Page 45 of Beastkin
“Thanks, Mom.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “I’m still figuring all this out.”
“That’s okay. Just be honest. With yourself and with him.” She paused. “And please be careful. If his parents really are high up in the Purity Front...”
“I will. I promise.”
“You let us know when you’re bringing him home, alright?” she added. “I want to meet this boy. No rush right now though.” She paused for a moment, and I heard the clatter of something in the kitchen. “I gotta run honey, my cinnamon buns are gonna burn. But you keep me updated, okay?”
“I will.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
The line went dead and I dropped the phone to my side. Leaning back, I laced my hands behind my head and stared up at the blue sky above filled with lazy white clouds floating by. I felt a deep sense of gratitude toward my parents for being so cool with everything. Even if I found them deeply embarrassing sometimes, they were good people under it all. They gave me their blessing with Phoenix without hesitation despite his family connections.
And now I just had to figure out how to explain this mate bond thing to Phoenix.
Chapter 18
Phoenix
Icould barely wait to get through classes so that I could see Karrick again. Every minute felt like an eternity as I watched the clock, my leg bouncing impatiently under my desk during Advanced Magical Theory. Professor Wormwood’s droning voice faded into background noise as my thoughts drifted to Karrick, his massive form, those intelligent brown eyes, the way his claws had gently traced my skin.
When the final bell rang, I practically leapt from my seat, stuffing my grimoire and notes haphazardly into my bag. I rushed through the crowded hallways, dodging other students with mumbled apologies.
The campus grounds were bathed in the golden light of sunset when I finally made it to our meeting spot behind the athletic building. My heart hammered in my chest as I rounded the corner, and there he was, all seven feet of muscled, fur-covered Beastkin, leaning against the brick wall with his arms crossed.
“You came,” he rumbled, those tusks glinting as his lips curled into a smile.
“Of course I did,” I said, trying to sound casual despite the heatalready spreading through my body. “I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
Karrick’s cheeks darkened. “I’ve been thinking about you too.” He glanced around quickly, then extended his clawed hand. “Come with me. There’s something I need to tell you, and we can’t talk here.”
I took his hand without hesitation, feeling the rough pads of his palm against mine. He led me toward the eastern edge of campus where the boundary wards were, moving with surprising stealth for someone so large.
“We’re leaving campus?” I whispered.
“Just for a bit,” he promised, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down my spine. “I know a place where we won’t be bothered.”
We slipped through a gap in the old stone wall, and I muttered a concealment charm that shimmered around us. The forest beyond the academy grounds was dense and dark, but Karrick navigated it effortlessly, guiding me deeper until we reached a small clearing.
In the center stood an ancient oak, its massive trunk hollowed at the base to form a natural shelter. Inside, someone, Karrick, I realized, had placed soft blankets and a pair of enchanted lanterns that cast a warm, intimate glow.
“You planned this,” I said, unable to keep the smile from my face.
Karrick looked almost shy, a strange expression on his bestial features. “I needed somewhere private. To talk. And... maybe more.”
We settled on the blankets, and Karrick took both my hands in his. His thumbs traced circles on my wrists, sending waves of pleasure up my arms.
“Phoenix, there’s something you should know…” he began, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “I didn’t know this until today actually, but I guess certain Beastkin can... connect with someone. I guess it can be kinda of strong.”
“Are you saying you feel strongly about me?” I asked, feeling my cheeks burn even though I already knew the answer.
“Of course I do,” he sighed. He glanced away nervously. “It’s more than that though.”
My heart skipped a beat at the nervousness in his voice. I’d never seen Karrick this uncertain about anything. “What do you mean?”
He took a deep breath, his massive chest rising and falling. “It’s called a mate bond. It happens sometimes between Beastkin and... well, usually other Beastkin, but apparently it can happen with other races too.” His brown eyes met mine, searching. “It means we’re connected, Phoenix. Like, really connected. Souls tied together kind of connected.”