chapter 80

“Bourbon,” he said. “Takes some getting used to.”

He took another swing, then closed the flask. “My mate and I grew up together. We’d been friends our whole life. So when the mating bond appeared, it was natural to fall into each other. We were happy.”

I knew she’d died, but he’d never talked about her other than that. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“She’d have liked you,” he said, glancing up at me. “She was feisty, and strong, and never quit anything.”

“What was her name?” I asked.

“Sofia,” he said.

“Beautiful name,” I said.

He hummed and nodded.

We sat without speaking for a long while, the sound of the fire and the wind the only noise. For the first time since my return, I didn’t feel the need to fill the silence or escape from him. I was content to just be. He’d opened up and shared something, and I appreciated how difficult that must have been for him. I never knew his mate, but I knew how strong the bond could be. And what I was experiencing was for someone I didn’t want to be with