Epilogue
“Once upon a time, there was a high fae with a heart protected by strong stone walls she’d built up over the centuries. She cared for those under her protection, but she kept them at a distance. But then, one by one, wolves, gypsy healers, warlocks, elves, pixies, and even a witch chipped away at that wall. Their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way over and over again to protect others, even to protect her, sealed her fate. She would lay down her life for any one of them, and she would do it with a battle cry worthy of the warriors that they each were.” ~Lucian
Dalton growledwhen Jewel sat in the chair in their room, instead of coming to the bed so he couldholdher.
“Have you forgotten about the spell Volcan put on me? I haven’t.” Jewel said, looking determined. Dalton thought it was cute that she thought she was going to getherway.
“In case you haven’t noticed, romantic intimacy has been the furthest thing from my mind,” he said. “And before you go getting your cauldron boiling, it’s not because I’m not attracted to you. It’s because it’s enough for me to just get to hold you. After being separated from you for so long. I just want you near me, Little Dove. I need toholdyou.”
He could tell she was trying not to smile as she glared at him. “Did you just say ‘getting your cauldronboiling’?”
He had known that would distract her. “Maybe.”
She shook her head at him. “Tacky.”
He chuckled. “Probably. Now come here, or I’ll just comegetyou.”
She huffed like a petulant child, but she got up and came over to him. Dalton grabbed her around the waist and pulled her onto the bed, laying her beside him. He was propped up on one elbow looking downather.
“This is where you belong,” he whispered, his voice deep, caused by mixing his wolf’s voice with hishumanone.
“Are we going to talk about the elephant intheroom?”
“I won’t let her sacrifice herself,” Dalton told his mate. “We’ll figure out something else. I wouldn’t ask you toloseher.”
“I don’t want to lose you either,”shesaid.
“Youwon’t.”
“You can’t promisemethat.”
“I can promise you that we will find another way for the spell to work. There are too many magical minds involved in this to not come up with an alternative or to figure out a way to alter the spell in such a way no one dies. I want you totrustme.”
She answered immediately. “Ido.”
“Good. Now get some sleep. It’s been anemotionalday.”
“Peri wasn’t lying when she said you males werebossy.”
Dalton smiled. “You say bossy, I say gently recommending the action that is bestforyou.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “That soundedstupid.”
He was so caught off guard by her words that shelaughed.
“Iamgoing to sleep, but only because I’m tired. Not because of some nonsense about you recommending actions.” She yawned and tucked herself closertohim.
Dalton wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. He pressed his lips to her head. “Good night,LittleDove.”
Sleep did not find Dalton as quickly as it had his Jewel. His mind was too busy searching for a solution to their problem that didn’t involve his or Peri’s untimely demise. No matter what, he wouldn’t let Peri be the sacrifice. Dalton would do it himself. She would mourn him, but without the true mate bond, she wouldn’t have the emptiness that would never leave. She would eventually heal, and she would be able to find another toloveher.
His hand fisted in her shirt, causing it to move up, and his fingers brushed the bare skin of her back. Dalton immediately pressed his hand to the flesh and felt his wolf relax. His wolf wasn’t worried. He had no doubt that he could protect his mate and do so without having to leave her.We go where she goesthe wolf repeated what Dalton had been telling Jewel.We will protect her and stay with her.“How?” he whispered into the dark room.Pack. Our pack will rise upasone.
He didn’t understand what his wolf was trying to tell him, but then his wolf couldn’t even consider that they wouldn’t be able to keep their mate safe. To him there was simply no other option. They were made for her, to provide for her, love her, andprotecther.
Just before he fell asleep, he heard Jewel mumbling in her sleep, “Dalton, comewithme.”
He tucked his face down into her hair and took a deep breath of her scent before whispering in her ear. “Always,LittleDove.”
