Page 13 of Tethered Fates

“Kai, calm down,” I reply casually.

“I want you to have a soulmate,” Kai replies, seconds from bursting into tears. “But it’s dangerous right now.”

I stand at attention when the door rings, and my target comes out into the open. He makes a right and begins walking down the grey pavement.

“The blood mages, Sen. It’s scary, and he’s my brother,” Kai explains, sniffling.

I hum and uh-huh in agreement at the right moments while Kai continues, as I leave the alleyway, hand tucked in my expensive black trousers, and stroll a good distance from my target, as if I have all the time in the world.

“Absolutely,” I reply to whatever he just said. “We need to keep your brother safe, whose name is…?”

“When all this is done, you can get to know my brother. But not now.” Kai explains as I speed up when my target turns a corner. “He wouldn’t be safe. He’s my little brother, Sen. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Kai, breathe. It’s okay. I’m not ready for a soulmate anyway, and Vidar will tell you I’m not a man easily tamed. Listen, I have to go. See you later.” I hang up in a rush before Kai can blubber more, and spin around the corner, hoping I haven’t lost my target.

But I needn’t worry, as I come face to face with the man I just promised Kai I’d stay away from.

“Why are you following me?” Kai’s little brother asks, voice pitched low. Not shy or scared like he should be when catching a strange man stalking him. His wide eyes take me in, his small mouth pressed together like two plump rose petals—waiting, curious.

“I…er…”

Shit.

I pride myself on being eloquent. Yet this 5ft-nothing boy has me stuttering, and when I continue to stumble lamely over my words, he doesn’t even offer me the grace of an excuse like others might. ‘Oh, were you also shopping for a new skateboard, too? What a coincidence! Sen, Right?’

He remains silent. Maybe wondering if I’ll play the coward and run away again.

I hate myself for considering it.

Rolling my shoulders back into a relaxed position, I slap on my most charming smile and lean into him. “What a pleasant surprise to run into you.”

This pretty boy only tilts his head to the side like an inquisitive little owl, allowing me to see the bead of sweat rolling down my forehead in his reflective gaze. We both know what I just said was a lie. Hell, the man I passed two streets over, drinking a bottle of vodka, could tell.

I clear my throat to hide my slipping grin.

“We didn’t get to talk before,” I say.

“Because you ran away.” He doesn’t accuse, which is somehow worse.

Have I ever, in my whole nine-hundred years, performed this poorly at picking up a good-looking man? And I mean that in the least humble way possible, I’m extremely handsome and charming after all.

I grit my teeth to fortify my smile from collapsing. “It was a busy day, you know how it can be.” I shrug, trying for blasé.

I wait a beat for him to reply, and each second that goes by, more sweat gathers at my hairline.

After another long beat, I say, “But now that we’ve bumped into each other again—”

“You were following me.” His quiet bluntness slams into me hard enough that my grin drops to the ground and shatters.

“Well…” I reach for anything, anything, to fill the awkwardness I’ve created. I go for what’s familiar and lay the charm on thicker. “I wanted to see your lovely face again, honey.”

His unwavering stare pierces me. Unimpressed? I hope not.

“Did you call me honey because you don’t know my name?”

He doesn’t bat an eyelid, and I swear I hear the breeze’s mocking laughter as it whistles between us.

Giving up, I huff out a chuckle. “You’re really not giving me a chance here, are you?”