The Last Arbiter: Book 1 of the Seven Realms Saga by Reese Halden

Author:Reese Halden [Halden, Reese]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Reese Halden LLC
Published: 2024-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

One More Surprise

That bit of news floored Rowan more than anything else that had happened on his event-filled birthday.

“Whaaatt?!” Rowan mumbled, his mouth hanging open as he stared at the bathroom door, thinking of his best friend beyond it.

“He has excellent self-control,” Cooper went on, without realizing how much of a bombshell he’d just. “I can tell that he has loved you from afar for years but does not want to ruin the friendship among the three of you with any sort of declaration of his true feelings. If I had to guess, I would say he most likely came to terms with how he feels and has been in love with you for at least four or five years.”

“You… can tell that?” Rowan whispered.

“Cats are most perceptive in this, yes,” Cooper answered. “While it is not a mystic ability, it is something for which our race is well-known; it is instinctual. On top of this love for you – a different love from Holly’s, but as powerful, perhaps even more so – he is an outstanding athlete, like you, has a strong sense of purpose, and is confident in himself. He would be an excellent asset to have by your side for what you will face in the quest ahead.”

It was just too much – the straw that broke the camel’s proverbial back. Rowan’s face fell into his hands, and he sobbed; the emotions, stress and pressure bubbling to the surface and explosively releasing.

How could I not have realized he’s in love with me?

“Asher’s in love with me?” Rowan let the words tumble from his mouth, slowly, considering each syllable as they came, trying to grasp them, to set them in their proper place…

“I believe so, yes,” Cooper said softly, tilting his head at Rowan’s unexpected sobbing. “I had the time to study the interactions between the two of you at dinner; Silky and Gomer agree about it as well. The way he smiles at you; the interactions, the wordplay he has with you; how he touches you, seemingly nonchalantly, receiving a momentary elation from the contact, which then turns to a subtle frown as he mentally admonishes himself for letting his guard down, for showing overt affection when he has resolved to keep his love for you a secret… and I am fairly certain that he believes it to be a one-sided love, if I may be so bold as to offer this added observation.”

Rowan wiped his eyes, took a deep, calming breath, and exhaled it as he leaned back to let his head gently fall against the cool wall tiles above the toilet.

“It’s just too much…”

Cooper stepped forward and put a gentle paw on Rowan’s shoulder. “I can… understand.”

Rowan twisted his head just enough to look Cooper in his orange eyes. “Can you? Really?” he said angrily.

Startled, Cooper withdrew his paw and noticeably cringed.

“Fuck! … I’m sorry, Coop,” Rowan said, sighing and turning away to stare at the closed bathroom door. “But this day has been

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