Read Genesis for Free Online

was draining, especially when people kept me purposefully
ignorant. Wait. What if Taylor would tell me what the prophecy
said?
    Did I even want to know what it said
anymore?
    My muscles knotted again. I breathed in
slowly, realizing it didn’t matter what was in the prophecy. I make
my own fate. I was not predictable. Even Tabitha had said that, so
who cared what she had said millennia before. I had planned on
getting some rest, but what I really needed was answers. Hopefully,
Taylor would give me some.
     
    I found Taylor sitting in an office, to
my surprise, up to his elbows in paperwork. Somehow, I thought the
fae would be above all that. A pleasant breeze full of the
fragrance of summer sunshine met me in the hall. The soft light
sifting through the open windows haloed him in gold. He really was
something to behold.
    Unfortunately, that frown of his would
have cut lasting lines into his face if he were human. Seems I
wasn’t the only one uptight.
    I gave a timid knock on the door even
though I probably should have turned around. As if I had pulled him
from an abyss of utter darkness, he smiled groggily at
me.
    Taking no time at all to stand, his
eyebrows pulled together in concern. “Rayla, why are you not
resting? Is your room not to your liking?”
    I stepped into the small office,
meeting him halfway. “It’s nothing like that. I just wanted to
thank you for bringing my things here and…talk to you.”
    His lips turned in a
delighted smile, all evidence of distress washed away. He gestured
for me to sit then did the same. “I am pleased that you are
pleased. I will gladly get you anything else you need.” An awkward
moment passed between us, cementing the reality we were strangers, before he
smiled again. “What do you wish to speak about?”
    I didn’t even really know at this
point, but I plunged in anyway. “I have a proposition for
you.”
    Wariness settled in his eyes. “I’m
listening.”
    I cleared my throat. How best to say
this without getting him all riled up? “I know you don’t really
want me.”
    He sat there, eyes wide, for all of a
second before he spoke, “I may have—”
    I waived him off. “No. It’s okay. I
feel the same about you. I like you just fine, but I don’t feel the
sort of connection I would need for me to want to be your
bondmate.”
    His already unpleasant frown deepened
into a scowl. “You haven’t given this much effort.”
    I shrugged, trying my best to be
nonchalant about the whole thing. “Tell me you feel
differently.”
    Lips pursed, he let out a ragged huff.
His voice came out pinched. “I am trying—”
    “ You shouldn’t have to try.
That’s my point. Connections should be seamless. I don’t want to be
unhappy, Taylor.”
    He shook his head, his face unreadable.
“This doesn’t sound much like a proposition to me.”
    “ I was getting to that. You
see. I don’t just want to make the best decision for me. I want to
do what’s right for everyone. I think that for me to do the most
good for fae and human alike, I need to be completely invested in
the relationship I ultimately commit to. I don’t know if that’s
possible with how little time I have to get to know all of you, but
I want to make sure I am doing the right thing. I don’t want to
mess this up. I know the prophecy says—”
    His face went cold before he
interrupted me. “If you are here trying to get me to disclose the
details of the prophecy, you are wasting your time…and mine.” He
pointed out the gigantic stack of papers on his otherwise orderly
desk. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I have matters to deal
with.”
    I flipped a hand in the air. “You know
that’s not why I’m here. Don’t think for one second I’ve forgotten
you are still in my head. I need to learn how to keep you and
everyone else out!” My voice had risen a few octaves, so I made
sure to calm myself before I spoke again. “I could help you,
Taylor, and your people. What would you really gain by