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“What are we going to do in the meantime?” she asks.

“I’ll have to attend the upcoming Bak’hura and act as though nothing is amiss.”

“Are you going to bring Neev?”

“I don’t want to, but I don’t see that I have any other choice.” I run a hand through my hair, tugging on the strands until it hurts. “I hate that I brought her into this and for no reason now.”

“If you hadn’t, you would never have found your mate, though. That has to count for something.”

“It would if she knew.”

“So tell her.”

“No.”

“Why not?” she asks with exasperation. “She clearly cares about you.”

“Does she actually care, or is it just the bond? Or, conversely, what if I tell her and she questions whether her feelings are true? Humans don’t have mate bonds. Fuck, she could even think I tricked her into it somehow or that I’m lying.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“No. I’m thinking about her. I don’t want her to feel like she doesn’t have a choice in our relationship. I won’t be an obligation to her.”

“So you’re just never going to tell her?”

“I will, eventually. If she decides to stay with me.”

“But what do you want?”

I pin her with a look. “It’s obvious what I want.”

“Then fight for it.”

“No. It has to be her choice. Her decision. I’ve had choice taken from me far too many times. I will not do it to someone I love.”

Her brows lift. “Love?”

“Yes.”

“Wow.” She looks shocked.

It isn’t necessary for two individuals in a mate bond to love each other, it’s a different kind of connection. One that usually comes with falling in love but not always. It can also be something as simple as the universe deciding your genetics are compatible.

“What?”

“You’re just a bigger idiot than I thought if you love her, but you’re not going to tell her.”

“Xarloc was the last person to call me an idiot.”

“And?”

“And you know what happened to him.”

“Are you threatening me, Commander?” A wide grin crosses her face. “Because I could go for a fight.”

“I’m not going to fight a cheater.”

She chuckles. “It wasn’t cheating. My leg just came detached at the perfect moment to use as a club. Don’t be a baby.”