My phone buzzed with a text message just after midday. It was Orion.
*Dinner tonight? I've made reservations at Emerald Coast for 8 PM. Say yes.*
I stared at the message, my stomach twisting into knots. After my conversation with Seraphina and Debra this morning, the thought of facing Orion made me anxious. How could I sit across from him at dinner, pretending everything was normal when a mate bond to another man was thrumming beneath my skin?
But avoiding him would only raise more questions—questions I wasn't ready to answer.
*Sounds perfect. See you then.* I texted back, the lie burning my fingers.
Three hours later, Seraphina sat on my bed while I rummaged through my closet.
"You could just cancel," she suggested, watching me discard dress after dress.
"And say what?" I pulled out an emerald silk dress that matched my eyes. "Sorry, can't make it, just discovered I'm cosmically bonded to my ex-mate?"
"You're going to have to tell him eventually," she pointed out.
