Friendship Across Boundaries

Ella ignored the soft growl rumbling from the doorway, though Calvin glanced briefly in that direction.

“No, Calvin,” I said, shaking my head softly. “We did some research this afternoon. I’m sorry to say this, but you’re not my mate.”

“What?” he breathed, confused, his eyebrows knitting together. “But—”

“Why do you think you are?” I asked, honestly conflicted.

Calvin blushed, looking down at the carpet. “My wolf… is pretty convinced, Ella,” he murmured, probably aware this would upset Sinclair.

“Really?” I asked. “Because my wolf says you’re important to me, but she wasn’t sure enough to call it a ‘mate.’ Everyone else I’ve asked was sure. Is your wolf absolutely positive?”

He sighed, looking down at his hands. “It’s…the strongest connection I’ve ever felt, Ella. With anyone. Is it… not enough? Even if my wolf has some doubt?”

My heart broke for him. He was lonely, in an arranged marriage he seemed unsure of, surrounded by a kingdom whose beliefs he questioned. He'd seen the bond between us and desperately grasped at it, wanting a different life—one with love and new ideas. Sinclair's pity mirrored my own feelings.

But I couldn't love him just because he wanted me to. I had a mate I loved very much.

“Maybe it would be enough in a different time, a different life,” I said softly. “But Calvin, we confirmed it. You’re not my mate—I only have one, Dominic.”

Calvin looked up, confused. “Who on earth did you ask?”

“Well,” I said, smiling slightly, “she’s not precisely on earth—”

Dominic warned me through our bond. The Atalaxians didn't know about my divine origins, or at least we thought they didn't. We weren't sure how much Xander had told them, but since they hadn't used Cora's or my powers in peace talks, we assumed he'd kept our lineage and gifts secret.

He deserves to know, I replied to Dominic, as Calvin stared at me in confusion. It's his bond, too.

“Can we trust you, Calvin?” I asked quietly, leaning forward, raising an eyebrow.

He nodded slowly. I felt a strange pulse—a new bond forming between us. My lips parted in surprise as Calvin, feeling it too, stared at me. I sensed Sinclair’s tacit permission through my bond with him.

I told Calvin everything—about the Goddess being my mother, contacting her that day, and her words about our bond being a seed.

He stared at me with wide eyes.

“God,” he said, leaning back. “I’m embarrassed. I was ready to confess my devotion, and it was… nothing romantic. Just a seed, whatever that means.”

Sinclair growled from the doorway, but I ignored him, reaching for Calvin’s hand. “Just because it’s not romantic doesn’t mean it’s not important,” I said quietly.

He hovered his hand above mine until we felt the pulse between us, a glow forming, then sparks. We stared at it, and I smiled.

“See?” I said. “Magic.”

“Incredible,” he murmured, shaking his head. Then he pulled his hand away, glancing toward the door. “I’m sorry… I was selfish and hasty, and caused you stress.”

“Stop,” I said, scooting closer. “Calvin, you have nothing to be embarrassed about—”

He chuckled, looking down. “I was ready to leave my wife, Ella, to leave my country—”

“No,” I interrupted, shaking my head. “You would have gone home, for your children. Eventually, you would have realized what’s between us is special—friendship. And you’d have been glad for it.”

He sighed, gently touching my cheek. “For what might have been, Ella,” he murmured, “I’ll always treasure that.” The connection hummed between us. I smiled, marveling at the magic, but then someone cleared their throat from the doorway.

My mate, Dominic, stood there, Rafe in his arms, glaring at us. Rafe squealed happily and waved, responding to my emotions. Calvin quickly removed his hand.

“I should go,” he murmured, rising.

“Do you have to?” I asked, sorry to see him leave. There was more to explore—

“Yes,” Sinclair and Calvin said at once, making me grin.

“All right,” I said, raising my hands.

“But Calvin, you’ll always have friends here. The Goddess forged a bond between us, though why remains a mystery for now.”

“And you’ll always have a friend in Atalaxia,” he said, shrugging. He looked at Rafe, sleeping in Sinclair’s arms. “Though I hope the numbers grow as our children do.”

“Me too,” I said, putting a hand on his shoulder, feeling the pulse. He grinned, feeling it too.

Enough, Sinclair thought, so I removed my hand.

Calvin looked at me, nodded once, and turned, nodding tensely to Sinclair before silently leaving.

I sighed, watching him go. He didn’t look back. Sinclair put a supportive arm around me.

“Are you all right?” he murmured.

“Yeah,” I sighed. “I really like him. He feels like an old friend. I don’t want to part on bad terms.”

“It’s not bad terms,” he said quietly, smiling. “He’s just disappointed because he thought he was finding the love of his life—a very pretty love of his life—and it turns out it’s just some weird sparky Goddess bond that doesn’t get him into bed.”

I laughed at his bluntness, hugging him. “Don’t be smug.”

“I’ll be as smug as I want,” he smirked, kissing me. “I get you in my bed, after all.”

“My bed,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “I picked it.”

“I paid for it,” he countered.

We laughed. Rafe fussed and reached for me.

“Ohhh baby,” I said, cuddling him. “Let’s get you to bed, little boy.”

Even back in my room with my baby and mate, a little grief remained. Even with a new friend in Atalaxia, chosen by my mother…

Tomorrow, we go to war.