“Why?”

“Because I love you, soyam.”

Her breath catches. “How do you know you love me?”

I chuckle. “Because I need you more than I need air. You’re constantly in my thoughts, and your happiness is the only thing I want—even if it makes me miserable.”

“Is that why you’re working so hard to erase our bond, because you think I’m miserable?”

“Aren’t you, soyam?”

“Miserable? No. Confused, very. I struggle to sift through what’s the bond and what’s me.”

“Which never would’ve happened if not for me—I imprinted on you.”

“Actually, according to Ekana, it wasn’t you. That’s the part of our fate that’s out of both our hands. Destiny will always keep conspiring to get us together.

Imprinting upon me via your ink was simply the quickest, strongest way because to remove it would take an astronomical feat on both our parts.

As Ekana said, we can’t escape fate, but we can choose how we receive it. This entire time, we’ve been fighting it…and I’m sick of struggling against the current.”

“What current?”

“Sorry, it’s part of the metaphor your goddess gave me—that life’s like a river.”

“Right, so are we fish in this scenario?”

“Um, I would rather be a mermaid.”

“Have you met one? They’re mean.”

Zhuliya giggles. “Ilian! Ugh, why is this so difficult? Listen, I’m afraid to love you—afraid of love. It’s been so much easier to keep to myself and help others, but I’m lonely.

No matter how much I fight against it, I want someone to see me as something special, like how my ata felt about my ima.

In a world that didn’t accept them, they found each other. Both sacrificed the love of their family for something unknown and new.

It worked out for them, but everything seemed like an uphill battle for my parents as they fled Russia to a country that knew nothing of their customs and culture.”

“Do you think love is easy?”

Her lush red lips dip into a pout. “It should be.”

“Anything as transcendent as love shouldn’t come without trial, and love—real love—is tested by those challenges because those that weather it have found their truth together.

I understand why you’re scared, but your parents chose one another despite the hardships. Love is a choice, Zhuliya.

It's choosing to be with someone, even when it seems like everyone is against you, because you need them more than anything else in the world.”

“But love isn’t just about needing, Ilian. Passion burns up, and if there’s not a foundation after the smoke clears away, everything between us will crumble.”

“I know you know there’s something more than just the flames of our desire. What do you think is stoking the fire—why do you think our mating is so intense? It’s rooted in love.

What if, just for a moment, you allow yourself to believe in us? What if we explore this connection without the weight of doubt?

There’s no expiration on when we can remove the bond if you decide later that it’s not working out. We can always keep Ulyen’s fur and Ekana’s tear.”

“Yeah, but will Aisyth wait for us here?”

“No, but we know how to find her. What’s some more ink on your lovely body in exchange for another map—in exchange for giving us a chance?”

Zhuliya bites her lip, a habit I’ve grown to adore. “When you reason like that. I mean, I did fly halfway across the world to get a tat by you. I certainly wouldn’t turn down another.”

“Even if it means I imprint on you again?”

“I don’t think you can imprint any more…can you?”

“There’s always more of me waiting to make a home in your heart.”

“When you first explained what happened, you said a piece of your soul embedded into my tattoo—into me. In English, there’s a saying called ‘soul mates’. Basically, it alludes to human couples who were meant to be together.

We don’t necessarily believe that our gods are the direct reason behind this, like Ithaquan mates, but it does remind me that maybe even humans already have preordained fates we can’t escape. Do you think you’re my soul mate, Ilian?”

I swallow. “Yes. You are the other half of my heart. Something was missing inside of me before you. Soyam, you complete the picture that makes up my existence. I love you—truly.”

She wraps her arms around me, burying her face against the warmth of my torso.

“There’s not a shadow of a doubt in my mind that you believe that, and a day ago, I would’ve questioned whether it was the bond or how you genuinely feel, but now I understand they are one and the same.”

“Aisyth never would’ve sanctioned our union if she didn’t know we weren’t meant to be.”

“Which is why I’m done warring with myself. It’s not fair to either of us. I need to give us an honest chance, or else I might spend the rest of my life regretting it.

An idea occurs to me. “We have the ingredients—we can always ask Aisyth to remove your ink and try dating as humans do.”

“Thank you for offering that, but I don’t think I actually want that. When I’m not fighting against it, I love the bond. It heightens everything between us to perfection and makes our interactions even more special.

Besides, there’s no guarantee Aisyth would reinstate if once removed, regardless of our destinies being intertwined.

You once told me that mating bonds are a boon from the goddess—well, let’s not look at our divine gift horse in the mouth.”

“A very wise decision.” Zhuliya jumps at the sound of Aisyth’s voice. “I hope this journey together has taught you two something.”

“That I hate boats,” my mate mutters, and Aisyth smirks.

“And?”

“And that Ilian is an amazing man who deserves love.”