Vernisa couldn't find Keirn. He had gone to the clinic to get her another pregnancy test, but never returned. Someone told her that he had been seen in the local tavern drinking the strong liquid. She headed toward the tavern to see if he was still there.

Halfway to the tavern, one of the guards stopped her. "I have been looking for you. There are two groups in the dorms that we need assistance dealing with. There are many human females, and their leader won't let males near them. Council Leader Vorik wished us to find you to help them get settled."

"And the second group?" Vernisa asked. "You said there were two groups; what about the other group?"

"Their leader is in the clinic. It is a small female who put her life in danger to block the bullets of the militia's people so that no one else would get hit by the bullets," the guard explained. "The female was hit twice trying to protect her people. She is being treated for her injuries."

Vernisa nodded and headed to the dorms. She would have to find Keirn later.

Walking into the first dorm, where she was supposed to help, the group was huddled around in a tight cluster. When they saw her come in, one of them stood up and rushed to her.

"Excuse me, but is Jada okay?" a small female asked. There were lines of worry in the girl's features.

Vernisa determined that this must be the group with the injured leader being treated in the clinic. "She is being treated for her wounds," she told the small female, hoping that she was correct in her assessment.

Council Leader Vorik walked up to her. "We need help setting up beds and making sure everyone is fed. They may not know how to use the replicators. Show them how to utilize the showers and get them clean clothing to wear. Once you're done with this group, head over to the other group and do the same there. Their leader, Julian Cooper, is reluctant to allow males near the females in that group."

Vernisa gave Council Leader Vorik the gesture of respect. "Yes, Sir," she stated, then quickly got to work.

Council leader Vorik watched her for a while before leaving. Something about the way he looked at her made her nervous. She was worried that she had done something wrong without realizing it. Trying not to think about it, she focused on her duty and helped the group settle into their temporary home. Once completed, Vernisa headed to the second dorm.

Pressing the button to slide the door open, she stepped inside the dorm. This group was smaller. Looking around, she counted seventeen. Several humans were much older than she had expected. Ignoring their stares, she headed to the replicators and ordered food for all of them, and set the food and utensils on the table. For each female in the room, she ensured that they had everything a human female needed, unsure if any were in the middle of their monthly time. Something that Carrie had explained to her. Her kind didn't have that problem. After hearing all about it, she was pleased that she didn't have it.

As soon as she made her way toward a group of older women, one of the men who was sitting with them headed quickly to her. "What are you doing with them?" he asked evenly. Tension radiated from him as he confronted her.

Not looking at him, she pulled some blankets out of the replicator as she spoke. "You must be Julian Cooper. I am Vernisa. I was sent here to help with your group," she stated as she turned around. She faced the human man, Julian, and froze.

Julian also froze, gasping as he dropped a book he was holding and stared at her. His eyes were wide with shock.

Vernisa swallowed, taking one step back. She had just found her mate. The one fated to her by the gods.

Subconsciously responding to her stepping back, Julian stepped closer, without meaning to, and touched her cheek. The soft touch made her moan softly. She couldn't stop it. She realized the truth of a fated mate. Everything about them was designed for you and you alone. It made her relationship with Keirn feel false. It felt like it was only something to pass the time... and nothing more. There was no real feeling involved. At least, none like what she was suddenly experiencing with Julian.

Julian looked at Vernisa in awe; it was like he was seeing his purpose for the first time.

He suddenly understood the mating bond they talked about. It was real. Very real. He was never really sure until this very moment. Looking at the woman in front of him, he knew without a doubt that it was indeed real.

Stepping closer, he stroked her cheek, his eyes dark with desire. Hers were the same. The stars shone in the depths of her black eyes.

Julian knew at that moment that he had been wrong. The bond was never forced. It was a natural bond between two souls, as if each soul were one. And the other half of his soul was standing in front of him.

Vernisa stepped back again, remembering her duty. "I have to complete my work," she whispered, looking down at the floor. She didn't know what to do. How was she going to explain to Keirn that she had found her mate? Would he hate her for it?

Julian stepped back, giving her space. "I can help you with your work," he told her gently, watching her closely. He wanted to be near her. He knew she was going to leave him when she was finished, and he didn't want her to go.

"No, I must do my duty," she explained and rushed away from him to complete the job she had been sent to the dorms to do.

Julian watched her as she worked; there was longing in his eyes.

As soon as she finished with everything she came to do, she rushed to leave. Julian stopped her just before she could exit the dorm.

"When will you be back?" he asked her. His tone, hopeful.

She blushed, her skin turning a darker shade of green. "I believe I will be told to come here tomorrow," she told him, keeping her head down, trying not to look at him.

Before he could say anything more, she rushed out of the dorm and back toward home. She needed to find Keirn and tell him what had happened. She could only tell him what had just happened. There was something else she needed to talk to him about, but she decided that now was not the time.

Rushing to the tavern, she avoided everyone as she passed by. When she looked inside, Keirn was sitting at one of the tables, sucking the foam off of a drink that had just been delivered to him.

Slowly stepping into the tavern, she approached him and sat down at his table. "Are you alright?" she asked him. "It is not like you to sit in here and drink strong liquid," she told him.

Keirn looked at Vernisa. "I wish not to speak of it while I am intoxicated," he told her. "I would rather just forget."

"We need to talk, Keirn. It is best that we speak in private," she told him.

Keirn ignored her and downed his beverage, raising his hand for another. The server quickly delivered it. Vernisa stood up. "Then I am leaving. If you design to return home, you will not find me there."

Keirn paused, his drink hanging in mid-air. "Where are you going?" he asked her, setting his drink back down on the table untouched.

"As I said. What I need to say to you needs to be done in private. Since your drink is more important, I will not be there when you return," she stated, then got up and walked out. Vernisa knew that a true mate would not act this way toward her mate. She knew in her heart that she was doing the right thing.

As she headed home, Keirn ran up behind her. "What's wrong? What did I do?" he asked. "You are never angry at me. I can tell something is wrong. What is it?"

Vernisa, not saying anything, kept walking.

"Someone told you? Didn't they?" he blurted out in a rush.

Vernisa stopped short. "Told me what?" she snapped. "What did someone tell me?"

Keirn growled. "How did you find out that I found my mate?" he asked. "I rejected her for you. She was a half-zombie. I don't want a zombie. I want you," he pleaded.

Vernisa's face paled, showing Keirn that he just told on himself. "Were you even going to tell me you found your mate?" she hissed.

"Why? It doesn't matter; I rejected her. It's over and done with," he shrugged. There was a bit of a slur to his words from too many drinks.

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