His face—ah, his face. It's like watching a fortress wall crack in real time. Something vulnerable and raw flashes behind those storm-gray eyes before his expression hardens again. My words have genuinely blindsided him.
"Feasible," he echoes. He looks as if he's hearing the word for the first time.
I shift again. Both buttcheeks have lost feeling, but I still don't want to interrupt Bun's sleep. "Yeah. You know—long-term. Values. Morals. Views of the future."
"You're questioning whether to accept the mate bond." His voice drops an octave, rougher around the edges. Not threatening, but definitely unsettled.
"No. I've accepted it—"
"Have you?"
"I'm not denying it. I'm just asking for more. This isn't just about some mystical connection, Caine. It's about two people with separate lives figuring out if they're compatible."
His laugh is short and harsh. "Compatibility is irrelevant. The bond doesn't make mistakes."
