Kraven led Isadora to a river in the forest, but it wasn’t just any, the stars in the skies reflected within it, giving it an ethereal glow.
It was beautiful, but Isadora had no idea why Kraven brought her here; maybe it was to appreciate the view. And it was truly a wonder to behold. However, she couldn’t understand Kraven’s reason.
"I know what you’re thinking," Kraven amused, noting the look on her face.
It was like the first ti they t at that brothel, when she tried to understand him. He was always the puzzle.
Isadora stepped closer to the river, crouched, and dipped her hand into it. "I’ve never seen you so..." she paused, biting her bottom lip. "Nervous."
She stood to her full height and turned to Kraven. "It makes wonder, what could make the Reaper so nervous?"
Kraven spared a look at the skies, the light was coming, mixing with the dark. It was perfect, exactly how he envisioned it; he was going to tell her the truth because she deserved it.
"When I dreamt of you, I saw a river like this," Kraven began. "I brought you here so that I can relive that mont as I tell you the truth."
Isadora narrowed her eyes. "This dream, when did you have it?"
"Winters before I et you."
She froze at his words but got even more confused.
"In that dream, you stood close to a river like this, the dark skies mixed with day, reflecting on the river and causing it to glow." He walked to the side as if trying to form the image. "You wore a silky flowing gown, and your hair was so beautiful that it seed unreal, long and perfectly straight."
Isadora had no idea why, but her heartbeat sped up as the rest of the world seed to cease to exist.
"Your left hand placed on your round stomach..."
Isadora gasped and took a step back, but Kraven continued.
"It had the mate vows, little letters of runes around your left finger covering your entire hand. My vows to you. My mate, my obsession."
Isadora’s eyes slowly widened, her heart stilling montarily as she stared at Kraven like he had gone mad.
He may be mad, but his words held true, and then, like a missing piece to a puzzle, was found, it connected the dots.
"The reason you went on a journey for five winters was because of ?" She voiced.
"I didn’t steal you away, darling, I took what was mine."
"Elska should be pleased," she murmured the words he said to her that night. Like he hated it.
"Why?" It was that one word, yet it held volus.
"I never liked the fact that you were my mate. I hated Elska for it, I hated that I would be bonded, and when that happens? I would take your life, just like my father took my mother’s." His teeth clenched. "And just like my mother, you would despise the bond. The mate bond shouldn’t be despised when completed, and when you do it will slowly eat you alive. It’s ant to be mutual."
Isadora swallowed hard at his words, her mind unable to process everything she had just heard.
The feel of cold water running down her cheeks made her realize she was crying. Everything seed to play in her head, every single detail.
She had been so lost and confused by this dark Fae standing a few feet away from her that it all made sense now.
"Love..." She mouthed. "Is that why you called that when you first laid eyes on ?"
"Yes," Kraven replied. "It was a way to remind myself what you’re in my life. My mate, given to by goddess of love. To my thirst, you would have been just another random person I couldn’t wait to eat alive. Then the day the Serpents fell, when I thought I would lose you forever, the entity in finally recognised what you are. Hence why my thirst is controlled."
"Why did you doubt the mate bond?" Isadora asked, taking a step closer.
Kraven took a step back. "Because it reminded of what my parents had. It might have been a forced bond, but it was still a bond." He shook his head slowly. "I didn’t want to repeat my father’s mistakes."
"Did you ever think that if you had told earlier, I would have understood?" She ca again.
Kraven’s jaw tightened as he took a step back. "What we share, Isadora wasn’t built on a bond made by the gods."
"I know that!" She yelled. "But..." She placed her hands on her chest, as if trying to comprehend. "All this ti, it felt like a part of was always missing, and yet it has been close to the entire ti. You."
Kraven’s heartbeat sped; this wasn’t the reaction he wanted. Dear gods, no! Sothing twisted within him: dread, confusion, and panic.
"How dare you keep this from ?"
"Then hate !" he snapped. "Hate this bond the goddess gave, I don’t need it and neither do you!" His chest heaved. "We can be together without it, its aningless."
Isadora felt a sting in her chest. "How could you say such a thing?" She walked to him.
But this ti, Kraven didn’t move, waiting to face her head on. "You’re to be bonded to a madman, I may have control, but I’m still a madman!" he seethed to her face.
"I don’t care!"
His hand snatched her neck and pulled her closer. "Have you forgotten what happened after you got a peek in my head?!" he raged. "You’re a naive little girl who doesn’t understand a thing about the bond!"
"Kraven," she begged with pleading eyes. She didn’t know what for, but maybe she begged because she felt he would pull away from her.
He wasn’t angry. He was afraid. And he was trying to mask it up by being the cruel person he is.
"I’ll never bond with you, Isadora Skaldwood. Never."
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