never find them at all.”
I’m honestly taken aback by the turn in conversation, and my throat suddenly feels dry. “Yes, I knew that.”
He raises one of his hands and messes his hair up even more, and the nervous smile on his face makes him look ridiculously young and vulnerable. “It’s a long story as to why, but Rian and I are meant to share a mate. I haven’t seen the idiot in a few years, but we had a dream recently that our mate was in New York. Rian has been blowing my phone up all night because he’s certain they’re here tonight.”
I take a step back from him and look over my shoulder at the balcony door. “Seriously? You’re hiding out here when you’re possibly, like, two seconds away from meeting your soulmate?”
“Hey, that’s a lot of pressure.” When I turn back around to face him, Matthieu is legitimately pouting. “Besides, I worried our mate might feel overwhelmed or ambushed. You met Rian, didn’t you? He can be a bit intense.”
“A bit?” I snicker. And then I realize what he’s actually telling me, and my heart jumps into my throat. Rian was saying something about mates before I caught sight of Bryson and ran away, and he was so forward with me and Alistair. I widen my eyes at Matthieu, feeling anxious and panicked and hopeful all at once. “You don’t think it’s me, do you?”
Matthieu opens his mouth like he’s going to say something, but he just stares at me silently with wide eyes. Eventually, he clears his throat. “You might not feel it since you’re human, but there’s something between us. I’m not sure if it’s a mate bond or not.”
“Okay.” I nod my head and swallow a few times, feeling equal parts disappointed and relieved.
I don’t want to be someone’s mate. After the way things ended with Bryson, I seriously can’t imagine tying myself to anyone so permanently like that. And getting involved with any supernatural again would just end in disaster for me. At the same time, I do feel a weird pull towards Matthieu even though I know almost nothing about him. There’s an idiotic part of me that feels heartbroken to hear it might not be because of a mate bond. I totally blame Matthieu’s witchy magic and all the champagne I’ve had to drink.
“Okay?” Matthieu echoes me with a slightly incredulous laugh.
I cross my arms and narrow my eyes at him. “What am I supposed to say to that, exactly? I’m still kind of processing here. At least now I know why you and Rian seem so weird.”
His eyes light up with amusement, and he bites his lip to hide his grin. “I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right. I really don’t know what I expected you to say. I’m not even sure what to think, to be honest.”
Before he gives me a chance to respond, he steps closer to me and grabs my hand. I feel that tiny, electric zap travel up my arm again, but Matthieu doesn’t let go this time. We hold eye contact, and his mouth slowly turns up in a sweet, joyous smile.
“I think I like you though. I’m excited to figure out this bond between us, whatever it is. Is it safe for me to assume you had a similar experience with Rian earlier?”
“Not exactly.” I giggle nervously. I drop my gaze from his and peer over my shoulder at the balcony door. “My best friend and I were making out with him before I was distracted by my ex and came out here to hide.”
Even when Matthieu was holding me, I didn’t feel the desire to stick my tongue down his throat. And he hasn’t been flirting with me at all. I honestly assumed Rian had been using some kind of lust-spell earlier to make me feel so open to his advances. It's possible that just had more to do with whatever bond is between us, if it’s true he and Matthieu are meant to share a mate.
“Really?” Matthieu grins broadly, looking positively delighted by my admission. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. That sounds just like Rian, the old bastard.”
Now that I think about it, what about Alistair? Is it possible he’s their mate? Or does he at least have some weird bond with these guys the same way I supposedly do? I honestly don’t know how he’d feel about that—if he’d be excited or wary, or what. I’m not even entirely sure I believe everything