Connection

Lake

“Kjarni, wait!” Sylas calls as I bolt toward the river. My heart is racing, and all I can think about is the sweet relief this amazing bath will give me. I strip behind a tree and plunge into the water.

When I return to the surface, I can hear Sylas laughing. It makes me smile, especially after yesterday’s events. Even though we’ve only known each other a few days, I feel a deep connection with this man.

“Good thing temperature doesn’t affect me,” I say. “This water is close to freezing.”

Seeing as it’s barely spring, things haven’t had the chance to warm up. Still, I crouch down in the river, keeping all but my head and shoulders above water.

The river only comes up to my hips here, and I can practically hear Derrick telling me to go deeper, to better shield me from Sylas’s view.

My mind flashes to my mate and the things he must be going through. My excitement dulls as worry takes over.

“Kjarni?”

I look up to see a naked Sylas in front of me. My eyes widen. He’s no Derrick in the muscles department, but he definitely has the god-like features.

My cheeks heat up as I cover my chest and turn my back to him. “Sylas! What’re you doing?!”

“I’m taking a bath, too,” he says. “Is that a problem?”

“It is when I’m naked, too! I thought you were—”

“Keeping watch?” His fingers lightly trace the skin of my back, making me shiver—and not from the cold. “If I’m on the bank and something were to go after you, I wouldn’t make it in time. It’s safer for me to be here with you.”

My body responds to his touch as Sylas moves closer. Something like desire ripples through me, and I suppress a moan. I reach for Lynne as a natural response to this happening, but she’s still silent.

“I won’t touch you if you don’t wish it, Kjarni,” he whispers.

~I do, though. That’s the problem.~

I sigh heavily and turn back around, but I keep my eyes averted from his gorgeous form.

Sylas lets out a slight chuckle. “You really don’t want to see me, do you?”

I don’t respond. I hear water splashing as Sylas begins to walk away.

“Wait!” I move to follow him, then let out a loud yelp as I trip on a slippery rock. I instinctively reach for Sylas, grabbing his arm and dragging us both under the surface.

I pop my head back up, gasping for breath. I look around for Sylas, but he’s nowhere to be found. Panic sets in.

~Please don’t tell me I killed him, and he somehow floated away that fast!~

Then his arms wrap themselves around my stomach from behind. I feel his warm breath on my ear as he murmurs, “Kjarni. You’re so clumsy.”

“Don’t make fun—”

“I’m not. It’s adorable.” His tone turns serious. “But now I know that you’re feeling something, too. I’ve been wondering since our kiss yesterday, but after what just happened...”

His arms tighten around me, and I find myself leaning into him, relishing the hardness of his chest.

~Stop it, Lake! Think of Derrick!~

“I still don’t understand what’s happening,” I admit. “Derrick is my mate, and yet I feel like you’re the same kind of person that he is to me.”

Sylas turns me toward him, lifting my chin until my eyes are forced to meet his.

~What a cliché move.~

“Do you remember the things I told you about the Sun Goddess, Kjarni?” he asks.

~Vaguely.~ “Yes?”

Sylas raises an eyebrow, and I realize what he’s getting at. The connection we have and the weird pull I’ve been feeling is because this man is my Essence.

“How?” I ask. “I already have a mate.”

“By those who govern the wolf side of you. As soon as the vampyre side of you came to the surface, you became the Sun Goddess’s child, too.”

Sylas smiles gently. “Two different sides bring two different destined ones for you.”

I break eye contact with him and shift my weight uncomfortably. “I’m not sure what to say. This is a lot to take in.”

“Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.” Sylas is careful not to touch me as he says this. I’m sure he senses my confusion and weariness.

“How would we become...connected?” I’m a little shy about asking, but I need to know so that I can control myself until I’m more comfortable.

“Technically, it’s halfway done already,” Sylas says wryly. “We take in each other’s blood to quench this thirst we have for one another. You’ve already taken blood from me, so I’m the only one who needs to complete the process.”

I think for a minute before responding.

Derrick has been my other half for so long. He knows my quirks and my mind like the back of his own hand. When I try to isolate myself, he draws me out. He’s the chaos to my tranquility.

Sylas is the complete opposite. He makes sure I’m comfortable and doesn’t force anything. The relaxation to my stress.

“This is just too weird to believe,” I mutter.

“You’re telling me.” Sylas agrees. “All jokes aside, Kjarni...now that you’ve realized that we’re meant for each other, please know that I’ll support your decision no matter what it may be.”

“Decision?”

“I’m not going to force you to be tied to me. If you wish me gone, I’ll go—once we get your mate back from Evin’s pack, that is. There’s no pressure whatsoever to become mine.”

Sylas smiles as he says this, but I can see a glint of sadness at the thought of me wishing him gone.

“And if I want you to stay?” I blurt out.

Sylas shoots me a surprised look, his eyes glowing golden.

“Kjarni...” he says almost breathlessly. His voice trails off as tears trickle from his eyes. They’re bloody, just like mine are. It’s weird seeing it on another person.

“Now isn’t the time for jokes,” he says, putting his hand over his eyes, as if to hide himself from me.

“Sylas.” I take his hand, lace my fingers through his, and look straight into those golden orbs. “Right now isn’t the right time for this to happen, but if you’re meant for me and I’m meant for you... then there’s nothing to do but accept it.

“Our connection is growing stronger with every day we spend together. Derrick might not be thrilled at the idea of sharing me, but he’ll come around when he sees how well you two balance me out.”

“Don’t force yourself for my sake,” Sylas protests. “I won’t accept it if you’re—”

“Sylas, I never force myself to do anything I don’t want to,” I whisper. “When the time is right, and Derrick doesn’t want to rip your head off, you can feed from me. I promise.”