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“What the hell are you talking about? You said submit to the white tiger! I did that!”

The room grew darker, like the clouds had passed in front of the sun. That wasn’t what was happening, I could see the sunny backyard through the window. It was Athena losing her patience that made the room tremble and the air grow cold. I’d seen her get angry only once in my life, when my uncle showed up on her doorstep demanding she hand me over after my parents tried to leave the family. She refused, and when he attempted to take me from her, the amount of psychic energy that overtook the yard was terrifying. She blasted Camus with it, sending him sailing off her property, and she said if he ever came back, she’d tear the fabric of his future apart. She couldn’t protect me forever, but if he had gotten to me that night, no doubt he would’ve used me to punish my father the same way he used my mother.

“Lower your voice,” she demanded.

Fury and confusion swelled in my chest, but I knew better than to challenge her. She helped raise me and I knew she cared for me, but she wouldn’t hesitate to put me in my place. There was a reason I respected her so much.

“I’m sorry. I just thought–”

Her magic pulled back slowly, and the temperature of the room went back to normal. I fought the urge to shake the chill from my skin.

“I know very well what you thought. I told you to submit to the whitetiger to earn your freedom. I never said anything about sex.”

My mouth fell open. “What did you mean, then?”

Making atsksound, she turned back to the food, lighting the burner again to rewarm it. “I meant what I meant. You have been fighting your whole life, Azzy. It’s time to let someone else care for you. The white tiger will give you what you need. And not just in the bedroom.”

Horror slammed into my gut, and I launched to my feet. “Hold on. You’re saying I need to– Are you insane? Just one night with him almost got him killed! I’m not risking his life to save mine!”

“His future and yours were always intertwined. Such is the way of mates, dear one. You would have found each other eventually. As I said before, he is stronger than he looks. If you want to be free of your uncle’s control, then the white tiger is your salvation.”

Mates. No. I couldn’t mate. Not with a human and not with anyone else. It wouldn’t help me be free of my uncle. It would give him leverage against me. He’d use my mate to force me to do his bidding. I never wanted a mate.

“I’ve known you a long time, Athena. I never thought you’d be cruel.”

She frowned, turning to face me again. “What are you talking about?”

“You know what would happen if I mated. You know what my uncle would do. He’d use my mate against me to force me to hurt people. I’d never sign someone up for that kind of life. You were wrong to push me towards something I couldn’t have. It’s cruel.”

Her expression softened, and she puttered closer, urging me with her hand on my arm to sit back down. Even sitting, I was taller than her, but she didn’t ever seem to mind. She cupped my cheeks in her hands, leveling me with a look.

“You listen here, Aziel Shadowwalker. Your happiness has always been my greatest concern. I cannot tell you all I’ve seen. It would change the outcome. Just know, every guidance I’ve given you is leading to your happiness. I would not tease you with something you couldn’t have.”

A deep, painful longing twisted in my chest. I wanted to believe her, to know that my future wasn’t filled with pain and premature death. But I was too afraid to hope.

“I don’t want my happiness if it destroys his. I won’t be like my uncle.”

“I know.”

She didn’t change her mind or give me another path. She just held my face and looked at me with love and compassion. She was the only person who ever did.

I relented. “Can you promise me this won’t end up killing him or his family? I’d rather spend the rest of my life running if it does.”

“I can’t promise much. The future is ever changing, you know this. But I can promise that he will be unharmed. You have people, Aziel. Rely on them to protect your mate. Only together can you succeed.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

DECLAN

The contactthey gave me for paranormal tattoos showed up on Sunday morning. We weren’t open yet, but I heard him knock and came down to see who was here. To say I was shocked was an understatement. He wasn’t what I was expecting, and it took a few minutes for me to stop gaping at the literal minotaur in front of my shop.

I was a little uneasy about letting him in. Aziel and his friends were a lot less intimidating than this guy, and that was saying something since Aziel looked like he kicked puppies on the regular. This guy didn’t give away any emotions on his face and he had to duck to get into the shop.

“You Declan?”

I blinked a few times, shaking off the nerves. “Uh, yeah. Sorry. I’m Declan Gray. You’re…”

“Mannyr. My friends call me Manny.” He offered me his hand, which engulfed my own as he shook it. He was gentle enough, he didn’t hurt me, but still. The unease was real, and I almost wanted to change my mind about meeting this guy.