I shook my head at the resolve on her face. Her light skin was scratched from running into branches through the woods. A few scrapes almost looked healed. Because my mate had unlocked her magic.
Fates, I’d been so proud of her, in awe of her at that moment back in the king’s study.
Now, watching her use her light to save me mended some of the broken pieces of my soul that had shattered from knowing what I’d done under Thames’s influence.
Streaks of light hovered around my arms, curling around my wrists like they’d hold me here alongside her.
I was a fool to think I could leave her. Even death wouldn’t keep me from her now.
“Your light seems as bossy as my shadows.” I smiled down at her, hoping my renewed devotion and amazement were clear. I’d thought she was a powerful force, unmatched, even without magic, but now, with the fearsome way she wielded her light—Fates, she was a reckoning.
“It refuses to let the darkness claim you,” she said. “Just as I do.”
The world around us halted. Those perfect blue eyes stared into mine, glistening with unshed tears as she stroked a thumb across my cheek.
“Say it again,” I whispered.
A slow smile spread over her face as a tear fell from the corner of her eye. “Mate.”
I leaned forward, kissing away the tear. I didn’t stop. Each one caused me pain, and an overwhelming urge to erase her sadness and fears tore at me. I had to ease all of it.
“Again,” I said against her skin.
She cried out and threw her arms around my neck. I shifted and pulled her against me. Leaning back, I dragged her up and she immediately wrapped her legs around me. I settled her on top of me as I kneeled on the ground.
“You’re mine. You’re mine and you’re here,” she sobbed against me as I clung to her. Every word breathed life into me, reforming my entire being.
I ran my hand through her hair, gently tugging on it to pull her face from my neck. “And you, Little Rebel.” My voice shook with raw emotion. “You are myeverything.”
“So we’re agreed.” She sniffed. “You aren’t leaving, or telling me to run.”
I sighed, closing my eyes. My heart thudded in my chest, and that tether to Lana thickened, expanding as I held her, relishing in her physical contact. Though I knew the darkness remained inside of me, believing I could leave her now was foolish. “I suppose I can’t defy my queen.”
“No, you may not.” She leaned forward, brushing her lips against mine. This time when she pulled away from the soft kiss, she met my gaze with a burning light reflected in her eyes. “I love you, Kade."
Every fragile piece of resolve I had conjured up snapped at her declaration, and I pulled her to me, claiming her lips as ifthey were the key to my survival. Fates, it felt like they fucking were.
“I love you,” I panted against her mouth. “I love you so fucking much.”
She laughed, a beautiful sound filled with relief and hope. She shifted in my lap, kissing me just as fiercely while pressing her body into mine.
I groaned. “Careful, or you’ll shatter the last remaining strand I have on my control.”
“Consider it shattered,” she argued. “Right now.”
Her hands trailed down my neck, tracing over my chest and stomach. Her smile reappeared before she returned to kissing me. Gripping her hair in my hand, I inhaled everything about her. Her scent, her whimpers—all of it was mine.
Mine.
“Fucking Fates.” I rose on my knees, holding her in place while she loosened her thighs and allowed her hands to trail lower, unfastening my belt and pants as they fell to the ground.
I brought my hand around from her perfect ass, skimming it up her thigh as she shivered beneath me. Running my fingers over the top of her pants, feeling the heat from between her thighs, set my skin ablaze.
I groaned and tugged her pants down, both of us shifting and maneuvering, only breaking our kiss once until she was bare.
“So wet for me, aren’t you?” I traced my fingers around her clit before pressing one into her.
Lana threw her head back. “Always for you.”
