The Qilin Choice by Hawke Oakley

Author:Hawke Oakley [Oakley, Hawke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

6

Jian

Having to wake up before dawn was bad enough.

Having to wake up before dawn and leave Nikolas's warm, sweet embrace was next to impossible.

I roused without an alarm, sensing the slow creep of sunlight over the city. It wasn't yet light. The apartment was dark, but turning deep blue as dawn approached. I had to leave now if I meant to return home on time.

I let out a quiet, frustrated exhale. I didn't want to go. But I had to.

Nikolas was fast asleep on top of me. He was beautiful. His messy hair fell across his forehead and his eyelashes were fluttered shut against his soft, round cheeks. More than anything I wanted to reach out and touch him, but I couldn't risk waking him. I had to leave, quickly and silently. If he woke during my departure, he'd only be disappointed, and I couldn't bear seeing that look on his face.

I extricated myself from Nikolas with great care, carefully laying his head sideways on the pillow so he could breathe and covering him up with the blanket. He must've been exhausted because he didn't stir once.

I bit my lip. One tiny touch wouldn't hurt, right?

Quick and careful, I pressed a small kiss to his forehead. He mumbled and smiled in his sleep but didn't wake.

My heart clenched tightly. Doubts raced in my mind. Nikolas was everything to me. Did I really have to go home and pretend like this night never happened?

No, it was impossible. Things had changed. I never wanted Nikolas to be absent from my life ever again.

A soft mrow drew my attention. DJ Muffin was sitting by the front door, waving his tail questioningly.

"I'll be back," I whispered. "Don't worry."

This satisfied him. The cat rubbed against my leg with a purr, then hopped on the couch between Nikolas's knees.

I smiled. At least Kola wasn't totally alone for the time being.

I slipped out into the early morning chill, crept to the edge of the trees surrounding the city, then shifted and disappeared into the mountain forest.

My qilin soul was singing. My hooves felt lighter, and my mane flowed higher. It was the happiest I'd felt in a long, long time.

Now the problem was everything else.

I raced up the mountain. When I got home, I threw my clothes into the wash and took a shower to get the scent of human off me. I even lit a few candles just in case.

Was I being paranoid? Possibly. But if my parents found out I'd broken my promise, they'd be heartbroken.

I looked out the window. The sun was crawling up the sky now, spreading daylight over the land. The human city no longer sparkled at the base of the mountain. Its inhabitants were waking up, too.

Was Nikolas awake? Was he upset that I was gone?

I clenched my eyes shut and buried my face in my hands.

He was my fated mate. I just knew it. The realization crashed over me like a powerful, inescapable wave. The puzzle pieces fit perfectly into place.

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