CHAPTER 53
Dakleth
I received a message on my wristband from Andie. “Hey, I’m sorry I was so short with you today. Thank you for the dress. And the flowers.”
I was elated. Other than the call this morning when my mate had inquired why the gardeners were at her cottage, this was her first time reaching out to me. And to thank me, no less. Leo’s advice on gifting was correct. I replied to her message on my wristband.
I hope you were pleased with the gifts.
Yes, thanks. That’s really not necessary
It is my pleasure to provide for my mate.
We’ve talked about this. Please do not call
me that. Just call me Andie
That is difficult for me. You are Andie
to everyone else. You are more to me.
I’m not sure how I feel about that
That is understandable. I abused you
upon our first meeting. It is a difficult
thing for you to move past. That is a
valid feeling
That’s it, though. I’ve forgiven you, really,
I have. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me.
And I know you’d do things differently if
you had known
Absolutely. I should have courted you pro-
perly from the beginning, even if I wanted
to believe you were willing to forego the
formalities, and choose me as your mate.
I was overwhelmed by your beauty and
your scent. I could say that my instincts
pushed me into an unforgivable action,
but that is no excuse. I should not be a
slave to those instincts. I should have
known better. I apologize again, my mate.
You deserved better. Yet, even knowing
this, I still cannot let you go.
You don’t have to apologize again. As I said,
I’ve forgiven you. But there’s part of me that
still thinks it makes no sense for me to even
consider a relationship with a male who
assaulted me
The mate pull rarely makes sense. We
are pulled to the one who completes us.
I don’t think humans feel the mate bond
On the contrary, I believe this is the source
of your conflicting feelings. If not for the
bond, you would never have spoken to me
again. You would not have agreed to go to
ruins and floating market with me. You
insisted that Andokar fly you home from
the cliffs. You would not have allowed me
to comfort you yesterday. The bond pulls
you to me because it knows I am your
mate. It overrides your logic.
That may be true. I hadn’t considered it
Consider it well, mate. Because this is just
the beginning of our courtship. I will show
you that you are mine, and that I am yours.
I’ll think about it. Good night
Good night, mate. Sleep well.