“Communication. It’s hard to express the words when we’re worried about the reaction of the other person.”
“It’s true. We never want to hurt anyone and end up hurting ourselves in the process. I think that’s why so many people are unhappy, but most of us weren’t raised to speak plainly.”
“But we’ve learned our lesson, right?”
I stare into his vibrant pink gaze. “Probably not.”
His booming laugh fills the hotel room. “Soyam, I knew you were trouble the moment you walked into my studio.”
“All I wanted was some ink from the infamous Ilian Yaniqu—you’re the one who imprinted on me and gave me a tat-gasm!”
Ilian snorts. “Fuck, it was torture not claiming you as mine then and there. I had to stroke my stoyuk for the second time that night, and when I came back, you were gone.”
“I was embarrassed—I had just come all over your chair! I didn’t realize it was your imprint that did it. I figured my months of fantasizing about you made me more susceptible to…”
“Orgasming from me inking your back?”
“Pretty much.” I grin at him, tracing a finger around the spikes that decorate his face. “Do you think that would happen every time you have me a tat?”
“No. An Ithaqua only imprints on their mate once.”
My lips pucker into a pout. “Damn.”
“But we still have all those other fantasies of yours to try out.”
This perks me up. “Most of them were just primal play.”
“You do love it when I chase you. It was a revelation to know that you enjoyed the beastly monster I’d spent so long trying to tamp back. Ithaqua generally repulse humans.”
I scowl. “Well, I adore you. Your true nature doesn’t repel me because while you can be monstrous in bed, you’re always a sweetheart outside of it.”
Ilian smiles, running his claws between his horns. “Maybe I’m an anomaly.”
“My anomaly.”
This earns me a fierce kiss that curls my toes. “My mate.”
We lay together like that until we both fall asleep. It reminds me of the night we summoned Ulyen and how tenderly Ilian held me.
I stared up at the stars that night, spying a shooting star and wondering about my wishes. At the time, I didn’t know which one would come true.
But I’m glad it’s the one I’m living now.
One Month Later
Ilian squeezes my hand as we walk over the threshold into our new home. It’s the first time I’ve ever lived in a house.
Growing up in the city, my parents rented an apartment which I continued to lease after their deaths.
As of right now, it’s Sakura’s, but I’m not sure she’s coming back anytime soon. It makes me sad not being close to my friend, but she’s starting a new chapter in her life, as am I.
She ultimately accepted the position of being the official Japanese ambassador to the Dagons. I’m convinced the only reason she said ‘yes’ was to get closer to Dairfyn.
To kill him.
I figure there’ll either be a funeral or a wedding in their future depending on how things go.
Ilian offered to marry me, but I declined. If my ima and ata were still around, I might, but I have no one to celebrate the occasion with, nor does Ilian.
Besides, the mating bond we have together transcends any human ceremony, and we can focus on starting our own family—something the two of us want more than anything.
The house is large, but Ilian’s adamant that it will be full one day. I’m excited at the prospect of us having children, but for right now, I’m content with it just being him and me.
I still have plans and fantasies to live out.
“What do you think of your office?”
Ilian drags me into the large room decorated in bright colors, the walls covered in my doodles.
“It’s perfect. I’m so excited to get working.”
When Ilian came back to America with me, he helped me form an LLC and establish a name for my job—Found Family.
With his help, as well as the generous donations he refused to let me refuse, my freelance work transformed into a flourishing company.
Found Family now has ten employees and has reunited over thirty families who lost loved ones in moving to the States.
