Chapter 2

The addition Dakgorim is building is sided with wide wood planks milled from local trees. Today, he's installing windows and French doors that open toward what was once wild forest, but is now a manicured clearing, complete with a fenced-in area where his future children will play. The addition to his home, the one he now shares with Rosetta, is a nursery.

I'm happy for him, but envious. As full as my life is, it still has a void. One that can only be filled by a mate.

"Looking good," I call, from across the yard.

Neither the compliment nor the notice of my approach are necessary. Dak knows his craftsmanship is top-notch, and the big orc's hearing is even better than mine. Like Minotaurs and many other non-human creatures, orcs have heightened senses. We also share the need to live in secrecy. Humans have lower levels of vision, hearing, strength, and various other qualities than most "monsters," yet they are our greatest threat.

Not all humans, of course. A number of them live among us in Fate's Falls, including Dak's mate, his soon-to-be bride. Gauging humans' intentions based on appearance was possible many centuries ago. Not now. They no longer favor pitchforks and torches for their attacks. If it were only fear because we're different, it could be managed. The real danger lies in humans' desire to capitalize on our species' differences, and technology has given them the means to be stealthy and targeted in their aggression.

To exist in peace requires hiding in places humans can't access—something nearly impossible in this day and age. Towns like Fate's Falls, shielded and governed by very old, powerful magic, allow us to hide in plain sight.

Grateful as I am for our safe haven, living within the protected boundaries makes it difficult to connect with new people. Not an issue for those who desire solitude or have already found their mate, neither of which applies to me. Platonic and casual relationships were enough until I reached prime breeding age. Now, the urge to be with my one true mate has made living without her very…uncomfortable.

Dakgorim doesn't pause when I reach him. He doesn't even look up, just continues working. Head down, focused, unstoppable. He's been that way all the years I've known him. But this project has him wound tighter than I've ever seen.

"At this rate, you'll be done before the wedding," I say as he lifts a large window into the framed opening with ease.

He grunts, narrowing his eyes at me. "I will finish before Rosetta's cousin arrives."

There's only one reason that would be necessary. "Do you need the room finished because Natalie's staying here?"

Dak's lips curl in a way only an orc's can. A terrifying expression, but I know it's involuntary, not intentional. "This room is for our child, not…guests." He says the last word as if it's unpleasant. To him, it probably is. Before Rosetta entered his life, Dak kept to himself. If I hadn't essentially bullied him into friendship years ago, it wouldn't have happened. "Rosetta wishes to use the nursery to tell her cousin about our unborn orcling. She would have been happy with the framed structure, but I will ensure it is completed."

No surprise there. Dak has worshipped the ground Rosetta walks on since she set foot in Fate's Falls. True to his orc nature, he's also very possessive of the ground under Rosetta's feet, the air she breathes, etcetera. Hence why I'm out here talking to him when he's not the person I need to speak with.

Since I am out here with him, I can't help replaying parts of my conversation with Natalie earlier. I cut Natalie off from going into detail, but I have a pretty good idea why Dak would've sent Rosetta a set of dildos. Orcs are much larger than humans. In every way, including the size of their cocks.

The same can be said of Minotaurs. As much as my hope for a relationship with Natalie makes me curious about how Dak and his fiancée handle their disproportionate anatomies, I can't broach the subject. Natalie and I will have to find our own way in the bedroom—if we get there at all. Even though I know she's my mate, it's still possible she'll take one look at me and run as far away as possible.

"Did you come all the way out here to stare into the forest?" Dak's voice snaps me from my thoughts. He hasn't stopped working to speak to me, but his attention darts between the level he's checking and my face. "Perhaps you should sell that too-large house in town and have me build you a one-bedroom cottage with a nice view of the pine trees." It could be a legitimate offer, or Dak's particular brand of dry sarcasm. Likely a bit of both.

"I came out here to talk to Rosetta about her cousin."

Thick eyebrows rise over eyes so dark they're impossible to read. "She is in her workshop. I do not allow her in the construction area. Her safety is paramount, especially now."

We both know his use of do not allow isn't literal. Rosetta may be petite, but her attitude is far from small. If she wanted to hang around and watch him build the nursery, she would. Of course, then he'd stop working on the addition to build some sort of safety station to protect her from all the things he deems hazardous. That's probably why she abides his request to stay out. Well, that and the near-seamless way their dynamic fits together.

I've only taken a single step toward the large, rectangular outbuilding that houses Rosetta's metalworking shop and Dak's construction equipment when he says, "Your respect is appreciated."

Pivoting, I give him a nod. Even an orc's best man knows better than to approach his mate without permission. Formality out of the way, I continue on to the shop.

Because of the noisy machinery, a loud chime sounds and lights flash when I open the door. Safety precautions Dak installed when Rosetta began doing her metalworking in here.

Rosetta kills the power at her workstation, sets her cutting tool down, and flips her safety visor up. "Hey, Constantine. What's up?"

"Your cousin contacted me this morning. By text. I responded by calling."

"Not surprised." She glances at my hands. "I don't know how guys like you and Dak use cellphones at all, since they're all made for human hands. One of your fingers takes up half the screen's width."

"I use a stylus for texting. But I called Natalie because I wanted to talk with her as directly as possible, so she'd feel more comfortable staying in my home." I would never use an ill-tempered tone with Dak's mate, but I do cross my arms across my chest. "A plan she wasn't aware of."

"Oh, yeah, about that…" She shrugs and raises her hands, palms up. "Oopsie?"

"Unconvincing."

"You're right. I totally avoided answering questions that might cause her to cancel her trip. She's been my best friend since we were born, and she's the only member of my family who'll be at my wedding. I couldn't risk it."

"You weren't concerned that having a man she's never met tell her she'll be living with him for two weeks might bring her plans to a screeching halt?"

"Any other man, yes. But I knew you'd have no problem wooing her."

"Convincing her, you mean."

"No, I meant wooing her." Rosetta moves away from the vise holding a strip of metal with three pieces of rebar protruding upward. She leans one hip against the end of the workbench and mimics my folded-arms stance. "I saw the way you looked at her picture on her website's bio page. There are plenty of beautiful females in Fate's Falls, and I've never seen you get moon-eyed over anyone. Hell, I've been here for a year and you've never gone on a single date, that I'm aware of."

"That's correct, I have not." And it's been a lot longer than a year.

"I knew it." She nods at the verification. "Tell me you didn't go home and immediately stalk Nat's socials."

"I didn't." I huff out a breath when she narrows her gaze. "Not immediately. I had to stop at the brewery and do some work first."

"Ha! I knew it."

"Natalie is very attractive."

The snorted laugh Rosetta makes is similar to Natalie's during our telephone conversation this morning. I found Natalie's adorable. Charming. Rosetta's has no effect on me whatsoever.

"Do you disagree?" I ask.

"Oh, no. She's beautiful. It's the way you said her name that made me chuckle. Nat-a-lie… each syllable drawn out, like it's the prettiest name you've ever had the privilege to say. All reverent and shit."

"It is a lovely name."

Rosetta removes the welding helmet and sets it aside. Her red hair sticks out in every direction, having long since escaped a bun, and she makes no attempt to smooth it. "Look, there's no denying you're the reigning Mr. Congeniality in Fate's Falls, but let's be real here, okay? Just between us girls," she winks, "you've got a little crush on my cousin, don't you?"

"I do not have a crush. I'm intrigued. At this point in my life, I should only be attracted to one woman."

"And you're attracted to a bunch? Look, I've been there. I used to have my eyes on lots of guys at the same time, so I'm not judging. But that won't sit well with Nat. Even short-term. She's not boring or a prude, but she is traditional. Definitely someone who wants to stay inside the white picket fence, not someone who plays the field. You're a good friend to Dak and me, and I like you, but I don't want Nat to get hurt. So, this is me asking you to look elsewhere, instead of at my maid of honor. In fact, I'll head into town now, before the dayshift ends at The Brew. I know Dela has a one-bedroom apartment, but she's a sweetheart. I bet she'll let Nat crash on her couch for a couple of weeks."

"No," I say, blocking her forward motion. Totally out of character for me, and the wide-eyed expression on Rosetta's face is enough to make me step aside immediately. "I apologize. And now I'm requesting you don't find other accommodations for your cousin."

"Give me a good reason not to. How do I know I can trust you with the closest thing I have to a sister?"

"Because when I said I should only be attracted to one woman, I meant that I am only able to be attracted to one woman. Once a Minotaur reaches a certain point of maturity, our biology demands we find our mate. I reached that age fifteen years ago, and haven't been attracted to anyone since. Believe me, I've tried, I've looked—a decade and a half is a long time to go without…companionship. I don't get to choose my mate; Minotaur pairings are governed by innate forces. By fate. I'm attracted to Natalie—and only to Natalie."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying? You think she's your fated mate? From looking at a picture?"

There's no way I'm telling her it began earlier than that. "Any doubts I had disappeared when I heard her voice."

For a moment, Rosetta covers her mouth with her hand. Then she shakes both out at her sides. "Shit, she's going to freak the fuck out."

"Because I'm a Minotaur."

"Well, yeah, that's part of it. I haven't told her there are non-humans here, or that I'm in love with an orc. All I said is that my parents disapprove of Dak because of his skin color. Which is not a lie," she says, raising her index finger. "But I think she's going to be okay with the whole ‘monsters are real' jazz once she stops hyperventilating and meets everyone."

"Then why do you believe she'll freak out about being my mate? Both you and Natalie have told me she's a permanent, committed-relationship type of person. Wouldn't that make her inclined toward a positive response?"

"She wants a happily ever after, but she's planning to choose who she spends her life with, not be told she's someone's fated mate."

"Do you feel you chose Dak? That finding each other had nothing to do with fate and your mate bond?"

Though he's not one to engage in extended or deeply personal conversation, Dakgorim has stated a firm belief that fate led him to find Rosetta's online metalworks shop. At the time, he had no projects that required unique, handmade metal fixtures, yet he searched the internet for such, anyway. And found Rosetta's creations—and his mate.

In front of me, Rosetta makes a sound that's part sigh, part harrumph, the noise accompanied by a narrowed gaze and hands on her hips. "This has nothing to do with Dak and me."

Meaning, I've made my point. But this isn't the time to gloat or tease. I need Rosetta's support, not her ire.

"Even if Nat is attracted to you," Rosetta continues, "she's only going to be in town for a couple of weeks. Boring as I think her life in Toronto is, she's a creature of routine. I had no issue packing up and changing venues, but I don't see her uprooting from everything she's known for twenty-eight years to stay here. Plus, it sucks that my parents are dicks and I may never speak to them again, but it's not even a sacrifice to me because I have my life with Dak. Nat, on the other hand, is super tight with her parents. There's no way she'd lie to them, or give them up—either or both of which she'd have to do if she moved her to be with you. I'm sorry, Constantine, but there's no way she can be your fated mate."

Arguing is pointless. But I know the truth. There's no way Natalie Somers isn't my fated mate.