I enter Inanna's simple room. It smells like there is an ongoing ritual-floral incense, herbs, and woodsmoke. A small fire is also burning in the fireplace which fills the room with a comforting heat.
"Welcome to my simple abode, Kaiya," Inanna greets. She is lying on her bed, thin and weak. Her eyes are unseeing, but sensing my presence all the same.
"I didn't know that you-"
"-got almost defeated by the Moon Goddess? And all I've done is temporarily keep her away?" she asks, her head turned towards me.
She tries to sit up, and I help her up. "I am sorry. I am giving you such trouble, ain't I?" I ask.
Inanna smiles weakly. "I heard from Gezer and Ninus that you couldn't copulate with Klevon."
I nod. "I was hoping there is another way."
"There is none."
"Then-"
"Kaiya," she starts, her tone admonishing. "Have you talked to Klevon after that? Did you explain to him why it's hard for you to do it?"
I shake my head. "I think he already knows why, and besides, I left in a hurry..."
"... and looked for your mate," she completes.
Inanna takes a deep breath. Somehow, there is the sound of disappointment as well.
"I did Klevon bad, didn't I?"
"I thought you two were friends?"
"I'd like to think that we are. However, he said he likes me even if I am an awful friend."
"Well, you are. That is, an awful friend." We look at each other. After a while, Inanna searches for my hand. "Actually, I don't like you right now."
I blink at her honesty.
"Have you put yourselves in his shoe?"
I keep quiet.
"Kaiya, imagine making love with someone you love. It's supposed to be perfect, but he will do it with you out of duty. He will make love to you so that you can survive and be with someone else. He will just be a tool for your happiness with another." She pauses before asking, "Were you crying?"
"I don't think I am." Rather, I clearly remember enjoying it, until the actual penetration.
"I'm sure he is hurting right now."
"Then, what should I do? I can't make love with another man. Even if it's Klevon, it is still hard. If we are going to do it. He needs to tie my arms and legs onto the bed."
Inanna snorts. "That way, it will really feel like he is raping you."
"Then do you have some rituals, or anything, that can prevent me from crying out of disgust while we are about to do the deed?!"
"Kaiya, you know the answer to that, right?"
I purse my lips. "I don't want to break my mate bond with Theo."
"Why? You mentioned you wanted to remove it before because it is hurting you? You feel enslaved by him, right?"
"Not anymore," I whisper.
She sighs. "There is nothing I can help you with, Kaiya. I will try to keep the Moon Goddess away from reaping you. But as you can see, I am also at the edge of relinquishing my hold against her. Day by day, I am losing strength, Kaiya."
I squeeze her hand. I want to survive and live with Theo. "If you are in my position, what will you do?" I ask.
"I will break the mate bond with Theo for good, then be Klevon's wife for good as well. I want to survive by minimizing the damage around me. But Kaiya, I am the Blood God's priestess for a reason. I don't have such a tight grip on survival. If I can save many people by giving my life, I will do it."
"Then, I should just die?"
"You can't, though. Because if you do that, the Moon Goddess will walk our lands, and she will wreak havoc with the werewolves."
Tired of thinking, I grab my head and lean over her bed. "I know what I should do, Inanna. But I still don't have the courage to do it," I whisper, my voice muffled.

********************
I enter Theo's room. He is sitting on the couch with Princess Kissa. Shifting his eyes on me, he automatically stands up. He walks towards me and places a kiss on my cheek before taking my hand and asking, "You arrived at a decision now?"
I nod. My eyes transfer to Princess Kissa, and I acknowledge her presence. She's pregnant. Her belly is getting noticeable now, and I am pretty sure it's from Theo.
Seeing where my eyes are focused, she grins, "I'm not the only one pregnant in the harem, Kaiya. Don't look at me like that."
I do not respond and focus my attention on Theo. "King Theo, can I talk to you privately? It won't be long, just thirty minutes, I think," I say.
Hearing it, Princess Kissa gets up. "Well then, I should go. Let's talk more at a later time, King Theo."
And so, the instant the door closes, I reach for Theo's face and kiss him. Pulling back, I say, "I agree to it now, Theo. I will break the mate bond with you."
He nods. I see the way his chest moves up and down. Same as me, this is painful for him too. My heart is beating against my chest, so I lock eyes with him while taking his hands. I know this is the only option we have, yet I can't help but feel sad about this.
I take a deep breath, struggling to find my voice. I am ready.
"I, Kaiya Pitchford…" I say, watching as Theo starts to tear up at the way I claim his last name... finally. "… am breaking the mate bond with Eugene Theo Pitchford."
He looks at me with a mixture of sadness and understanding. He takes a deep breath before saying softly, "I, Eugene Theo Pitchford, am accepting the breaking of my mate bond with Kaiya Pitchford."
As we say the words, trickles of magic flow out of our veins. However, the way we hold each other's hand... It feels like we are making another vow to be bonded rather than parted. It is a sad but beautiful moment.
We gaze at each other. I can tell he is still hurting, but he doesn't show it. Theo looks away, trying to hide his emotions. He takes a deep breath before looking back at me. "I guess this is it."
I have no words. Instead, I hug him tightly and whisper in his ear. "I love you, my shrewd king. And no matter what, I will always love you, with or without the mate bond."
His eyes glisten, this time full of love. He leans forward, and our lips meet in a consuming kiss filled with longing and love. A kiss that is urgent, it is almost desperate. I can feel our hearts beat together, and I cling to him like a lifeline, never wanting the moment to end. We kiss passionately, clinging to each other in raw intensity as if we are each other's only source of life.
And maybe we really are.