When we finally pull apart, my forehead rests against his, our breath mingling between us. His eyes look glassy, but he seems pleased. I also feel a little less fearful after hearing what the mate bond means.

Then behind us, I hear a door open and Ethan’s voice ringing out from the other side of the grounds. “Okay, now I want to run away. I leave for a few minutes and what do you two do? You’re on top of each other on the training grounds where anyone can see you. And you humans call us ...