“Ten?” Whoa, that many kids would keep her way busy. Poor woman. “Your mum must be run off her feet. I have a new recipe for lasagna I’d intended to cook this afternoon. I’ll make it for her if she’d like it.” It’d keep me busy too, and I so needed that.
“She’d love it. Let me ’path her.” He took all of ten seconds as he did. “It’s a resounding yes, but you’ll have to come if you’re making dinner. I’ll go too. She won’t accept anything else.” With his hands full, he knocked his backside into the swing door leading to the dining room and opened it. “Coming?” He kept it open with one foot.
“Yes, to both offers.”
A wide grin slashed his face. “No, thank you. The least I can do is open the door if you’re cooking dinner tonight.” He let the door swing shut after I walked through.
I straightened the silver threaded tablecloth covering the long oak dining table. Through the wide bay window adorned with silver-edged emerald curtains, the iron gates of the gatehouse rolled open. Protectors rode out on horseback toward the river where Guy had dropped me off. To think he knew of that spot, had watched the castle from that close. How many times had that happened? And when? The male felt the drive to seek out his bonded mate when she received her skills on her eighteenth. Even though unskilled, my eighteenth had passed a few months ago.
“Silvie?” Zayn held out my chair. “You look a little lost, like you were when I first saw you in the kitchen. Is something up?”
I sat and poured cereal into my bowl. Zayn was a trusted member of our inner circle. Anything I told him would remain between us, and it appeared I couldn’t lighten this dark mood. “I met someone yesterday, well more than someone.”
“Who’s that?” He poured my milk then nudged a spoon toward me.
“Guy Moyer, a warrior.” I shoved a spoonful of cereal into my mouth.
“You met a warrior?”
“He’s my mate, although we released each other.”
“I’ve heard of him.” He drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “He’s the last remaining enchanter in the Moyer line. Are you all right? That had to have been hard.”
“Even though I barely spent any time with him, he got under my skin.” I shoveled more food into my mouth. My chest tightened with each mention of Guy’s name.
“It must have been difficult.” He resumed eating. “I’ve told so very few about this, but on my eighteenth, I felt the urge to find my soul-bound one.”
What? He was mated? No way. “You’ve never said. Why not?”
“Because the direction of that drive leads toward Dralion.”
“Damn. I’m so sorry.” My heart lost a beat as his words sank in. “So, you understand how I’m feeling?”
He squeezed my hand. “More than you could ever know. It’s a bond I’ll never be able to embrace, and the finality of that is a burden I can barely stand. If you ever need to speak of what you’re feeling, then I’m here. I usually make a great listener.”
“How do you deal with it? I’ve at least met my mate and given our relationship closure.”
“I don’t have a choice. It can never be, and the dome ensures it.”
“Yeah, the dome sucks. Thanks for understanding.”
“You’re not alone. Half our people remain unmated, and I’m certain their bound one is beyond their reach. So many don’t speak of it. What’s Moyer like?”
“He cares about Faith and Hope, although he was quick to tell me we wouldn’t work out. So I guess, honest. I met him in the outback.”
“Wincrest Station?”
“Yep.”
“Which means you may come across him again since he’s close to the girls. They are his princesses.”
“I think we’ll manage to keep our distance from each other.” My stomach churned, and I shoved my plate away. I didn’t want to keep my distance from him, but I’d get past this. As time moved on, it’d get easier, or at least, it better. “Since we’re playing hooky, we have to hit the beach.”
“Sold.” Pushing away from the table, he grinned. “Papamoa beach sound good?”
“Perfect.” I gripped his arm. “Lead the way, my chauffeur.”
He chuckled as he ’ported us, and then we arrived, our feet sinking into the glorious white sands of my favorite beach. What a perfect spot for tossing out a towel, lying back and lapping up the sun’s gorgeous rays.
“We are sooo gonna have some fun today.” I shielded my eyes from the glare. Surfers rode the farthest breakers of the mighty Pacific Ocean, and seagulls squawked and circled for fish. White capped waves tumbled in and surged to our feet. I darted back, keeping my toes dry.
The surf hit Zayn’s legs and sprayed over his shorts. “Ahh, now that’s what I’m after.” He stripped his shirt over his head and wrapped his sunnies inside before lobbing the bundle toward the dunes. “Are you coming in?”
“I’m not a fan of cold water. I’m here for the sun, but you have fun out there.”
“Will do.” He ran into the waves, let out a whoop then dived.
Oh, this was the way to have a day off. The wind coming off the ocean whipped my hair about my face, and I raised my hands to the sky and soaked in the warm sunshine. Purrrfect.