Page 27

27

Serious Wooing

*Jalen*

I held my breath as I slipped inside the cabin I’d grown up in. “Auntie Karln?” No answer. But with Ren busy bathing, I resigned myself to wait inside for them both.

My footsteps echoed on the wooden floors. Dozens of plants greeted me, their meticulously trimmed leaves dangling in every window. Even more hung from the ceiling, making the living area feel like I was back in the jungle.

My aunt had always had a love for plants. Once I’d gotten the travel bug, I’d fed her obsession by bringing her the rarest blossoms to tend. And when I was locked away in my personal purgatory, she’d sent me clippings, giving me something to focus on.

I ought to thank Karln for that. Without my garden, I’d have ended up like all the other outcasts—whiling away the lonely days and nights mired in misery. Those plants had kept me from going crazy, wondering why everything went wrong…

I sighed as I wandered further inside. Reaching out, I plucked a framed picture off the side table next to Karln’s favorite rocking chair. Rhelt and I stared out, big smiles on our faces and our arms slung around each other’s shoulders. A pang hit me in the ribs.

“Such a shame. You two used to be so close.”

I whipped around, nearly dropping the photo. “Aunt Karln. I didn’t hear you come in.” She strolled out of the kitchen, a sad look in her violet eyes.

“Have you spoken to Rhelt lately?” she asked softly as she plucked the frame from my fingers.

My stomach churned. “No. He sent me a letter, though.”

She shook her head, making the loose bun she’d piled her blue curls up in wobble. “I’m sorry to hear that. I assumed that since you were here, the two of you had mended your issues.”

“Not quite. I doubt he’ll ever forgive me.”

Karln set the photo down gently. “Don’t give up. He’ll come around.” She lifted her gaze to mine. “It might help if you find your mate.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “About that…”

Karln’s face lit up. “You found her? But who…” Her eyes narrowed. “Is it the human you arrived with?”

Aunt Karln had always been too quick-witted to sneak anything past. It seemed a few years hadn’t changed that. “Yes. But… it’s complicated.”

Karln sank into her rocker and waved a hand at the old couch across from it. “Sit. Tell me what’s troubling you.”

“I don’t even know where to begin.” I plopped on the couch.

“Finding one’s mate should be a joyous time. Why do you look so disturbed? Were you hoping she’d be Dionion?”

“No, I don’t mind that she’s Terran. It’s just… Ren told me when we first met that she hates the idea of fated mates. I’m afraid when I tell her, she’s going to…”

“Reject you?”

My chest tightened. “Exactly.”

“You can’t let that stop you, Jalen. If you two are experiencing the heat”—she glanced at me as if to confirm, and at my nod, she continued—“then you have to explore your connection.”

“I know that.” I rubbed my temples. “She’s just so different from me, Auntie. And I don’t mean that she’s an off-worlder. I think something happened in her past that made her give up on relationships. Half the time, she glares at me like she wants to murder me.”

Aunt Karln chuckled. “I like her already. You need a female who won’t spend her life swooning at that smile of yours.” She leaned back on the rocker. “What about the other half?”

“Hm?”

“You said half the time she wants to murder you. What about the other half?”

A flash of Ren writhing on my lap, her eyes half-lidded and her mouth agape with pleasure, flooded my memory.

Aunt Karln laughed again. “I’m guessing the other half you don’t want to talk about with your old aunt.”

“Perhaps.” The tips of my ears burned. “But I’m worried when she finds out, she’ll think we’re only drawn to each other because of the bond.”

“Then you must show her that’s not so.” Karln leaned forward on her rocker and patted my knee. “Get to know her. Prove that you enjoy spending time with her and you aren’t just interested in mating her.”

I twisted my lips. “You think that will work?”

Karln reached over and plucked a different frame off her side table. She flashed the picture at me before placing it on her lap and staring at it.

My parents. I’d been so young when they passed I had no memories of them, but I knew them well enough from staring at that picture and listening to countless tales my aunt shared.

Karln looked up. “It’s funny, I remember my brother sitting right where you are and sharing something very similar the day he met your mother.”

“But I thought they were deeply in love.” At least, that was what Karln had always led me to believe.

“They were. Only… not at first.” Karln smiled nostalgically. “Your mother was a tribe runner. While most females would be too frightened to brave the jungles on their own, your mother loved it. You get your love of travel from her.”

“I thought father was a runner too?”

“Not until after they met. Your father knew she wouldn’t settle for a life led in one place. So he went with her. And when he showed he valued her—exactly the way she was—that was when she knew fate had chosen correctly.”

Perhaps Karln was right… I had to prove to Ren that we made sense together. Then, when I came clean about the bond, she’d realize we were meant to be.

Karln placed the frame back on the side table with a clunk. “Treasure her, Jalen.” Her lip wobbled. “You never know how long your time together will last.” She rubbed her thumb across her brother’s likeness. “I’m just thankful they had each other in the end.”

My parents had died in a freak accident. It couldn’t have been easy on Karln, though normally she was good at hiding it. Times like these when she let her sadness show, I realized the enormous hole my parents’ deaths had opened in her life. It could be why she never sought a new relationship after my uncle passed.

“I’m glad too,” I admitted softly. “Thank you for the advice, Auntie.”

“Happy to help.” Her face brightened. “Now, when do I get to meet her?”

I chuckled. “Soon, I hope. I asked Kiki to walk her here when they were done in the bathhouse.”

Karln hopped out of her chair. “She’s coming now? I need to tidy this mess.”

Shaking my head, I rose. “Let me help you.” As we rushed around, clearing the few piles of junk Karln had lying around, her words rang in my mind.

My aunt was right. If I wanted any chance of making Ren mine, then I had some serious wooing to do.