Brand heaved unfettered air into grateful lungs, the freedom of it completely intoxicating as he dragged his open mouth up the column of her throat and seized her mouth with a searing kiss.
“Oh, Brand,” she whispered against his lips, voice hoarse and breathless.
This. This was where his life finally began.
He was home.
Brand draggedanother strawberry up the center of Lunara’s body before pressing it to her lips.
“If I eat another bite, I’m going to explode,” she said around the mouthful.
The feast had already been there when she’d awoken in the wee hours, everything she could imagine laid out on the low table by the fireplace—including the massive bowl of cut berries he was cradling between them.
He leaned over her and trailed his tongue up from naval to sternum, licking the juice away. “Strange. I’m still starving.”
Lunara giggled as giddiness tingled over her skin. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so light. The last time a laugh had lodged itself in her throat, dying to burst free, because she was so stars-damned happy.
“I can’t wait for the Occurrence.” His finger followed the line of her collarbone, up and over her shoulder. “To see your markings.”
He’d explained that—for those who weren’t Demon, but mated to them—the physical evidence of their bond would only show up for that single day, when Solyrian rose between the peaks of the Sacred Sisters and funneled power into the Montrealm.
“Ican’t help but be disappointed. What if I only get to see them once, in all my life?”
A low rumble reverberated in his chest. “You will be living far longer than that.”
Will you, though? Fifty years is a long time, and there’s no hiding from the Council anymore.
Right. The only mar on an otherwise flawless night was their looming conversation and finding out whether Brand had meant all the beautiful things he’d said.
No going back. May as well get it over with so you can move on.
Brand kissed up the side of her neck and nuzzled at her ear. “What lies are you feeding yourself now, mate? Tell me, so I may disprove them.”
Lunara chewed her lip. “None, this time.”
Shefelthis skepticism through the new fibers connecting them. What had come and gone before was a solid presence now, constantly humming below the surface. The only difference was that there was no more mistaking which feelings were her own, and which were his.
It comforted her.
As for those moments after healing Fern, she was still baffled by what had happened. Why her other half had warped within her mind, into something else entirely. Something that didn’t feel likeherat all. Something… darker.
All Lunara could think was that she’d been so wrung out, so raw after being in such close proximity with him, that she hadn’tbeen able to tame the worst of her worries. Perhaps a defense mechanism, of sorts, but it left her uneasy.
That he could suddenly hear it might be the most terrifying part of the whole mess.
Ohhh, what if he hears the other one, too?
Shitting stars, she hadn’t thought of that.
Brand gripped her chin and tilted her face to his. “From bliss to worry as it piped up again, but no lies.” His eyes bored into her. “What, then?”
“Thetruth.I just… don’t know where to start.”
“Hmm.” He pushed up straighter and leaned back against the pillows piled against the wooden headboard. “You don’t have to do this. Not for me.”
“I think I do, as much for myself as anything.” She sat up and crossed her legs, wrapping the ivory sheet around herself. “And because you deserve to know. If for no other reason than, now that we’re… that we’ve…” Her cheeks puffed out with a heavy sigh. “You’re an Imperial Son. As your mate, I’ll be seen, and I don’t want you to be blindsided by it. I’d rather you hear it from me.”
No, please. Bemoredramatic. I’m sure it will help.
