I remembered when I was younger, asking mom about what Imprints were, and she was hesitant to tell me, explaining that when she was younger, closer to my age, she had an imprint, one that wasn't the nicest. She refused to say much more about that, and had said that some are lucky, their imprint becomes their mate, but some, aren't so lucky. Some love their imprint, while the imprint loves another, some, never find their imprint, nor a mate. Some, are alone for a long time. Some die alone. Love wasn't the kindest, and mom tried to tell me that I was stronger than she was, that I wouldn't need one to make me happy. But then I went to that gathering, and I felt the zing that lit up my soul when I met him, but then he was gone, so was the feeling. The whole thing was awkward, especially after I realized things when I was younger was just a fantasy, making up emotions where they were clearly not there.

But meeting him, only for him to leave, then mom died, a few days later. The timing left it to where I never got to tell momma about him, about the zing. I wondered what would have happened, what she would have told me. She was a very perspicacious creature, that was for sure.

But that was long gone, and now I was a guest within Iromar, and I was safe, I wasn't sleeping with one eye open, worried that someone would come after me in the middle of the night. I can't tell you how many nights I spent more awake than asleep, fearing my life.

My eyes had begun to slip closed, the warmth from the sun settling into my bones. The scratch of nails on the rocks had my forest green eyes snapping open. I blinked, urging my mind to clear the image before me, because there was no way he was real. But then he spoke.

It was like lightning all over again, the zing turned into a zap, lighting up my nerves as I stared at him with wide eyes. I shifted, slowly, not letting my eyes drift away from him as I moved into a seated posture. "You're back." The words felt like lead in my mouth, a weight that felt awkward and clumsy.

How was it so simple, that fate had once again brought them together in the same place at the same time? Would it end the same way it had the first time? Or would this time end in a way only imaginable? The feelings that rattled through my mind were so confusing, so unsure, I needed to know what this was, but I was too scared to say anything, to ask.