32. Turren

Iwanted to go to Kaila, to hold her. I needed to tell her how sorry I was that I hadn’t shared everything I should. But she said she needed time to think, and I was going to give this to her. I wouldn’t push her or make decisions for her. She had to do this on her own. But I’d wait forever for her. I loved her.

And I would hope the fates would be kind and guide us back together. If they did, I vowed I’d always be honest with her, that I’d spend the rest of my life making up to her for my mistake.

“Where’s Sianna?” Ferella stood beside the table with a plate of food.

“She’s napping. Urlain is sitting with her.” The elder adored my niece and loved taking her for walks and playing with her. She stated it made her feel young. Her own children and grandchildren were grown.

Ferella nodded. “Why aren’t you eating with your mate?”

“She’s with her brother. She missed him. He had to travel separately and just arrived.” Everyone would soon know Kaila and I were mated but not together. Whispers would spread through the clan and I . . .

I realized what I was doing to myself, to my mate and I, and I stopped the thoughts. Other mated couples had disagreements and resolved them. Kaila and I would be no different.

“Normally, I’d offer to sit with you but . . .” Her gaze fell on Daskin, my second in command who’d filled in while I was away.

He wasn’t looking at her, but his face darkened as if he felt her touch.

Without saying anything else to me, she strode over and stood on the other side of his table. They spoke, but I couldn’t hear what they said. Then she lowered her plate onto the table and sat across from him.

His pendant blazed, as did hers, and conversation cut off in the room. Orcs grinned and someone got up and walked over to Daskin, slapping him on the back. He did the same with Ferella.

I grinned their way, but my smile soon fell. My heart felt empty without Kaila by my side.

Because I didn’t want her to think I was following her everywhere—though I wanted to—I left the dining area after I finished and went to the central building where I met up with Daskin. Ferella followed him inside the small building and leaned against the wall, her gaze locked on him. Their pendants kept blazing, alternating like they were giant stars winking at each other in the night.

“I’ll, well, we’ll need some time off,” Daskin said, sending Ferella a big smile. “My new mate and I would like to take some time together.”

“Just share what I missed while I was gone and you’re free to leave with Ferella after,” I said.

“I’m glad you have a new mate, Turren,” Ferella said. “She’ll be the mother Sianna needs.”

I nodded, not wanting to say anything when these two were obviously happy.

Daskin shared some news, but nothing major had happened while I was away. Then he and Ferella left, holding hands. We’d see them again in a week or two, and I wished them well.

I settled in my wooden chair, tipped my head back to stare at the wooden ceiling, and sighed.