Conquered

Chapter 21 - Mate bonds

NOT EDITED

Chapter 21 - Mate bonds

Aria
"So what you're saying is if we break this bond one or both of them could die?" I watched him pace back and forth, running his long fingers through his short hair. Aunt Zaphaya continued.

"Yes. Base on how strong their bond is, death could be a possible outcome."

I sighed. How did we even get to this point? Zane looked like he was slowly losing his mind. Eventually he stopped pacing, and I knew he had made a decision.

"Break it."

"What?"

Even the council members looked shocked when he said that. I on the other hand wasn't. I knew him well enough to know that in this situation that's the only decision he could make. He wasn't coping well.

"I'd rather have them dead than together."

I sighed again. Eli hadn't said a word up until this point, and I doubt he was going to.

"Your highness, I don't think you understand. You could die if this ends up badly."

"That's a chance I'm willing to take. I can't live like this. I'd rather die."

No one said a word at his admission.

"Excuse us." I took his arm and pulled him away. He stood with a faraway look on his face.

"Zane." My palm rested against his cheek and automatically he leaned into it. "What's this really about?"

"You kissed him."

"I know."

"You kissed him."

"Is that what this is about? I've told you many times, I don't feel that way about Eli."

"You kissed him and I felt it."

He had this tortured look on his face. Every time you've kissed I've felt it, but this time you were the one that kissed him."

"Oh."

This was going in the wrong direction.

"What did it feel like?"

"It hurt."

"No, I'm asking you what it felt like to me. You're in tuned to my feelings so you should have known how I was feeling in that moment." He frowned. "Did you pick up on any different feeling than all the times before?" He didn't answer. "Zane." I looked him in the eye. "I don't have feelings for Eli. That kiss only proved to me what I've known all along. There is no one else in this world for me but you."

He still didn't look convinced.

"I think of Eli as that annoying brother I've never had." I said this knowing Eli was listening.

"None of this makes sense. And I'm pretty sure he doesn't think of you as his sister." He sent a glare in Eli's direction.

"Trust me; I think I know my own feelings better than anyone else here. I don't feel the same way about your brother as I do you."

He released a sigh but still had a strange look on his face, and his thoughts were still centred on Eli and me. I pulled him close and his arms automatically wrapped around me. When I was sure he'd calmed down enough to have a civilized conversation we went back over to the others.

Zane spoke.

"None of this makes sense."

"I agree. As you all see, this bond between me and Elijah isn't mutual. I don't feel that way about him. But how is it possible for him to feel the way he does about me? I thought true mates couldn't resist the pull. Why am I able to?"