"Yeah, but I figured last-minute nerves might step in and stop you."
She shook her head. "There's no avoiding it. Mirri's right." She hesitated. "Besides, he and I are destined to be, so I have to be honest with him."
"Destined?"
She wrinkled her nose. "It's just something I saw a long time ago."
I frowned. "Just because you foresaw this union happening doesn't mean you should let it override your own feelings for Mirri—"
She smiled. "It won't. You should know me better than that."
"Then why all this ‘destined to be' shit? How much pressure is your dad putting on you?"
"Lots, but I can understand his reasons—a union with Carwyn has financial advantages for both families."
"So what? What you and Mirri have is more important than anything else."
"We may be in love, but we are also mares. It is a fact of life that mares end up in the herd of a stallion, whether we like it or not."
"Well, that sucks."
"Yeah, totally." She gave me a somewhat wan smile. "Trust me, I've done my best to avoid the whole situation, but the reality is, I have little choice. If I reject Carwyn, it'll be some other stallion—and maybe someone far less understanding and patient than he seems to be."
I sat on the arm of the chair and gave her a quick hug. "I'm sure you will work something out."
"And hopefully that something will be artificial insemination," she muttered. "I am not going to bed with the man if I can at all avoid it."
"So why not suggest that? What have you got to lose?"