Candied Secrets- A. Morozova

Domestic

Author's note: Enjoy, that's all I had to say.

I wanted to scream, roar and rage until the control that had just been ripped out of my hands would be returned to them. But I wasn't a toddler anymore, I knew I wouldn't solve anything with a temper tantrum in this instance. 

Think rational.

I needed to understand the whole situation before I went and made the same mistake of the same calibre that had fractured the relation between I, Ioan and Nikolai. 

"Ulla... I neither agreed to be your mate beyond the sexual encounter yesterday, nor did I agree to procreation. You seem to forget that I am not a Sildroher: Your kinship might knows what the marking entailed for consequences, or finds nothing immoral about what happened yesterday, but humans do have a quite different outlook on courting rituals. Consent, especially fully educated consent is a requirement to make a contract binding in front of our creator."

I had no idea where I found the strength to remain calm as my thoughts went on a murderous rampage. 

Ulla wore an expression of complete incomprehension on her face at my reaction, but by the cold mask that was slowly, but surely forming on her face, I knew the message had been perceived loud and clear.

"The markings and their effects are irreversible. Any Sildroher will know you are bonded to me as I am to you. Such things as divorce do not exist in Sildroher culture and mates are final. We have changed for one another, our smell has changed. Each of us carries a trace of the other's scent and physique. It is the only reason- besides the gift of breathing water that I bestowed upon you with a kiss- that has enabled you to adapt to sea life as you have, Endellion." 

Humans did neither adhere to such rules, nor did they possess sensitive enough olfactory senses to even detect the change in scent, not to even speak about comprehending its meaning.

But why would she tell me this, unless-

Oh...

"This is your only remaining option for a sexual intimate relationship. The Sildroher would perceive you as off-limits, unless you bite another-"

"No, the binding can not be repeated. I could transform a human by other means, but they would never be capable of reproducing with me." Ulla interrupted in an emotionless tone.

"Then why be so rash and mark me before we even had the opportunity to learn about each other and are sure of such a monumental decision?" I asked, incredulous at her recklessness.

She had lived centuries, for God's sake.

Her walls of ice crumbled slightly at my question it appeared, for she bared her teeth as if in defense.

"Please, Ulla. I do not wish to insult you, or reject you for the matter. I am not sure what to think right now, to be completely honest with you right now. You have made a huge gamble and possibly sacrificed your only possibility at having a mate. I'm confounded, bemused and enraged as it is, but I will not abandon you, or the responsibilities I carry for our potential offspring, unless you give me truly good reason to. And even then I will not leave you alone with our offspring, Ulla." Whatever controll Ulla had held over her reactions snapped at my words.

"I SAW NO OTHER WAY!" We both were starteled at the outburst of something that ressembled both grief and desperate wrath.

A woman scorned.

"I swore off my own kind once Signy betrayed me for the oportunity to become queen... and I had spurned Aleksander in my anguish and mistrust..." Her voice grew softer and I remained quiet as I joined her at the edge of the water.