Fallen Mate

11 “Are you sure she’s your mate?”

Kelani

“Are you sure she’s your mate?” his father asked, coming to stand next to him.

“Of course, I’m sure.” Kelani dropped the book he’d been reading on the floor and moved to the other side of the shelf. He looked at the floor to ceiling shelf, hoping there was a book in there that would give him the answers he was looking for. He couldn’t stand the thought of Fallen being with Triam. He was literally going crazy inside, but he was trying so hard to hold it inside. He raked his hand in his hair, undoing the bun that was on his head. His hair tumbled down his back and around his face. He roughly pushed it away in frustration as he looked at the ancient books. There had to be an answer somewhere. He reached for another one.

“What are you looking for?” his father asked, picking up the book he’d dropped and placed it back on the shelf. “You shouldn’t stress yourself out. You might aggravate your beast.”

That’s what he was worried about. His father never stopped worrying about him.

“I have it under control. Don’t worry,” he told him, and opened the book.

“What are you looking for?” his father asked again.

Kelani reached for another book. “I’m trying to find a solution to this mess. I can’t take this. There has to be a way to stop this. I can’t stand the thought of her with him. f**k. I don’t understand why this happened. Why did his mate’s soul end up in Fallen’s body? It doesn’t make any sense.”

His father stared at him. He clearly didn’t have the answers to the questions he was asking. “Fate doesn’t make mistakes. There has to be a reason why it happened. You and Triam are related after all. You are both princes of your race. He’s the prince of vampires and you the prince of fairies. I don’t believe it's a coincidence that your fated mates are in one body. There has to be a reason why.”

Was there? Kelani asked himself. What would be the reason? Because he didn’t care about some fate-related reason. His heart was f*****g breaking, and he was going out of his mind thinking about Fallen with Triam. It felt like she was cheating on him even though she wasn’t. She wouldn’t be the one meeting Triam. But…he shook his head because it drove him crazy to think about it. He opened the book and read through the ancient text. If only he knew what he was looking for. He’d never heard of a supernatural being that could absorb a soul into its body. It had been strange seeing Jesse inside her. Her eyes… Kelani shook his head again because he’d reacted strangely to her too.

“I don’t care about the reason right now. I want my mate to be mine. I don’t want to share her with anyone.”

His father walked to him and placed his hand on his shoulder. “I understand.” He turned to the shelf and started pulling down books. “The fairies have records on other species. If there’s anything here, we’ll find it.”

Kelani stared at his father and nodded. He felt a weight lifting off his shoulder at the thought of finding a way to unravel the mess. They walked around the library taking down books until they walked with them to the sitting area. Kelani sat down and started to read through the books.

“Why didn’t you tell me you found your mate?” his father asked. Kelani shrugged. He didn’t know why he didn’t tell his parents. To tell the truth, he didn’t expect Fallen to be his mate. The way he’d reacted to her when he saw her that night, bathed by the moonlight…it had been strange, thrilling and overwhelming. He’d sensed her from right here in the fairylands. This is a girl who grew up around him. He’d never sensed any pull from her ever. But that night…. something called to him. Was it the soul inside her?

Kelani didn’t want to think about that because that meant his fight with Triam had just begun.

No. Fallen is my mate, he told himself.

“You were not sure?” his father asked. “She grew up right in front of you. Both you and Triam. Wow, this is something else.”

“I know,” Kelani said with a sigh. He returned to reading his book. The door opened and his mother walked in. She walked to him and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m fine,” he said, patting her arm. She kissed his cheek and pulled back.

“I heard that Fallen was back home and Triam is okay. Things must have gone well. I thought you might want to know.”

Kelani was out of the chair before she even finished talking. He stared at the book in his hand.

“Go,” his father said. “I will continue searching for answers.”

“Thank you,” Kelani said and ran all the way to Fallen’s house. The thought of seeing his mate bubbled inside him, making him feel excited. He couldn’t wait to see her. He jumped onto the roof, using the window to get into her room. Kelani paused as he found her standing in front of the mirror.

Was she talking to herself?

She turned around as soon as she sensed him there. He stared at her a little shocked because her aura was different again. And her eyes were not the same colour. One was blue and the other was her normal purple-gray.

“Fallen?” he asked. She blinked and she was back to normal. He walked to her confused. “What’s going on? Are you alright?”

She nodded. “I’m fine.”

Kelani’s eyes fell on her neck, but there was nothing there. She must have healed herself. He breathed out a sigh of relief. He would have hated seeing any mark Triam left on her. He didn’t bite her. He told himself over and over as he pulled her into his arms.

“I’m sorry you had to put your body through that. I’m going to find a way to end this,” he said, tightening his arms around her. His heart ached in his chest. He hated what was happening to them, hated every second of it. But he had to keep it together for him to win his mate in the end.