Change of Heart

Domin Thorne and Christophe Danvers that you should meet Logan Church as well."
    I scowled at him.
    "I know you're an unmated reah. I am the sylvan of my tribe, after all."
    I sighed out my irritation.
    "You're calling him a liar," Crane shouted at him.
    "You're his friend," Mikhail soothed him, his voice kind, the hand on Crane's shoulder gentle, "so I understand."
    I watched my friend look at the sylvan of the tribe of Mafdet.
    "Jin lied, and you're going along with it because you think to protect him from the wrath of our semel. It's not necessary; there is no anger to fear. You both saved Logan's sister and have conducted yourselves honorably while on his land." He just barely squeezed Crane's shoulder. "Please, if he has to hunt you both down, he'll be annoyed. It would be better if you could simply come and meet him, and it would be done."
    "I don't see why he—"
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    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    "It's okay with me," Crane shrugged, chiming in. "We can just leave tomorrow instead, or...."
    "Or what?" I asked him when I realized he wasn't going to finish his sentence.
    His eyes were back to Mikhail. "What if Jin comes and sees your semel, and if they're not mates, then can we join your tribe anyway and be granted protection from Domin and Christophe? Could that be on the table? I mean, we live up here on your land anyway."
    Mikhail nodded. "Of course. Having a reah and the beset of the reah in our tribe would be a great honor."
    "Do you think your semel would protect us even if Jin isn't his mate?"
    "He would, and I speak for him when I make you that promise."
    Crane looked at me; hands raised like all our problems were solved. "That's what I call a win-win situation."
    Of course it didn't matter to him; it had nothing to do with him. There were no ramifications for him if Logan Church turned out to be my mate. Being dragged in front of semels was scary business. I didn't want a mate, but what if I ended up with one anyway? I didn't want to be a slave to my senses, be bound to another and belong to them; I wanted to be free. Didn't I? "I just don't want to have—"
    Mikhail's hand came up to stop me "You should listen to your friend, Jin; you have nothing to lose by coming with us, and everything to gain."
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    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    I had everything to lose if Logan Church was my mate, namely my identity and my freedom and any semblance of choice.
    "Fair is fair. I simply want him to have the same chance the others did."
    Mikhail was not going to let it go.
    "Domin and Christophe have both met a reah; Logan should have that honor as well."
    I rubbed my eyes because they had started to water.
    "The house is packed with people; we're celebrating Logan's mating ceremony in three days, so the feast is going on as we speak."
    I had my out. "Wait, if he's being mated anyway, why do you even want me to meet him?"
    "You're a reah," he said like that was all the explanation I should need. "He should be allowed to at least meet one in his lifetime."
    There had to be a way out of getting in the car.
    "There are at least a hundred people at the house."
    I was silent.
    "You're quite safe."
    "I'm not worried about my safety."
    He nodded. "So what do you say? Come now, or insult him instead?"
    When he put it like that. "Fine," I said, shoving Crane toward the car. "I'll meet your semel, but the second we're done, I—"
    "Excellent," he said, smiling first at me and then Crane.
    "Will you follow me?"
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    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    "Sure." Crane grinned at him, slipping by me to follow the sylvan.
    The man would follow the devil right into hell if I weren't there to watch over him.
    "Are you coming?" Mikhail asked me.
    I moved, and he led me toward the curb where the car was parked.
    "You know this is a giant waste of everyone's time, right?
    Did you see how fast I met and rejected Christophe?" I pointed back over my shoulder.
    He chuckled. "I did, yes. I saw you meet Domin, as well, and I can't wait to tell Logan."
    "Can't wait to tell Logan what?"
    "That neither semel was your mate."
    He was missing the point.
    "Jin," he said, smiling at me. "Do you have any idea how much I like you already?"
    I tried another tactic. "I'm a guy. Don't you care about that?"
    "You're just meeting with my semel. That does not make you his mate."
    He was right, of course. I was probably worrying for no good reason. The odds were definitely in my favor.
    "But," he said, his tone gentle, "if fate has seen fit to give my semel