling night. “You’re…different. You affect me differently than others. As I affect you…”

His eyes swung toward me, the question in that statement ringing through the night. I stepped closer before I could help myself.

Eyes on my face, he continued, “But I’m the leader of his clan; all decisions go through me. I’m responsible for every single member’s life, wellbeing, and prosperity. At first, you were nothing more than an intriguing nuisance with strange and puzzling human traits. You’ve come up against our human stigma first hand. I admit, it darkened my thoughts.”

I scrubbed my palm against my jeans. “And now?”

His eyes bore into mine. A decision rumbled around in his head. The pause lengthened, the approaching night muffling the sounds of day, muting the light.

“I…” Something clicked into place. His face hardened. “I’m still a leader, and I have obligations. I need to take on a mate. To stabilize my role, give my clan another means to resolve problems, and continue my line through the offspring of my chosen. As I’ve said a few times, I don’t take pets, whether my own race or yours.”

“You’re a one woman kind of guy? I find that hard to believe in this place…” My eyes started to sting and I had no idea why.

“I prefer the solidarity of one mate, yes. Although that’s not the norm, no. You’re right. Not for me until lately, and I certainly can’t expect that from my future mate.” His jaw clenched.

“I don’t understand why you need someone with a mate title to have a few kids. Charles explained it like you guys were good with just creating kids randomly.”

“Charles is young. He’s flippant in his execution of our customs. My children may not carry my genetics, but through a union, they’d be born to my mantle. I’d provide for them as my own. Regardless, the clan needs a pair. A steady, stable pair. It’s how it’s always been. Similar to your kings and queens, arranged mating is not unusual. Many factors go into the choice. Reproduction is one, yes. As is ability to lead, politics, magical power, lineage as it concerns magical power…”

“Darla is your chosen.” My heart filled with lead and squished down into my shoes. I knew that, but I needed to hear it from his mouth, once and for all.

Stefan stared at me, his face unreadable. “She is the most acceptable candidate.”

That was a professional answer.

“When does this happen?”

“I should’ve made the decision before now. It needs to be formalized soon. The Regional needs to approve of my final choice. He’s scheduled to visit in a few months’ time.”

I shook my head as my eyes trained on a spot of dirt next to my shoe. “How does that concern me? Why can’t you just be nice? Friendly?”

“You were a distraction. A pleasant one, but not one I could allow to take my attention away from my clan. Now that you’re an asset, you are under my protection. Your prosperity and overall comfort are my responsibility. I now treat you no differently than anyone else under my care. Except for this discussion. And for my checking up on you… Sometimes.”

Not as professional.

“And except Darla,” I muttered sulkily, wishing I’d just shut up for once.

“I treat you no differently than anyone else under my care.”

I glanced up, startled. His hand was out, directing me in front of him. “Please, walk with me.”

I trudged forward, my lingering sulkiness immature, but not something I could help. Somewhere deep inside me, I knew I belonged with him. My body tried to merge with him as its other half. Being near him, next to him, touching him, sent me into an unexplainable euphoria. I’d felt it that night on the street, even having never seen his face before that moment. To now hear that that door was closed, that I couldn’t even have him as a strictly sexual situation—even though that would only satisfy part of the hunger—was like a punch to the gut. It ripped at me.