Faol starts to move away, leaving us alone between the quiet homes, and I turn to look at Ra'Sa.
"Good morning. I didn't realize you attended a meeting last night," I say swiftly.
A frown pulls the corners of his mouth back down. "I didn't tell you while we were in the pools?"
I shake my head.
"I must've been distracted," he says with a smirk.
Pleasure warms my belly. I’m going to wrap him around my finger so tightly.
"I'd be happy to distract you further."
I watch the reaction spread across his face. It starts with the widening of his pupils and ends with the flaring of his nostrils. I reach out to touch him, but he catches my wrist. His grasp is firm but gentle.
"I don't know much about humans or your mating customs," he says after a moment. "But for me and my people, you seem… interested, to say the least."
I suck in a sharp breath. "Would it please you if I was interested?"
His brows draw together, and his hand slides from my wrist to my palm. “It matters little. We are not mated.”
The heated air between us goes cold, and I pull out of his grasp. “Why are you telling me this?”
“It is a kindness. If we are not mated, what is the point? I do not wish you to think I care for you when we cannot be.”
I step away from him. Estela had mentioned mates—the person some foreign god chose for you—but I didn’t realize the only way to find a future was by procuring one.
I’ve been wasting my time like afucking idiot.
My chest burns.
“Do the rest of your people share this sentiment?”
“Yes.”
My cheeks go flame red. If he won’t touch me without a godsdamned matehood, and neither will any other man, then I guess I’ll have to find a mate—and fast because I need to get back.
“How do I know if one of you is my mate?” I ask, frustrated and hot.
“A song will bloom in the very air around you.”
I roll my eyes. “There’s already a song playing.”
“Yes, but this one will be different. You probably will hear it after they place a stone in your chest.”
I huff and start to walk away from him.
His footsteps sound, and he touches my arm. “Wait.”
I turn around and take a deep breath before asking, “Yes?”
“I saw them preparing breakfast. You should go.”
I bite my lip. “Go where?”
“To eat.” He looks at the enormous clock tower watching over the city, then purses his lips. "I need to meet with the other stone benders soon, but I will show you the way."
“Thank you,” I grit out.