Page 81 of Caller of Crows

"What do you mean?" Sven asked sharply, not liking the sound of that one bit.

"Your mother passed away, and you're not sure you can even go to the funeral. Let me say that more clearly, you're not sure if yourloverwilllet you go.I don't know a lot about relationships, but I know that's not healthy."

"Altair's trying to protect me."

"He's clinging to you," Cale corrected. "How are you supposed to live your life if you can never go anywhere? Don't you think us mortals have spent enough of our lives in hiding?" Cale's tone grew sharper. "Don't let him put you back into that box."

Sven's chest clenched as a lump formed in his throat. "You don't understand. He's only like that because he took a mate before and he…" Sven licked his lips, unwilling to admit to the whole truth of what had happened between Altair and Isabella. Telling Cale that Altair hadkilledhis last mate would not exactly paint a good picture. "He lost her."

"So now he's afraid to ever let you out of that basement? That's insane, Sven."

It didn't sound so great when you put it like that, and Sven couldn't even deny that he knew that. He'd thought about it himself, but… "The whole issue would be solved if I let him turn me."

"Would it?" Cale paused, and when he spoke again the anger in his voice was gone. "Do you even want to be a vampire?"

Sven opened his mouth, but he found himself at a loss for how to respond.

The crow beside him cawed as though it was answering for him.

"You don't know what you want, do you?" Cale sounded sad, but there was understanding in his voice. "I'm not telling you to break up or anything, but I'm worried about you. If this vampire really cared about you, he wouldn't force you to choose. My mate would never treat me like that."

Cale's words took the wind straight out of Sven's sails. He'd been there when Cale had first met his mate, a storm dragon shifter by the name of Kieran. They'd looked like an unlikely couple, and they were, but they were fated to be together. They complemented and understood each other on a level that went deeper than anything Sven could comprehend.

They were two halves of the same whole.

A team.

And Sven had to admit to himself that his relationship with Altair wasnothinglike theirs. He and his vampire were all passion and urgency and desperate lust. Heated glances and burning touches.

Irrational, insatiable need.

They were never on equal ground. Would they never be mates the same way Cale and his dragon were? Because Altair had taken a mate once before already and Sven wasn't her.

Could a vampire have more than one true mate throughout his life?

"You're quiet," Cale said. "I didn't want to upset you."

Sven shook his head, even though he knew Cale couldn't see him. "You didn't." He swallowed. "You just made me rethink something that's been bugging me for a while."

"I'm not saying that you should leave him, Sven, I just wanted you to think. I don't like the thought of you being stuck down there. I don't want to think you've got a cage instead of a partner."

"I'll be okay," Sven promised. "I'll figure this all out somehow."

"Just try to get out for at least a little bit before you make any life-altering decisions you can't take back." The line fell silent for a second. "And let me know if you need help."

Sven nodded. "I will. Thank you, Cale. I mean it, it's good to talk to a friend." He paused. "I'll definitely find a way to attend the funeral." He realized now, he did not owe that only to his mother but also to himself.

How else could he move forward?

If he was to choose this life with Altair of his own free will… he had to be free first.

Cale's reply came quickly. "Good. You deserve to say a proper goodbye to your mom." There was another long silence, then he cleared his throat. "And if you decide you need protection from vampires, I know a few dragons who can help."

Sven shook his head. "It won't come to that."

Cale hummed non-committally. "Just keep it in mind."

Sven agreed and ended the call. There werea lotof things he needed to keep in mind, though. He needed to figure out what he wanted.