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Renya looked off into the distance, barely making out the mountain range that stood behind Snowden Lodge. She was enjoying her time at the Spring Lands, but she couldn't wait to be home again.

Esmeralda uncorked a bottle of elderberry wine and handed Renya a small glass. She continued to unpack the basket, pulling out little raspberry cakes with a thick icing and several different types of cheeses.

“This was so sweet of you,” Renya said, grabbing one of the cakes.

“It was no trouble. Besides...I wanted to talk to you about something.”

Renya knew what she was going to say before she opened her mouth.

“It's about Phillippe, yes?”

“Fates, am I so transparent?” Esmeralda groaned, putting her hand to her forehead.

Renya chuckled. “No, not at all. But he certainly is.”

Esmeralda looked pleased. “I like him,” she admitted, quickly looking down at the soft grass lining the bank of the lake.

“I don't blame you. He's quite charming,” Renya confessed.

“This might be awkward, but when we were children, my father hoped for me to marry Grayden. But his father refused.”

Renya felt a tiny stab of jealousy but moved on quickly. Grayden was hers and hers alone.

Esmeralda continued, “but I'm so glad for it. Grayden is sweet and kind, but...”

“Broody?” Renya guessed, a coy smile on her face.

“Yes. But Phillippe...he's so funny and carefree. I know he has his own burdens, but he makes me feel like I'm the only thing that matters.”

“I'm happy for you, Esmeralda. But to be honest, I don't know a great deal about him, so I don't know how much help I can be.”

“That's not it at all. I wanted to know...before your bond, did you feel something for Grayden? I think I'm falling for Phillippe, but a part of me still hopes that there's a fated mate out there for me.”

Renya chewed the inside of her lip thoughtfully. “Yes, I suppose I did. Honestly, I was attracted to him the second I met him. He was handsome and noble, and I did feel drawn to him. I even loved him before our bond came. We had a solid friendship, and we tried to downplay our physical relationship, but looking back, I think I always knew he was for me.”

Esmeralda looked deep in thought. “I'm definitely attracted to Phillippe, and the timeframe for me to develop a bond has passed. But...it's hard to let go of the dream, you know?”

Renya didn't know, but she didn't want to tell Esmeralda that. The last thing she was thinking of was developing a fated bond when she stumbled into this world.

“Esmeralda, I think that if you like Phillippe, you should go for it. You can't live life waiting for something to happen to you. This could be your chance for love and happiness. I loved Grayden before we became mates, and even if I had never been fated to him, I knew we belonged to each other.”

“Thank you, Renya. That was exactly what I was hoping to understand.”

“Of course. For what it's worth, I think you look really happy with him.”

Another sweet smile from Esmeralda. “Well, enough about that! Tell me how Grayden proposed!”

“Renya…my Little Fawn…”

She closed her eyes as she felt him enter her, desperately seeking the connection they shared.

“Grayden…” she moaned, unable to believe that she was really here, pinned beneath him. Renya couldn’t stop herself from constantly running her fingers all over his body, just to make sure he wasn’t a dream. Which in turn, led to more couplings. She wasn’t complaining though. She needed him as much as he needed her. They used each other's bodies to convince themselves that they could never be parted again, desperately clinging to each other.

“Gods, Renya…” Grayden continued, his eyes fixated on hers. A shiver went down her spine at the intensity in which he claimed her. “I can’t ever live without you. Never leave me again.”

She tried to reassure him, tried to say something, but at that point he angled his hips and she shook, pleasure coursing through her bloodstream.

Grayden followed behind her, relief shuddering throughout his body. He collapsed on the bed next to her, pulling her on top of him and keeping himself within her.