A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

She didn't know if he expected her to gasp or faint or something of that nature, but she just remained quiet. It probably should've been more shocking, but, given how her stay was going so far, it made some sense. Him whispering her name for twelve years, changing in front of her, taking a bath in front of her, etc., it all pointed to something other than him rescuing her from her parents just for the sake of being a kind person.

Granted, she had been wishing that was case but, him telling her that she can only move around in his home, gave only more evidence to something more going on. She supposed this is why one doesn't go off into water with a mysterious male. Still, it was better than remaining in that room in her parents' house.

(F/n) reassured herself that this mate thing might not even be that bad. The term mate might mean something completely different to him. Such a thought caused her to nervously chuckle in her head; it definitely meant something else. "So, what tasks fall under this role?" she asked, somehow managing to keep her voice steady.

"Over the next few months, you'll learn to help me with the small farm, and you'll study in here about my kind and our culture. This will prepare you for the end of those few months. From there, we'll be married, and you'll bear me a child."

Well, there went her hope of mate meaning something else. How could he say something like that so casually, though? She could already fill heat rising in her cheeks. "Wait, but I barely even know you. Whispering to me for twelve years doesn't count as really knowing the other person."

"That's why those few months are there as well. We'll get to know each other better."

"Don't I get a choice in this matter? You're not asking for some small thing here."

A frown appeared on his lips, and he leaned back in his chair. With his right hand, he rubbed his temple and muttered, "This is why I wish that I could've brought you in sooner. Things would be so much simpler then."

Offended by this, she sat up in her chair straighter and tightened her fingers around her dress skirt. "What's that supposed to mean?! Is that so you could condition me into a willing wife who would do anything that you commanded?!" She didn't mean to raise her voice so much, but she couldn't help it. What he said had crossed the line for her.

"Don't raise your voice at me, (f/n)." His gaze locked with hers, and his eyes dared her to speak out again.

Almost she apologized, but she pushed his still soothing voice away. "Fine, let's say I agree to this, and we have a child. Are we to raise them how you were raised?"

His gaze still wasn't pleasant to look at, but he had relaxed slightly. "Yes, and once the child turns two, we'll die. The child will then take over the household."

Freezing, she just stared at him, and her mouth gaped open some. How could he be so relaxed about all of this? Is this what his parents taught him? She closed her mouth and tried to suppress her anger. "Not only does your kind take human children to more easily inculcate them into your culture but also you expect them to just willingly hand their lives over for your kind. And, you expect me to just readily agree to all of this? Why can't your kind mate with your own?"

"Our young need human life energy for their first two years of life. Without it, they die, and it can only be life energy from one of their parents. Otherwise, death still happens for them. The kelremm then kills themselves to be with their partner. This is why a chosen is so important. They bring life to our kind where we would otherwise become extinct."

"And, you thought that you could just claim me as yours and take away my future?!" she yelled, standing up from her chair and slamming her hands down on the desk.

Glancing up to her, it was evident that he was having trouble controlling his own temper. "Back when we first met as children, you didn't look at me with fear or disgust. I only saw curiosity and wonder in your eyes. That drew me to you, and I decided to make you my chosen."

"That doesn't give you the right to take away my life, Tarhuinn!" she shouted before turning on her heel and walking out of the library.

"(F/n), come back here and sit down!" he yelled after her.

Covering her ears, she did her best to ignore his voice. She increased her pace and headed down the hallway to their room. The hallway happened to have a side path leading off of it, and she might be able to find an escape. (F/n) could've tried the window in the farm area, but it was a long drop from it to solid ground since it was cut right on a sheer mountain wall.

When she saw the turn, she darted down the new path and saw large double doors ahead of her. She could hear him whispering her name in her head, and she wanted it to stop. (F/n) could feel her body wanting to turn back and go to him, but she forced herself to continue onward. It was slowing her pace, though. The doors were so close, however, and she wouldn't stop now.

Upon reaching them, she uncovered her ears and threw her hands at the door handles. She pushed and tugged before she found them to be locked. Of course, they would be. Tarhuinn wouldn't give her easy access to an escape. (F/n) heard footsteps nearing. He hadn't reached the path yet, so she might be able to try for that pool of water they had entered through.

Without a second thought, she covered her ears and raced towards it. On the way, the male had nearly grabbed her, but she managed to dodge him. A low growl escaped his lips, but she didn't care; she desired to get out. Even with her ears covered, she still heard those two words quite clearly. "My chosen," her legs felt weak again, "you will stop right there."

How she wished to move forward and fight back, but she couldn't find the energy to. She felt like falling forward and waiting for him to come to her. Splashes of water sounded closer, and arms wrapped around her waist. Her back pressed against his chest. His breath tickled her neck and sent a chill down her spine. (F/n) desired to get away, yet her legs were useless at the moment. "Tarhuinn, let me go!"

"No, you're mine, and you'll learn to accept that. I thought that you would run back to me, realizing your mistake, but it looks like I was wrong. Don't make me command you again, (f/n)."

"Maybe, you should've kept some of the information to yourself, then."

"It's not in my nature to lie to you about such a matter. Now, we'll head back to the library, and you'll begin your studying."

Her hands pushed against his arms in a last ditch effort at resistance. She wouldn't accept this fate so easily. If only his voice wasn't so beautiful sounding to her ears, she wouldn't have as much of a problem. That's probably why they had such voices so that their mates couldn't get away from them. When he picked her up bridal style, she shoved her hands against his chest to try to get him to put her down. He merely ignored her and walked down the water path back to the library.

Tarhuinn had expected her reaction to the news to be somewhat shocked but not for her to run away. It was just proof that it was easier to bring a partner back when they were younger. Her parents had ruined that for them, and, now, she was having trouble seeing the beauty behind her duty to him.

It pained him to see her run off like that. His chosen, the love of his life, had tried to get away. Didn't she understand that he had been waiting for her for twelve years? Couldn't she acknowledge how lonely he had been for that time? Most kelremm would attain their chosen when their chosen was in the age range of six to eight. He had been struck with misfortune, and part of him wished to return to the ruins to get back at her parents.

Feeling her struggle against him, he tightened his hold on her and made it back to the library. He set her down on the chair which he had been sitting on and grabbed a book from the shelf. After he placed the book in front of her, he took a seat opposite from her. "You'll start with a simple book of our history. You should find it interesting."

"And if I don't?" she asked harshly, and he could tell that she testing out if she could bolt for it again.

"That's your decision. Whether you like it or not, you'll complete it and move onto your next book. I'll answer your questions if you have any that pertain to the book."

"Are you going to be my personal guard dog, then?"

"I'd prefer not to be compared to a dog, but I won't be leaving you alone, especially after that stunt you just pulled." He received a scoff before he observed her begin to open and read the text. His chosen wasn't going to make their relationship easy, but he would have her in the end.