I kind of take a deep breath, but it’s more of a gasp than anything else, and then turn around, moving the rip that I made in my dress so that it’s over the mark on the top of my ass.
The guys all lean closer to get a better look.
“Okay, so what does it mean?” Coen asks.
“I didn’t know that kitsunes have mate marks,” Raiden says with a frown that tells me that he’s currently wracking his brain trying to figure out if he did know that, and he’s just forgotten.
River shakes his head, “You wouldn’t have. It’s kitsune only knowledge. I didn’t tell you guys about it because I thought that I couldn’t ever have a mate, so there wasn’t any point in me explaining it to you.”
The guys all sigh and look at him with exasperation clear in their expressions.
“You realize that we could have cleared up this whole mate thing within the first week of Neith arriving if we had known about mate marks?” Van asks him seriously, his eyebrow raised.
“We’ve all been trying to figure out ways that we can convince you that Neith is your mate,” Reed adds.
“I’ve been trying to gather evidence to prove that she is,” Raiden says, looking pointedly at River, who by this point is looking slightly sheepish.
He rubs his hand on the back of his neck, “Sorry, guys, I really didn’t think that it was going to happen. You know that.”
“Why not?” I ask curiously.
I don’t know why River would think that he can’t have a mate when it's actually really common for kitsunes to have mates. I frown, at least I think it is. Honestly, I have no idea if what I know is right or not anymore.
“Because kitsunes can only have a mate that is as strong as, or stronger than they are, and I have nine tails,” River explains to me.
Realization dawns on me, “Oh, and you’re the only kitsune with that many, possibly ever, but most likely for centuries, and because of that, you thought that you could never have a mate.”
“Yes, and kitsunes are only supposed to find their True Mates in another kitsune,” Raiden adds. He frowns slightly, “Kitsune True Mates are not supposed to be able to be another species.”
River nods.
“Are you sure I’m your mate then?” I ask, feeling slightly unsure, and incredibly upset at the notion that he may not actually be my mate.
It’s more than I could ever hope for. I had come to terms with the fact that I was going to lose them all at some point, most likely when they found their mates, other halves, or whatever it is that their particular kind of supernatural has, but now I’m not.
River’s mine.
He is officially mine, and no one can take him away from me. I like that more than I thought I would. Especially since it means that I am River’s as well, and I didn’t think I would like the fact that someone has a claim over me, but it’s River. There is no way that he would ever take advantage of the fact that I am his.
“Are you okay, Neith?” River asks me worriedly, and I can see the insecurity in his eyes. He’s had a pretty shitty past dealing with women who didn’t appreciate how amazing he is, and it’s clearly knocked his confidence.
“You’re sure I’m your mate?” I ask him.
He nods, “Yes. You have the kitsune mark, which all kitsune mates get, and you also have my initials and the number of tails I have. That’s specific to me, and how I know that you are my mate, and not someone else's.”
I grin, “Thank fuck for that.”
The guys burst out laughing while River just stands there looking slightly stupefied.
“You want to be my mate?” he asks, his expression still mystified, which just makes me like him even more.
Moving forward, I put my hand on his chest, and he grabs hold of it, holding it above his heart, “Of course I do. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world.”
He doesn’t say anything, but his eyes practically glow with happiness, and he bends over to kiss me again.
Mine.
Yeah, I’m more than happy about this turn of events.
