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Word Count: 3520

~Zayla

My mind seems to be protesting, but my body isn't. Hell, my body is in complete control.

Kissing Fate isn't how I assumed it would be. I was fully prepared to feel no hint of a mate bond, and not only because he can so easily keep it from me, but because I don't see us being mates. Even if a slight protest in the back of my mind disagrees with this.
Instead of concentrating on that, I pin my mind onto what is happening right now. I'm really kissing him.

"What are we doing?" I breathe against his lips, unable to tear myself away.

He continues to kiss me, lips so soft, tasting subtly of the citrus he ate for breakfast. His hands are gentle and cradling, as if he doesn't want to push me too far, but doesn't want to let go of me either. I feel each tentative touch against my hips and waist. Politely, the wander nowhere else.

Is Fate always a gentle lover? A part of me can hardly imagine it.

"Go with it," he breathes, pushing me back slightly until my back is against a pillar. How had he known that was there? Every part of this moment seems so considered. Almost everything seems to be like that with him.

The moment I become slightly breathless, he pulls away from my lips, instead concentrating on my jawline and neck. His entire body is pressed against mine, so I can feel every ridge and muscle, which I would never have thought to be so euphoric.

My hands find his hair, out of blatant curiosity, and also as a prompt to him as he brings his lips back to mine to take my breath away again. It's softer than it looks, which is almost unimaginable. I want to keep my hands buried in his hair forever.

That is, until I finally realise who I'm kissing.

"We shouldn't be doing this," I gasp, pushing away slightly. I can hardly get my hands between us to find his chest. He stumbles back slightly, but not by my strength, but by his own curtsey. "This is the last thing I want."

"Is it? Is that why you kissed me back?" he questions, sweeping his hair back. I had completely mussed it up with my persistent fingers moments before. The top button of his shirt is also undone, which I must have done in the haze of lust being near him.

My teeth grit together in irritation. "I was hardly thinking. We don't know each other. And may I mention that you possibly completely deceived me?"

"How so?" he asks, a frown fluttering across his brow.

"How do I know you weren't using magic to conceal the mate bond?" I question, keeping my back against the pillar. It's my best chance of keeping my trembling limbs from collapsing my body to the ground.

I can only imagine the pleasure Fate would get from that.

"You don't."

"God...Can we forget this right now?" I question, leaning my head back. I stare at the roof of the cave, wishing that the rocks above would just come and land on me right now.

A part of that is for the primary reason that I enjoyed that kiss way too much. That's the last thing I would assume I would say when he first took me away from my life. In some messed up way, I feel guilty for enjoying his company, even in the slightest. I left my family devastated and I felt happiness around this monster for one second?

I can't get that thought out of my head...

"You can't deny what just happened, Zayla," he breathes. "As much as it may be convenient to you."

"It's much easier than thinking about what just happened, and why," I snap, brushing past him. My plan was to walk back to my room to stuff my face into my pillow. Fate, naturally, ruins that plan, reaching out to grab my arm so I would pause.

I narrow my eyes at him, and he does it right back. "We just kissed, because we are attracted to each other."

"No, we just kissed because...it was an in the moment thing. Let's forget it happened and never talk about it again," I say slowly, hoping he would get the point I'm so desperately trying to get across.

He doesn't seem to at all, by the way he keeps his eyes narrowed, staring me down.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because we both know you're not about to forget about this so easily. And neither am I," he murmurs, finally letting go of my arm. I decide to stay there, with a slight step back, my heels sinking into the sun-bleached sand.

"You're talking about it," I growl. "We aren't going to forget about it if you keep on this subject."

Fate sighs. This is the first time I've seen him look genuinely frustrated by me. "Zayla, this is silly. Just admit you wanted to kiss me."

"Like I said, it was in the moment and it's never happening again," I insist. Honestly, I'm trying to convince myself. If I seem persistent, my mind will accept the platonic relationship that needs to occur between this.

If I could go back to the initial anger I felt toward him when we first met, life would be a lot easier. But after being treated well, and after accepting the fact that I will probably never gotten home, I have gotten used to life here. Still, I won't stop until my plan to make it home to Zaid has been successful.

"Why not?"

"I can think of a million reasons," I mutter.

"Name one."

I think of where to start. When I mentioned a million reasons, I wasn't over exaggerating. "You're my captor. I'm not here because I want to be."

"That's fair enough," he comments, raising an eyebrow.

Without even thinking, I continue. "And also, you're...no offense, not my type."

"And what do you mean by that?" he questioned, seeming amused rather than offended. "Is it the blue hair?"

"No. It's the fact that you're immortal."

I would have expected him to understand that. When I was first told about my parent's death, and how it came along from an unknown immortal, I was furious. I swore many things. Some things I wouldn't go through with today, but some I definitely would. Being with an immortal like Fate is not one of them.

"So are you, remember?" he comments, that arrogant smile dancing across his lips. "You better get used to it. Unless you want to be with a mortal, who grows up and dies while you remain as you are, then I suggest being a little more opened minded."

"Okay, let me rephrase that. I'm not attracted to immortals like you," I mutter, backing across the sand. Fate follows each of my steps backward. It takes me a moment to realise I'm not even heading in the direction of my room, to the shore.

"Like me?"

I frown. "Yes. That means, crazy, manipulative, power wielding immortals who could kill me with a single thought."

"You're mistaken," he reminds me. "I can't do that. If you want to be walked straight off a cliff, I suggest speaking with Thought."

"All of you suck!"

"That's an interesting word to define us," he says, walking until I'm pinned against the wall. Fate isn't too close, but it's not as if I'm about to go anywhere without him grabbing my arm again. "Especially after you made out with one."

I fold my arms across my chest as my main barrier of defence. "Can you stop bringing that up? I thought we agreed not to speak about it."

"I never agreed."

"You're insufferable," I mutter.

"Zayla, can we not just agree that it was just a kiss?"

"Yes! That's what I've been saying."

"And if it happens again, then so be it," he says casually. Instantly I frown.

"No...No, it's not happening again."

"If you say so," he murmurs breezily. "If you wish to come with me to the wedding, it's next week. Does this work for you?"

"Does it look as if I have anything else to do?"

Finally, he gives me room to back up. Watching him suspiciously, I walk toward the shore, happy to finally get away from this argument. Before he can say anything more, I make my way toward my room, however, his voice makes me pause before the water meets my feet.

"Hey Zayla," he calls out. I glance over my shoulder. "It wasn't just a kiss."

***

The Love Pack is incredible. Being from the Devotion Pack, I've never really been around snow. Here, it's everywhere, glistening off every space the eye can see. The homes almost cave under the weight of the snow, with windows frosted with ice, and mailboxes dusted. Fate summoned us to a car, which I didn't bother asking about. Instead, I got in, and let him drive me through the main streets of the Love Pack.

I have to refrain from asking him to pull over so I can touch the snow, and feel how cold it is outside. Back home, we only had dry wind and dark skies. Boring.

"This is the Love Pack, huh?" I murmur, my breath slightly fogging the window I stare out of.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

I nod, looking out for people. They still walk here, completely unbothered by the snow outside. I suppose when you grow up in this climate, it becomes all you know. Especially when it doesn't let up for the entire year. By the smiles touching the blushing faces of the citizens outside, they are in good moods all the time.

We are in the Love Pack. What else should I expect?

"It snows like this all the time. Eventually that would drive me insane," I tell him truthfully. He's lucky it's been a week since the kiss, and he hasn't spoken any more about it. "I can imagine it would for you too."

Fate frowns slightly, glancing off the road to look at me. "What makes you think that?"

"Well, you could use your magic in any way you please. Instead of creating a place filled with snow, you chose to create a beach scene," I say, going off my observations for a single moment. "Also, Sinful told me you don't like darkness."

"Did he?" he questions, inclining his head forward slightly. "Correction, I don't like the Moon."

I decide I need to inquire. "Why not?"

"Because it doesn't like me in return," is all he says in reply.

Instead of pressing him further, I store it into my mind and ask Sinful about it if I ever see him next. I'm not sure who I believe the most if I was to ask either him or Fate, but perhaps Sinful would be more willing with tell me something.

We both stay quiet until we make it to the wedding.

***

The reception for this mating ceremony this is inside. What a relief, considering the moment I stepped outside, I almost lost completely feeling in all my limbs. Fate came up beside me, helping me through the snow onto the path that lead up to the hall. Despite the snow on the outside, they made an effort to decorate regardless, with a colour scheme of purple and cream.

When Fate slips his hand into mine as we walk in, I jump. His fingers are warm, which makes little sense considering the weather. For that reason alone, I cling tightly to his hand.
Inside the hall, the decorations are doubled. Everywhere, from the tablecloths, to the flowers atop, is purple. Whoever chose this colour scheme is a little overboard, that's for sure. But from the expressions of everyone around us, they don't seem to mind at all.

"Fate!"

Fate and I both look up to see who had called his name. A woman, who I would assume is around the same age as my parents would have been, rushes over. She is dressed so beautifully, in a cream dress that reaches her ankles. I know her instantly from seeing her on TV. Aria.

"I haven't seen you in so long," she gushes, instantly pulling Fate away from me to hug him. I watch awkwardly, unsure of what I should do. "I can't believe you actually came."

This is the woman Fate used to be in love with, which for whatever reason, makes me feel slightly nervous. Even at her age, she is gorgeous, with this head of long brown hair that waves slightly in all the right places. Her eyes are also a shade of blue I'm so envious.

"Of course I would come," Fate replies into her hair.
They pull away, and I suddenly become in the centre of both their attention. If had a way of leaving this place in the car, I would, but the keys are safely in Fate's pocket. Why did I agree to come here again?

"Who's this?" Aria asks.

"This is Zayla, a close friend of mine," Fate says, smiling warmly at him. I want to shoot him a loathsome look, but I instead focus a smile on Aria as she shakes my head.

"Lovely to meet you, I'm Aria," she greets, as if I wasn't already aware. "And you're Thea and Jasper's daughter, correct?"

My heart skips a beat at the mention of my parents. "Yes. Did you know them?"

"I did, I loved them both. Very kind people," she tells me fondly. I can't help the smile from hearing that, forgetting for a blissful moment that Fate isn't standing there, staring directly at me, "and how did you and Fate meet?"

Before I can honestly confess about the deal I have been dragged into, Fate steps in, winding his arm around me, clearly in a subtle way to stop me from opening my mouth. Is he afraid of how Aria would react if she knew?

"I think that's a talk for another time, Aria. Where's your son?" Fate question, smoothly changing the subject.

"Kailen is over with his mate. They are getting ready for the ceremony. Perhaps you two can talk when it is over?" Aria mutters, pointing to where a rather tall man stands with a pretty blonde girl. So that's who Aria's child is mated to. Interesting.

Fate claps his hands together. "That sounds great. And where is your mate?"

"Malik is...somewhere," Aria says uneasily. "Being an Alpha I suppose."

"I would love to talk with him. It's been much too long," Fate tells her.
Is this his way of making conversation? If so, I want to escape even more now. He really is anxious about Aria knowing about the deal, and to make sure he doesn't make the rest of my life hell, I have no intention to tell Aria. At least I have this as leverage.

"Really? You would love to talk to my mate?" Aria questions in disbelief, making sure she heard him right. She turns to me for a second. "What have you done to the Fate I know?"

"Zayla hasn't done anything but be her lovely, positive and openminded self. I would simply like to catch up with the Alpha of Love. I don't believe he is all that fond of me," Fate says smoothly, winking at me.

"Is anyone?" I growl.

Aria chuckles at that. "I'm glad you know how to speak back to Fate. Someone needs to put him in his place every now and again. He is ever so bothersome at times."

"I agree."

"Well, Zayla and I are going to take our seats, Fate says quickly, cutting in before anymore between us can be said. "I'm sure I'll speak to you later, Aria."

We find our seat and sit through the entire ceremony without much word to each other. It was romantic and slightly saddening watching the pair. It only reminded me of the reality I will never get to live. I wish the two the best of luck.

Once it ended, I excused myself to the bathroom, while Fate went to get something to eat. When I was done in the bathroom, I come outside, turning the corner, to see Aria and Fate alone together.

I pause, watching the way she leans against the wall, smiling up at Fate.

As much as I'm aware she is mated happily, I can't help but remember the past Fate mentioned to her. Instead of walking up to interrupt them, I sidle up a little closer to listen in to their conversation. Again, I don't feel bad about it at all.

"Have you been okay?" I hear Fate murmur.

Aria chuckles, but only slightly. "Of course I have. Life has been great."

"Is that because I'm not in it anymore?"

"Don't say that Fate. You haven't come to visit in years," she says.

I can't see her expression, her back facing me. From here, I can see Fate's expression though, as he smiles down at Aria. I've never seen him look so fond of something before, other than when he first showed me his residence. It makes me swallow uncomfortably.

"You never summoned me," he reminds her.

"I never wanted to bother you," she explains. "You are Fate after all, and you have a job to do, right?"

Fate shakes his head, and in an innocent gesture that could potentially be seen for something else, he reaches out and brushes a piece of hair behind her ears. "We both have pathetic reasons to not be seeing each other."

"Maybe it's for the best. Malik was never happy after you offered me those who choices, even after I assured him he was always the answer," she says honestly, "plus, look at you, then look at me."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he says with a frown.

I'm not sure about him, but I instantly know what he is speaking about. Even though she is extremely beautiful, it is noticeable.

"It's been twenty years, Fate. You look beautiful, as an immortal should."

Fate shakes his head, as if he can't possibly believe any word that she is saying. "That's insane. You still look stunning, Aria. You always will."

"That's kind, but you know that's not the truth. I'm getting old, it's harder to get out of bed in the morning. While you...you still look fit, and incredible. I will always envy your immortality," she says. She speaks honestly too, I can tell, even at my distance.

"I would give you immortality in a second, but it's not as amazing as you may think," Fate tells her. I frown. He didn't feel the same way about that when he turned me into one. Either that, or he couldn't care less about how it affects me. "Count yourself lucky you get to pass away with your mate, at the time you are meant to."

"You're not wrong at all," she says. "however, I always wonder...Never mind, you have Zayla now."

I jump slightly, thinking at the first mention of my name that they know I'm here. Instead, I absorb their words and realise that they are just talking about me. I know now that I need to fully pay attention.

"Zayla isn't all that fond of me at the moment," Fate tells her. True.

"Are you going to change that? Aria asks. My heart rate picks up as I anticipate Fate's response.

Fate diverts his gaze down to his feet. "I'm trying, trust me. I understand completely why she hates me, and she isn't easy to gain trust from. Again, that makes sense to."

"Perhaps she doesn't want to be brought around. Perhaps you should give up on it," Aria tells him.

I'm not even sure how to think of that.

"I'm never giving up on her Aria," Fate tells her firmly. "I'll be convincing her to the day I die."

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