Crucible of Fate

are mine.”
    “And?”
    “I’m yours.”
    “Always.”
    “Always,” I echoed him.
    I had never been hugged so tight.

Chapter 9

     
    O UTSIDE in the main courtyard of town, where there was a huge limestone fountain, the smells of food cooking, and a warm summer breeze, I felt better than I had when I was inside the home of the semel of Feran. I would never set foot in the fort again, and I didn’t want anyone else in there either. It was cursed and I couldn’t wipe the feeling away. I also wanted to know what precisely had gone on, but Yuri was being difficult.
    “I’ll tell you later,” he said, tugging me after him.
    “You’ll tell me now!” I roared.
    “We have too much to do right now, Domin,” he insisted, moving me because he could, because he was stronger than me.
    I planted my feet and he jerked to a stop. Yes, he was strong, but I was still six two to his six four, and though I didn’t have his muscle-bulked body, I was not a small man. “What the fuck happened to Constantine? Tell me now.” I commanded, trying not to lose it.
    He didn’t speak.
    “Was it just you and him?”
    “Yes.”
    My hands curled into fists. “Never, ever, do you go anywhere without me again. Do you understand?”
    “I—”
    “Do you understand?” I heaved out the words.
    His nod was quick, and his grin was small, just curling his lip, but the flush under his eyes, on his cheeks, and how pleased he was, annihilated my anger.
    “You were worried.”
    “I was terrified!”
    He was amused.
    “Don’t be so smug.”
    “Okay,” he teased me.
    I found myself growling at him a lot.
    After a moment, when I was calmer, he spoke. “So we’ll never be apart again?”
    “I don’t know,” I said thoughtfully. “Maybe you can visit Logan. I’ll see. If I let you go, it could only be to a place I implicitly trust or with people I—”
    “Why?”
    “What do you mean ‘why’?”
    “Why is it so important to you?”
    “What? Your safety?”
    “Yes.”
    “Because you’re mine.”
    “Is that all?”
    “Is that all?” I was indignant as he pivoted to face me, stepping into my personal space, right there, all I could see. “ Is that all? What else is there?”
    “Why, Domin?”
    “You’re my mate, you’re my… my….”
    “Domin,” he said, his voice husky and low, slipping his fingers over my jaw and then cupping my cheek. “Tell me.”
    “I just bared my soul a few minutes ago and—”
    “Domin.”
    “What do you want to hear? What… I don’t—”
    “You’re all flustered.” He purred as he slid his hand around the back of my neck, hauling me close to kiss me.
    People always asked permission. Even Koren, even as in love with me as he said he was, always requested permission. Yuri didn’t ask, never had. He went with the premise that I wanted his hands all over me and didn’t second-guess. He didn’t treat me like I was special beyond being the man he loved. I had no idea I would so love being mauled outside my bedroom.
    “My semel,” he said, and his breath was warm on my face.
    “Don’t go where I can’t follow, all right?”
    “Yes, my lord.”
    I gave him a superior grunt and watched his eyes sparkle in amusement.
    “You know anybody can see that you love me.”
    “Good,” I said, happier than I thought I would be just to have him there with me. After a moment I cleared my throat and took a different tack. “So where is Constantine presently?”
    “Really?”
    “I command you to tell me!”
    “He didn’t have a choice.”
    Oh, I couldn’t even wait to hear this.
    He raked his fingers through his thick dark-brown hair. It was long on top, there were pieces that fell into his eyes sometimes, but buzzed short above the nape of his neck and on the sides. I teased him often that he had the hair of a manga character. “Hakkan gave him the choice to fight me in the pit or to be put on the road back to Sobek with no food or water.”
    I nodded slowly.
    “It’s a choice for a semel or a reah or a sylvan or sheseru, but for a normal cat, he—”
    “He could have run back here to town, he could have gone on to Sobek, he could have traveled at night, but we’re talking ten hours by car. There were other options than fighting you in the pit.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “I do. Where is he now?”
    “He has to be in the fort somewhere. We fought yesterday. He was either my third or fourth match. It got fuzzy after Deoles opened up my side.”
    I felt cold inside,