“Yeah,” I mumbled. “I’m okay.” I just drove off my Sallith’tahn, my life-mate. Cobalt might never speak to me again. And I don’t know how angry you are with me for not telling you. “I’m sorry, Garret,” I said, grateful of the wing barrier between us, flimsy as it was. I didn’t want to see his eyes and whatever anger, disgust or sorrow lay within. “I meant to tell you earlier, and I know it’s an awful way to hear it now but...” I took a quick breath. “There’s this thing called the Sallith’tahn. It’s the Draconic word for life-mate, though you already know that.” Garret didn’t say anything, and I didn’t dare peek up to see what he was thinking. “It’s not something we choose, or initiate ourselves,” I went on. “It just happens. But when a dragon finds its Sallith’tahn, they’re supposed to be together for life. Or that’s how it always was, before Talon, anyway.

“But,” I went on quickly, “I don’t want to be with someone because instinct says I should. I want to choose who I want to be with. And I... I don’t love Riley.” For some reason, my voice broke, and fresh tears trickled down my scales at that statement, but I forced myself to say it. To really acknowledge the truth, to myself as much as anyone else. Riley was a fellow dragon, a best friend and my Sallith’tahn. We would always be connected, and I would always consider him one of the most important people in my life. But I didn’t love him. Not like I loved Garret.

“So,” I finished. “That’s the Sallith’tahn. That’s the thing between me and Cobalt. What I’ve been feeling...ever since I met him, really. It’s messed all of us up for a long time, but I finally told Riley...that I wanted to be with you.” Still no answer from the human above me, and I closed my eyes. “I love you, Garret,” I whispered, clenching my talons in the straw, “but I don’t know if the Sallith’tahn will ever go away. If it doesn’t, I might always feel that connection toward Cobalt. I don’t know if you can accept that, but...it had to be said. I don’t want any more secrets between us.”

There was a moment of hesitation, and I wondered if he was going to walk away. If this life-mate thing was too weird for him to handle.

With a rustle of straw, the soldier knelt at my side. His hand came to rest lightly on my shoulder, sending a ripple of current through my whole body. “Is that why you’re hiding from me?” he asked in a soft voice.

“I’m not hiding,” I answered, still not uncurling.