Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 48193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48193 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
With wide eyes, he stares back incredulously. He blinks several times. “Shifters? In the witch’s territory?”
“No.” My throat goes tight at the admission I’m about to make. “The witch herself. Idalis is my mate.” A longing possesses me that I didn’t know I’d feel. His acceptance means more to me than I anticipated. His happiness for my union. It’s as if the guilt of all of the years of jealousy and denial weigh down in this moment, finding my mating undeserving. As if it’s a lie. As if it cannot be because she is not wolf.
Stunned, Jorge takes a moment to correct his expression. He’s silent for a moment and I half expect for his image to fade from the crystal, and for the connection to have broken. Perhaps broken purposefully.
Finally, Jorge shakes his head as if composing his thoughts. He clears his throat before straightening his shoulders to speak.
“You have fought for decades beside me,” he says, his voice rough.
“I know.” The years go by in my memory as a collection of colors and marches and battles. Of blood on claws and Jorge’s face dirty from the fight and his hand clasping my shoulder. “Commander, I—”
He interrupts me with a stern tone. “You’ve been by my side while other men have come and gone. When their families needed them. When their lives changed.”
“I have,” I agree and nod.
“I grant you leave,” Jorge says, and I’m stunned at how easily it rolls off his tongue. With a pull to his lips and a softness to his eyes, he speaks with compassion and understanding.
My throat goes tight. I hadn’t even thought to request it.
“You will spend as much time with your mate as you need. You have both served and seen more than your share of what war brings.”
“If the war changes, and if you need me, I will return. I will fight beside you. I made an oath, and I will keep it.”
Jorge smiles, and it is the smile he has given other men—a smile of genuine congratulations. There is no jealousy in it, and no sense that he thinks I am abandoning my duties. It is simple happiness from a friend, and I return it to him. Grateful more than anything.
“I have received your message,” Jorge says. “I’ll file the paperwork, Ryker. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“You will attend the wedding still?” he questions with uncertainty. “Perhaps there is a way she could aid us with you beside her… I’d like to meet her, if you could convince her to attend.”
IDALIS
With the early morning light slipping into the cottage, I wake deeply rested—though with my muscles still aching, especially between my thighs. I take a few minutes letting myself get used to the day. A smile finds its way to my lips. It doesn’t feel real. I’ve found love. Well I suppose love has found me. With that thought, I peer down to the pillow beside me.
Ryker’s not in the bed with me. Patting the sheet next to me, I find it cool to the touch.
I can sense, somehow, that he has not gone far. Is that because of a bond we’ve created between us? I think it must be. Delight fills me with warmth. A new kind of magic exists. A kind I can play with for the first time.
If only he can stay as I asked. At least for a little while.
Although he didn’t say he would or that he could. Ryker answered in kisses and touches and his body, but we didn’t stay awake long enough after that final round to have a deeper conversation. Tension strains my heart.
It’s been so long since I have felt companionship and never did it feel like this. I fear losing it just as quickly as it’s found me.
For all I did tell him, there’s much I haven’t said as well. I didn’t tell him that I don’t think I can bear such a loss a second time.
Here in my bed, with the scent of him still on the sheets, it’s hard not to let my thoughts turn toward him completely. It’s true that we haven’t known each other for long, but he is my mate. I know the heart of him. And I know that he is a highly trained weapon. He has spent his life building himself into the best soldier he could be.
I know the army has been his entire purpose. His entire life. He would be giving up all that once to stay with me. If they would allow it.
Was it right for me to propose such a thing?
It is too late to take back the words, even if I wanted to, and I do not. As I always do, I drift toward thoughts of my books. Of the ancient grimoires for answers. But one thing resonates through me and keeps me still and at peace.