Their Mating Illusion [Paranormal Protection Unit 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Honor James Page B

made him more positive and this, this solidified it. “Find someone else. I’m not going in for threesomes, period.”
    “My poor Quincy,” Gaia murmured and reached out to touch him. “You need to find your own self-worth. You are worth so very much more than you think. You are amazing Quincy, but you just don’t see it. You think that they don’t have respect for you but nothing could be further from the truth. You are loved. You are respected. You have family here and you don’t realize it. I have no other to turn the line to. None would be as well suited as you are.” Her words were spoken with absolute honesty. “You have a part of me inside of you, far more than you realize,” she admitted. Touching Quincy’s cheek, however, she leaned in. “I won’t let you be mateless,” she assured him. “I release you,” she whispered softly. “May the Gods help her.” She breathed out and vanished, the room returning to normal time as she did so.
    Maya was speaking when time went back into sync. “If you don’t mind, Michael, I’m going to simply spend time here with my bond-mate. I want to get to know him. You know as well as I do that there is nothing that you can do to stop me. I’m a grown woman, and I’ve found my bond-mate. You know how revered that relationship is,” Maya told her brother, an ache in the back of her head and a feeling of loss swamping her, but it was a feeling she was well used to and pushed back.
    Still staring at where Gaia had been, Quincy was barely aware of the talk going on at the table to his left. She was never mine if she had to have another in her life, he whispered to the Earth, knowing Gaia would hear. She wouldn’t answer, now that she’d done as he’d asked, even though he felt the need to do something. Looking to Allister, he moved over. “Good luck,” he murmured to the man. “You’re going to need it with your bond-mate. The Gods be with you both,” he mumbled before slipping from the room. He couldn’t stay, not if he was going to ever chance seeing her. Moving crisply to his office, he stood in the middle. He had to leave, had to go anywhere but there.

Chapter Six
     
    After Michael left, sulking like a child, Maya asked to speak alone with Talon. When she was finally alone in the conference room with Talon, she sighed. “I can’t remain,” she told him softly. “I can’t be here. Now that Michael is gone I can open a Slip and get out of here. I’m not sure where I will go but I will find a place. Sometimes it’s absolutely best to go to ground and hide instead of hanging out in the front of the world so that I can die,” she murmured. “And you know as well as I do that he’s even now trying to figure out a way to kill me.” Or worse.
    The large dragon before her ran a hand through his hair and finally asked, “And your mate? You planning on telling him you’re ditching out?” Talon smiled at her shocked look and said, “What, thought the old Dragon wouldn’t notice the sparks between you and Allister when you came into the room or the fact you were aroused?” He snorted at her. Waving a hand, he shook his head. “It’s your life to do with as you will, Maya, but know we’ll be here if you ever need us. Right now I have a Warlock I need to go and try to keep from leaving,” he muttered.
    “Why would he want to leave?” Maya asked with a frown. “And as for him.” She sighed and shook her head. “I’m missing something,” she admitted bluntly. “Yes, I am very attracted to him but…” She paused and then whispered, “I feel as if I’m missing something so very important and can’t figure out what it is.” She never thought she would have a mate, had been told she would be forever incomplete and maybe this was why. “I don’t know what to do,” she admitted, for the first time. “In any of this. I just don’t know what to do, Talon. I’m terrified of Michael. Not just that he would kill me but if he were to collar