“Isn't it the same as dying with regret?" Crystal posed. It was probably a rhetorical question, but Beodan did not pick up on that. He cocked his head. She was equating the absence of choice with regretting the thing you were left with. He supposed since humans could not bond with each other, they would have what ifs about potential mates in their past. They just could not grasp that in bonding, there was little choice involved. Sure you had to be willing and able, but that was the extent of it. And once the bond had formed, it meant that it was the correct option. If the Kelvic and Bondmate were not perfect for each other, they soon would be. It is hard to not be once you know each other better than anyone ever could.
His guest apologized, and he blinked in acknowledgment. His thoughts had become a little bit too loud to pay much attention to anything else. “I think you’re right. Being without a bondmate for a long time would drive you crazy, but maybe the ache gets more tolerable after many years of ignoring it,” he mused, not quite believing himself. With a rub of his stubble, he continued, “ I know for me bonding was always inevitable. You would have to keep a Kelvic in a box or something to have them not bond. And you are right again, my current existence is a bit lonely. But I’ve my plants, my work, and hope for the future. That’s all I need, right?
“Thank you for having me, and the tea was wonderful,” Crystal thanked with a small upward quirk of her lips. Dan nodded with a grin, and waved his hand in dismissal, “Ah, think nothing of it! I’m glad you enjoyed the tea. Maybe you’ll stop by sometime? Give a horse some company!” He chuckled lightly, and continued, more soberly, “Have a safe trip back, stick to the paths and the larger of the scary beasts won’t harass you too much. Take care, friend!”
His guest apologized, and he blinked in acknowledgment. His thoughts had become a little bit too loud to pay much attention to anything else. “I think you’re right. Being without a bondmate for a long time would drive you crazy, but maybe the ache gets more tolerable after many years of ignoring it,” he mused, not quite believing himself. With a rub of his stubble, he continued, “ I know for me bonding was always inevitable. You would have to keep a Kelvic in a box or something to have them not bond. And you are right again, my current existence is a bit lonely. But I’ve my plants, my work, and hope for the future. That’s all I need, right?
“Thank you for having me, and the tea was wonderful,” Crystal thanked with a small upward quirk of her lips. Dan nodded with a grin, and waved his hand in dismissal, “Ah, think nothing of it! I’m glad you enjoyed the tea. Maybe you’ll stop by sometime? Give a horse some company!” He chuckled lightly, and continued, more soberly, “Have a safe trip back, stick to the paths and the larger of the scary beasts won’t harass you too much. Take care, friend!”
