Before Willow could respond, he continued.
"Look, I've known Dorian since we were pups. I've never seen him react to anyone the way he reacts to you. Yes, he's fighting it right now because he's stubborn and has convinced himself that duty matters more than happiness. But the mate bond doesn't just go away because you ignore it."
"It feels like it's killing me," Willow admitted quietly. "Being near him but not being able to be with him. Seeing him with her."
"I know," Magnus said sympathetically. "And I'm sure he feels the same way, even if he's too stubborn to admit it."
"Then what am I supposed to do? I can't avoid him completely. I work in his palace. But seeing him every day, smelling his scent, feeling the pull of the bond. It's agony."
Magnus was quiet for a moment, seeming to consider his words carefully. "The midsummer banquet is in three days," He said finally.
