“Relax, it’s just me,” his voice was soft in my ear.

“What are you doing here?” I hissed, hands on his waist.

“I wanted to see you again,” Cloud had pinned me against the wall, arms on either side of me. His face was a centimeter from mine. I could feel his breath on my cheeks. It smelled like drinking water after brushing your teeth.

“They might smell you or something,” I tried to push him away.

“So I’m taking your scent,” he rubbed against me. He ran his fingers through my hair and kept me against the wall. Once again, my attempt to get out of his trap utterly failed. I sighed and leaned back, letting him nestle me.

In the meantime, and to distract myself from the feeling of being powerless, I looked at what he was wearing. Jeans, a big coat with fur trim that hid his tail, and a warm hat over his ears. His boots were wet from the snow.

“Okay, I’m done,” he pulled away from me. “They won’t smell me now.”

“What the hell are you doing here?” I pushed him away.

“I wanted to see you,” he told me again. “Like I said, I’m lonely. I’ve never been all alone like this before. And now I know you’re supposed to be my partner. I’m just…. I just….” He lowered his head, unsure of what to say. “I’m sorry for breaking in. That was quite rude of me.”

“You still haven’t even explained how we’re connected,” I reminded him.

“Uh, well, it’s kinda… confusing,” he sat on the bed. “Besides, I don’t think it matters that much.”

“It matters to me,” I sat on the bed next to him. “We have until dinner.”

Cloud slowly said, “Well, if you want the truth…,” he took a deep breath. “My… great-grandfather is the god of creation and matchmaking. Barely anyone sees him anymore. I know this is going to sound stupid, but… he came to me in a dream a few weeks ago and told me about you. He said he destined us to be together. I have no idea why. I tried to ask but, by the time I got the words out, he was gone.”

“So… I’m…. I’m just supposed to be your… partner?” I whispered.

“...Yes,” he nodded, moving closer to me.

“Do I get a choice?”

“Well… I’m not sure; nothing like this has ever happened to me or my siblings before. But, please, Raine…. From the moment I saw you, I wanted…. I wanted you to be mine.” He gently touched my hair. “I-I don’t know what it is about you, I just…. I want you.”

“You’re talking about having sex with me,” I whispered. “Last time, you said I was supposed to be your mate.”

“No! M-maybe.” Cloud shifted on the bed, looking away.

We were both silent for a moment. I stood up and began pacing, trying to digest what he had just said. Cloud sat up on the bed, watching as I walked around. I couldn’t help but think about all the horrible things that had happened to me. All the things those men had done to me. The pain, the beatings, the horrible mistreatment I had put myself through for money I didn’t even use.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Cloud was wrapping his arms around me.

“L-let me go,” I mumbled, trying to push away, now painfully aware of the tears on my warm cheeks.

He didn’t release me, but his grip did loosen. Cloud gently pulled me back to the bed and we both fell onto it. His arms were warm and strong around my smaller body. He held me against his chest, running his fingers through my hair.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned that,” he breathed. “I know you’ve been through a lot and are traumatized from it. I’m sorry, Raine.”

“N-no, it’s f-fine,” I choked.

“No, it’s not,” he replied, gripping me tight.

“I-I’m over it, really,” I insisted.

“I know a flashback when I see one,” Cloud scoffed. “That’s the most obvious sign of PTSD. You didn’t even realize you were crying until I grabbed you. Raine, you’re traumatized and alone in a strange, magic-filled town where you were treated like an enemy for the first week. That’s not what I made Ivory Tower out to be. You deserve better.”

I was silent for a moment, then tried to wiggle my way out of his grasp. He released me, and I crawled to the front of the bed, cuddling up against a pillow. I buried my face in it, moaning from embarrassment. Cloud sat by me and set his warm hand on my back. He laid beside me and cuddled against me, pulling my body close. I let myself sink into his arms, unfamiliar with this feeling.

“I-I’ve never… cuddled someone before,” I whispered.

“First time for everything,” his fingers brushed my face, gently wiping away the drying tears. “Is this okay?”

I nodded, nuzzling the pillow. I let him hold me, curled up on the bed. For the first time in my life, I felt like someone actually cared for me. And, for the first time in a long time, I felt comfortable in the arms of another man.