“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.”
I rub at the tattoo over my heart—a death moth to signify the loss of so much in my life. “Soyam, you deserve love, too.”
“Then we all agree you two should be together?”
My goddess taps her foot, waiting when we don’t immediately respond, and I turn to Zhuliya.
“From the moment I smelled you, I knew you were mine, but the time we’ve spent together since then has deepened my feelings for you. I’ll never find another woman who makes my heart sing the way you do, Zhuliya. Please stay my mate.”
She pulls my face down to peck my lips. “Be gentle with my heart, Ilian Yaniqu. I’m giving it over into your care.”
“Do you know what this means?”
“That I get free tattoos from you whenever I want?”
I snort. “Obviously but no—I’m going to have to move to the Americas and set up a studio there. Inked will be over the moon to hear that I’m setting up headquarters in their country.”
“But what about everything you have in Berdsk?”
“I will give it to Yuri. He is ready. Besides, you have your work back across the ocean—it’s too important to not do—and we don’t know when or if Russia will ever lift their ban on monster-human relationships.”
