Love and Chaos Series
His Forbidden Mate Chapter 18

The sixth days of the week were the weekly gathering for prayers at the temple and Rue, having held on to her religious ways since I met her, has always attended the prayers. I didn't because I didn't think I belonged there or saw the point in it. I didn't stop Rue; it was what she loved, and I didn't talk her out of it. As often as I could, I helped made her up and got her ready every week.

"You could come with me to the temple," Rue suggested as I helped tighten the rope around her pretty red dress.

I frowned. "Why would I want to go to the temple? The moon goddess has a favourite, and I'm not one of them." I finished and stepped back to admire the little touches I added to the dress.

"I know little, but the moon goddess loves all her children equally," she spoke with much faith in what she was saying. "Come with me. You never know, you might replace the 'one', Kailani."

I rolled my eyes. For a moment while with the prince, I wondered what it would be like to be his mate. Stupid, I know, but I did.

I don't want to see him ever again.

"Finding a mate was no longer part of my agenda, living rich and never having to suffer in my old age was. You have a better chance of replaceing a mate than I do because you're young. I don't."

"That's horseshit, my mother and father found each other when they were both twenty-five summers old and they loved each other like no one was watching," she said, zoning out a bit with her thought while her eyes fixed on the ceiling as if they were there. "You won't let it quit if I didn't come along now, will you?"

She shook her head and grinned, showing off her dimple. "Nope."

Twenty minutes later, I was in a peach dress that swept down my legs. I didn't even know I had such a long dress until Rue picked it out for me.

I did not look like myself and as modest as it was; I didn't like it.

"You look great"

"Shut it!" I cast a glare at her and exited the room.

...

"Protect us always. We pray, goddess." the priest in a grey robe at the altar said.

"Protect us always. We pray, goddess." the congregation echoed in unison.

I glanced at Rue and she had her eyes closed as she repeated the chant with honesty. They had never been a month in Lurds, where at least three life wasn't taken by another. It wasn't the most violent city in Wahala, but it wasn't the safest. Yet people gather in the temple, repeating prayers as if that would do anything. I did not believe in prayers; I believe in being accountable for our actions. It wasn't up to the goddess; it was up to us. "Help us maintain peace on our borders," he said again.

"Help us maintain peace on our borders." the congregation repeated.

My eyes scanned around and realised the eyes of almost everyone remained shut, and that meant I was the odd one out. Oh well, it won't be the first time.

"Let it be!" "Let it be!"

The prayers ended, and they took their seats for the quick sermon. I sat and quieted myself to listen and get something before leaving the temple despite that being hard.

The priest spoke about seeking peace with our neighbors and also forgiveness, just as the moon goddess would want us to. We were her children, and she was our loving mother. The sermon wasn't as bad as I expected, but I didn't look forward to coming back. "You didn't pray," Rue said, bringing my attention to her.

"Uh?"

"You didn't pray," she repeated.

"And how would you know that?" I raised my brow at her.

"I didn't hear your voice."

"I prayed in my heart." I lied.

She huffed a breath but said nothing further. The sermon had ended, and we made our way towards our carriage already waiting for us, but I noticed Rue looked reluctant to. I wanted to run off as fast as I could just to avoid running into people I knew from the parlour. The last thing I wanted was someone asking me why they no longer saw me at the parlour.

We got to the carriage, and I spoke, "It seems you don't want to go home."

"What?" she asked, acting clueless, but I knew all the tricks. Act was my calling.

I rolled my eyes. "Are you hoping to meet someone?"

She bit her lips and nodded. "Yes."

I raised a brow. "Is it a boy?"

Again she nodded, "Yes."

This was getting interesting. "Is he your mate?"

Again she nodded, "Yes."

"How long has it been since you found out?"

"Over a month ago," she answered. "And he hopes to meet you today."

My head turned to her, and I flashed her a look of disbelief. Rue has hidden nothing from me since she's been with me. I know the mate bond makes one do crazy things, but I didn't think it would get to this point. "Then how come I'm only replaceing out now?" I exclaimed, despite maintaining a low voice.

"Because I thought it wasn't the right time to tell. You have been withdrawn in the last month and although you told me nothing, I figured it had to do with the parlour. I didn't think adding this to it was fair to you."

Trust Rue to make me feel bad without trying. Yes, I was very busy, but it wasn't because of the parlour, which no longer belonged to me. I was making the necessary plans to leave Lurds. Prince Edward made the proposal when we first met and I thought it was impossible, but now I had no other choice. My choices were limited, and I had saved up enough for Rue and me. This had made me work with a few known victims of the parlour in the last month. My offer felt too good they were willing to spend. I hadn't told Rue about losing the parlour or leaving, but I will when everything falls into place.

"Oh, I'm sorry I was emotionally absent, but you should have told me you found your mate."

"I am telling you now."

I pressed my lips together, not wanting to snap at her for not knowing how that works. "This is why you dragged me out today. You wanted me to meet him, your mate. That's why you had me dressed up like a woman birthed fifty summers ago!" this time my voice rose and a few heads turned to us.

Her eyes dropped remorsefully. "I'm sorry. I just thought this might be the best place to meet Kai. Please don't be mad."

I wasn't mad; I was furious, and I wanted to leave, but I remember promising to be there for her whenever she needed me.

"Is there anything you haven't told me yet?"

She fidgeted with her fingers. "He hopes to take me sightseeing after our prayers, and we also made plans to shift together this month."

That was four weeks away. Shifting with me would differ from shifting with a mate. There would be an insane amount of intimacy and vulnerability. I wasn't ready to leave my protégé to someone I didn't know or trust.

Why was I losing everything I care about without formal notice so I can prepare? "You're still a child and we shouldn't be having this conversation here!"

"I am seventeen summers old. I'll cross eighteen in two months. I am no longer a child. Besides, I'm only shifting. I'm not yet getting married."

My lashes fluttered for a while, trying to be as calm as I can. "Don't you think all that you're saying would have been better said in the comfort and privacy of our home?"

She nodded. "Yes, and I'm sorry, but I didn't know how to say it. I wasn't ready. It just happened."

"Do you trust him?"

"After you, he's the only one I trust."

"And you think he's the one?"

She nodded.

"Fine, then I'll meet him, but a word of advice. I am not easily swayed. If I don't like him, I'll object to it."

"I wouldn't expect anything less."

"Rue!" I heard a strange voice call and my head lifted to see the tall and good-looking young man standing before us with a small smile on his face and his gaze on Rue, who's yet to see him.

Rue spun around and flashed him a smile that didn't stay, but I could hear her heartbeat picking up. "Oliver," she called.

The boy called Oliver finally lifted his head to acknowledge my presence and the smile he had on his face decreased. "Good morning, lady Kailani. Rue has told me so much about you." he said, bowing his head a little in respect. "it's an honour to stand before you. I am Oliver of the house, Lane."

I have heard of the house Lane and they were a house of noble blood, "Your father Sir Valerio Lane. The king's guard."

"Yes, milady."

"Rue told me you two have been together for a month now."

"Yes, that's true," he replied and turned to smile at Rue.

"You might already know this, but Rue is not my daughter, but I am very protective of her. Do you think you can take over the responsibility of protecting her?" He nodded firmly, "Yes, milady."

I had nothing against him after seeing him, even though he had stolen my Rue's heart. He seemed like a good kid, and I had a feeling he would be so right with her.

"Fine then, you have my go-ahead for the shift of the full moon this month. Make sure you bring her back to me no later than the eighth hour this evening."

He nodded and offered his hand to Rue, who smiled and took it, and he led her away from me. I watched them go, feeling happy my little angel had her mate.

Rue replaceing a mate meant my plans to leave with her might never happen because her path and soul would cling to his. My eyes fluttered and I hope I had made the right choice in trusting him.