It was chilly in the Middle Lands. According to Calix, the lands reflected the reigning Court's season, and by my calculations, that would put Spring in power. At least it wasn't snowing like it had been the first time I came here, and the cheerful fire Lorcan built kept the worst of the cold at bay. I glanced back at the temple, wondering if he planned to spend the night inside with the statue of his mate.

"Here you go," Calix said, handing me a steaming cup as he settled on the log next to me.

I couldn't help but notice he seemed to strategically put enough distance between us so that he didn't touch me, and I masked my hurt feelings by inhaling the savory aroma wafting out of the mug. My stomach growled in response, and he ducked his head to hide a smirk.

"I didn't know you could cook," I teased, sipping the rich broth.

"I don't." He dug into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a few sachets of herbs and spices. "The Brownies make these for hunting parties and long journeys. Just add hot water and you have a hearty soup."

"So, Faerie ramen?" I snorted.

"What is ramen?"

"It's a similar concept in the human realm, though I'm sure it's not nearly as healthy as this is. But it's my favorite on chilly nights."

"Glad I could give you a taste of home."

His kindness drew a smile from me, but it faded after we lapsed into silence. This awkwardness was killing me. I would almost take the tension filled bickering that had been the hallmark of our earliest interactions over this painful quiet.

"When...when did you know?" I asked in a whisper.

Silver mist billowed out of his mouth as he tipped his head back and exhaled. His fingers tensed on the log, and he kept his eyes locked on the heavens when he replied. "Honestly, the day I met you."

I took too big of a swallow and spluttered as the soup burned going down. Tears streaming down my face as I gathered myself, I choked out, "Then why did you knock me unconscious?"

"I really thought you were a Trickster."

"Please."

"I did! But as soon as you fell, I caught you to break your fall, and the moment we touched, I knew the truth. It...it felt like lightning entered my bloodstream, and I wasn't touching my power. When Niamh explained that you were truly human, I knew the truth for sure."

"How did my being human make you know that I was your mate? Did you expect a human mate?"

"My mother sometimes had the gift of foresight, and one night when she was tucking me into bed, she told me a story about my mate. She would come from the human realm, and her beauty would make the finest summer morning pale in comparison."

I blushed. Calix inched closer, and I wished he would close the space between us completely. Every nerve in my body was aware of his nearness, and I wondered what it felt like for him right now. Is that why he didn't dare touch me? Because it would snap his control?

"She also told me that her arrival would mean Faerie was in grave danger."

The lust heating my blood disappeared, and I shivered. "Why would she tell you that?"

"Because she already knew what was going to happen to her. The next day she gave her life for the Vow. She needed me to know that your arrival was going to set off a chain of events that could lead to its undoing. I've spent my entire life hoping and dreading the day you arrived."

"It would have been better if I never came then."

His hand cupped my face and forced me to look at him. His starlight eyes blazed so brightly it was hard to hold his gaze. "Never say that. From the moment I realized it was you, I knew I would face a lifetime of war and turmoil if it meant you were by my side. And it's not just because of the magic in our bond, though if you could only feel a tenth of what I feel because of it...you would be mad with need. It's also because you are fiercely independent and have the biggest heart. You risked your life for strangers. For my people. How could I not love that?"

"You love me?"

"With everything I am."

We stared at one another for a long time, and finally, I cleared my throat and said, "I love you, too. And you're wrong."

His hand had slid off my chin and moved to the back of my neck. "What am I wrong about?"

"I don't need to feel a tenth of the bond to burn with need. I want you."

Calix growled and dug his fingers into my neck. Just the slightest pressure would push me forward and close enough to press my lips to his, but he resisted.

"You don't understand. The next time I make love to you, I am going to claim you. The bond will be sealed, and you will be bound to not just me, but to Faerie, for the rest of your very long life."

"Okay."

His breathing quickened, and he let me go with another snarl. "You need to think on it, Little Moon. I won't tie you down when you don't fully understand the consequences."

With those words, he rose and stormed into the woods. I stared at the fire for all of thirty seconds before deciding to go after him. One thing Calix needed to learn was that I was done with playing it safe. I'd done it my entire life for my father, and I had no question that Calix was who I wanted. Magic or no magic. He was made for me.

It took me a few minutes to find him. As a Fae, he moved far more swiftly than I did, and if it wasn't for the bond tethering me to him, I might never have found him. Calix might have been born in the Summer Court, but his very essence was that of shadows and night.

I found him next to a tree with his back facing me. He braced one arm against the trunk, and his shoulders shook as if he was crying.

"C—"

I bit off his name and flushed all over as I registered what I was truly seeing. He wasn't crying. His free hand gripped his cock. He slid it up and down the length of it, stopping at the base on each pass to squeeze. And with every stroke, he moaned my name.

Chewing on my lip, I considered my options, and at last, I decided there was only one course of action I could take.