“I think Verin tried to kidnap me because I must be getting close to freeing her.” A part of me wished to give him hope that he would be reunited with his love.
“Are you?”
Swallowing hard, I answered with a nod.
“I think so. I’ve learned a lot about her, and so many things don’t make sense. She doesn’t seem like the type to lay down and accept the fate of being in onyx while her people suffered. She’s also holding something in her hands, like a stone at the end of the necklace. The king is creepy and the queen, I don’t know. I wish I could understand what all her random words mean. It has to be her way of talking. And I know you aren’t going to like what I have to say, but I broke into Nyx’s room. She was reading some weird stuff about Fae cores and tales of a mad scientist.”
Rune’s hand touched my face to stop my rambling. His touch made me speechless and I didn’t feel anything besides his hand on my cheek, a balm to my worrying mind.
“You’ll figure it out. You’re smarter than you think and a fighter.”
The yearning, the draw to touch him was too strong with us this close. He peered into my soul and there was no fear. Like a match when it touched the striker box, our world lit into flames. Our bodies were magnetic, and there was no resistance this time.
I leaned into his space at the same time he crossed into mine, our lips meeting in the middle.
Chapter Forty-Three
I trembled. His scent, his touch . . . everything I’d imagined and more. My life ended and began where his breath mixed with mine. His fingers slipped from my cheek to my neck, pulling me closer. I wasn’t close enough. I wasn’t nearly close as we needed to be. The fire inside me danced, craving more of his burning touch on my skin. Consuming me, claiming me.
Without parting our lips, I climbed on top of him, my dress pushed up to the tops of my thighs. His free hand ran up them and his pained groan vibrated into my soul. His tongue swept into my parted lips and caressed against the roof of my mouth. I clenched at his possession of my body. There was no part of him I did not want, no piece of him I would not claim. I was whole, forged anew from his kiss.
“You’re mine.” I growled into his mouth, my unrightful claim barreling into his lungs, his heart.
My hands touched his bare torso, making his fingers grip me tighter. A snarl roared from his chest into my mouth. He was so strong . . . the fighter and werewolf hosted inside one being. My fingers bumped into the necklace, and I was no longer in the cave kissing Rune.
“I’ll marry you tomorrow, I promise. Now let me go, you brute.” I leaned my head away from his eager lips, needing to go. I had so much to do. I needed tomakesure of what I saw. My mate’s kissing was all too easy to fall into and lose myself. We’d have time . . . another time. I hated lying to him, but it had to be done. It was the only way to save us, to save my people. I would sacrifice everything for them and it would not be my end. I would be back.
“After we defeat Verin’s forces, you are mine, not my brother’s,” my love growled into my neck and reluctantly let me go.
“I have always been yours, since I came into this world. More than that Rune, I choose you, not Tor.”
Screw it. I turned and gave him one last kiss, pouring out every unspoken word inside me. I believed he would forgive me and I believed in the power of love and our mating bond. The werewolf in him made it more potent. He may end up forgetting me, but his wolf . . . his heart . . . would know mine.
“I’ll see you soon.” I pushed back from his hard chest and I touched the necklace I had placed around his neck. Safe.
“Soon, wife.” Rune smirked, and my heart shattered into tiny pieces.
One day, just not today.
He ran off toward the armory where the guards were choosing their weapons to protect our kingdom from Verin’s invading army.
He was already here, though, strutting around like he wasn’t the epitome of all evil. My father and mother told me the truth, but more convincing than the truth was the bond, the connection between us. My father was strong and determined, a true warrior and protector, like Rune. Like mother like daughter, I guess. Both fell for the warrior brother they shouldn’t have.
I ran toward the room where I told my parents to wait for me. Celestine had warned them this was going to happen, though it didn’t stop the tears from flowing down my mother’s face when I confirmed what she already knew.
It was going to be hard, but we had to do it for our world.
“There you are, my little gem. I’ve been so worried about you.” My focus shifted to the little box in the king’s hand, then back at his golden eyes.
One day, just not today.
“Holy fuck.” My body flung back from Rune’s kiss swollen lips and the necklace.
Stunned, Rune watched me, as I panicked.
“Did you see that?” My fingers touched my lips, feeling the wetness from Rune’s kiss and then to my head. Had I been far more injured than I thought? Was this all a dream?
“I didn’t see anything. Sapphira?” Rune tried to move, the strain on his face visible as he crawled toward me in pain.
