Laurel blinked. “Huh, what don’t you know?”
“I don’t know anything. About any of this. Somehow, I can control water—but not well.”
Rowen sighed. “And that’s why we’re here. There’s a pond right in front of you. We’re going to work through it. I’ll make sure the spells we’re about to go through are good for your skill level. It’s been a while since I trained another witch.”
I noticed that Rowen pointedly didn’t look at Laurel. There was a history there, one I wouldn’t get in the middle of.
“And? What else don’t you know?” Laurel repeated.
I looked down at my hands. “As I said, everything. Rome says I’m his mate. As if I’m supposed to understand what that means. I just met him, and yet I can’t stop thinking about him. There’s like this…pull to him, and I don’t understand it. When I fell in love with Rupert, it was nothing like that. We were gentle with one another and slowly fell into our relationship. It took a while, and it was sweet. When I lost him, I thought I lost everything. It’s so different with Rome. And all we’ve done is kiss. Only I feel like he’s claimed me somehow, and I don’t understand it. I don’t even know if I want it. Nobody is explaining anything in detail to me because they’re all afraid of overwhelming me. Though what ends up happening is that I get even more overwhelmed.”
The two women looked at me and blinked before Laurel put her sword back in its scabbard, set it down on the rock beside her, and stood. “Mates are for life.”
“I assumed that,” I grumbled and winced at Laurel. “I’m sorry. Please, continue.”
Laurel smiled, her eyes distant. “We understand your frustration, and I know you’ve read through the books, but they don’t go over everything. Some things are so inherent with how we grow up and what family knowledge is passed down, that they’re not always recorded.”
“And my mom and my dad took me away from all this. And it wasn’t like Aunt Penelope could tell me.”
“Your aunt grew up in Ravenwood, but the rest of your family didn’t. It makes sense that you wouldn’t know,” Rowen added, frowning. “Maybe you weren’t supposed to be here until it was the right time.”
“Beyond the prophecy,” Laurel added.
“Aside from prophecies,” Rowen continued, “mates are forever, as Laurel said. They’re fated. It is said that within the world of the paranormals and fae—anything that isn’t quite human, really—that there can be one or two people who are the perfect match for you, depending on whether you’re a pair or a triad.”
My eyes widened at that, and I nodded. “Fated. As in there’s no choice?” I asked, not sure if I liked that idea.
Laurel shook her head. “There’s always a choice. It starts with a pull. A connection. A literal metaphysical thread between two people—at least, in this case—that will forever tie you together. Unless you choose to walk away. You can choose not to be with your mate for whatever reason. And many are valid,” she added quickly, and I wondered about the story there, but I didn’t pry. “If you choose,” she continued, “then you’ll no longer feel the tug. You might feel as if something is missing forever and have an ache within you. But it will go away eventually. Or at least you’ll learn to live with it.”
“And what if I had come here with Rupert? What if I had felt the tug toward Rome but was still in love with my husband?” I asked, bile filling my throat. “I would never have cheated on my husband. You’re saying that I could have this perfect romance and love with a man I don’t even know, and not take anything from him?”
“No,” Rowen said softly. “You wouldn’t have come here if you were still with Rupert.”
“You’re telling me that fate decided that Rupert needed to die so I could come here and be part of the coven and mate with Rome?” I asked, anger pouring off me. “That can’t be right.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Rowen said quickly, stumbling over her words for the first time since I had met her. “I’m explaining it wrong. Rupert died, and it was a tragedy, and I’m so sorry I never met your husband—from what you’ve said about him, he sounds like a wonderful man.”
“He was,” I said, shaking my head. “And he’s gone, and I can’t change that. But I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.”
“You don’t have to make any choices right now,” Laurel said. “Honestly, I’m surprised Rome is as stable and as nice as he is.”
My eyes widened. “Rome isn’t usually nice? He’s lying about himself and pretending to what? Get in my pants?”
I knew I was rambling and probably acting like an idiot. I didn’t understand any of this, and everything was coming at me so quickly I felt like I was behind. Always.
Laurel let out a breath. “I’m bungling this. Rome’s being very good about not being overprotective and being…well, a bear. Of all of the magical creatures out there, shifters are the worst when it comes to protective instincts with their mates. Usually, once that tug begins, and they figure out that the person could be their mate or mates, the animal inside takes over and wants to mark them as theirs. Makes sure the choice is theirs, but helps it happen. It gets growly. And hot, if I’m honest.”
I sputtered. “You have a mate?” I asked, confused.
Laurel’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. “No, but I have friends with mates and have watched the guys get all dominant yet sweet and caring at the same time. And bears are the worst of them.”
“I think the bears would say the wolves are the worst,” Rowen muttered.
“Maybe, but there are a lot of bears in this town, and they do get growly. The fact that Rome is now kissing you? It’s remarkable. It takes his alpha strength to hold himself back and not woo you, make you see who he is. I’m honestly surprised that he hasn’t kidnapped you, simply taking you to his den to try and make you fall in love with him so he can mark you and make you his.”
I ignored how heat lashed at me at that image. Rowen and Laurel gave each other knowing looks, and I cleared my throat. “What was that look for?” I asked.
“You got all blushy, and you bit your lip when I said that. Maybe you do want Rome to take you to his den and mark you.”
“No. I mean, I don’t even know him.”
“You do. You know Rome. You might not know everything he’s ever said or done, but you know the man he is. He’s kind, alpha, and you’ll learn more about him. Deep inside? You know. Maybe it’ll take you some time to understand who he is and what he could be, but that attraction? That’s not going away. It might not ever.”
“What are you saying?” I asked Laurel.
“I’m saying that maybe you should let yourself believe.”
“That’s all I’ve been doing since I got here.”
“Maybe. But have you believed in yourself?” Rowen asked, her voice soft.
“I don’t know. I need time to think. And, honestly, I need to figure out what I want. Before I can do any of that, I need to catch up on everything else. Like magic.”