5. Khuldruk

5

KHULDRUK

A fter their short walk this morning, the fact that Calli was his mate was more than clear. The pure electricity he felt when she touched him had confirmed it, but the way he longed to be near her told him all he needed to know as well. She was meant for him.

After they had a morning walk, she made her way back to the band, and Khuldruk had found a bench to people-watch from while he waited for an opportunity to spend more time with her. It was late afternoon when he stopped by her stage to watch her.

She was amazing to watch. She had the voice of an angel and was entertaining. The crowd seemed to love her, but there was something about her singing that felt different than any other human he had heard or seen in this place. Perhaps it was the mating magic, but he did think there might be more. He hadn't gotten to spend more time with her because she was working at the tavern next to the stage. The idea of his mate working made him bristle. If she wanted to work, she clearly should, but when she was his, she’d never have to do anything she didn't want to do. He would provide for her and make sure she always had everything she needed.

He was once again in the last row, watching her sing. This time, she announced it was their last set until the sing at the close of the day. He needed to talk to her again, and he looked like he was in luck.

“Hey, Dru. I thought you might need this," she said as she brought him his phone.

"Thank you," he said solemnly, as if he had just been offered something precious.

"It was no problem. I'm all done at the tavern, and we’re just about done here for the day...." She paused and looked at him, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot. "Do you want to get dinner together?"

"Yes," he said immediately.

His certainty made her smile. "Do you want to go into town?"

He looked at her and crooked his head. "Is this not a town?" he asked, gesturing to the fair around them.

"No, like…into town. The real town."

"Oh yes... Of course, the real town." Khuldruk shook his head. He wished he had known more about this realm before he came here, but in his realm, there wasn't much knowledge of the human one. There were only a few in the entire realm who had been here.

"There you two are." He turned to see Bridget walking towards them. "I was wondering if you would want to come over to my camp for dinner. I have some stew on, and I think there might be a few things we need to talk about."

"Oh," Calli said, her eyes darting between Bridget and Khuldruk.

As much as he wanted to be alone with her, Bridget may be able to help him explain things better. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her like he had with his offerings.

"Calli, would you like to go with Bridget?" he asked.

"Would you mind?" she asked. A look of trepidation crossed her face, her bottom lip trapped between her teeth. He wished to wipe that look from her face and kiss the full trapped lip.

"No, I just wanted to make sure you didn't mind."

"No, I do not mind."

He turned, finally taking Bridget in. She had a smile spread clear across her face. He was unsure of himself and how to act in this new place, but Bridget helped him to feel more comfortable.

"Then it's settled. I will see the two of ye at my camp after closing sing."