Or…
Ah, yes.That was the way. “Thank you, Mother.”
Carmine grunted.
I drew up sixteen-year-old me. I grimaced at all her innocent dreams and hopes, but I slipped into her mentality too easily. She’d thought about Carmine from the moment she woke to the moment she fell asleep. Then, I’d dreamed of him. I’d fantasized about the day he’d finally give in and take me to bed.
I dreamed of the day he’d see me as a woman and an equal. I wanted to be worthy of him, and what I needed to be—queen, mate to the king, mother to our children.
My stomach churned, and I shoved away nausea to grip tight to the youngest version of me.
My protector. My champion. My confidant.
My mysterious, powerful, fucking sexy mate.
I felt my chest rise with all I’d felt.
I allowed all those feelings to fill me. “Mate-Intended, I declare my intention to you. To walk beside you in immortality, in smoke and scale. I declare my intention to be worthy of your protection and to shield you from those who seek to destroy you. My intention is to exist…”
I’d done so well, but the words dried up.
Pivot.“… in… your… fortress and power… during our mating.”
I winced at the weak finish, and the guests rustled and murmured for the first time.
Carmine’s jaw tightened as my power pulsed. Our other hands whipped up, and mine pressed against his heart, and his pressed against mine.
Fused together.
“Where did those words come from?” he asked quietly under the rush of our power.
I lifted a shoulder. “From a version of me long ago.”
His eyes closed briefly. “Of course.”
Then Carmine straightened and called in a strong voice, “Mate-Intended, I offer my intention to you, and join with you today forevermore.”
Tears balanced in my eyes. My sixteen-year-old self was close to the surface where I held her, and she was crushed. “Mate-Intended, I offer my intention to you, and join with you today.”
I couldn’t manage theforevermore.
Carmine growled, but it was lost as our bodies twisted, and he was suddenly behind me. My dress was pressed forward, but the bunched material made this oh-so-uncomfortable.Carmine gripped my hand behind my back, then lifted my other hand to settle it against my heart. He placed his hand over mine.
“I meant every word I just said, Syera,” he said in my ear.
I didn’t.
But I knew what happened next. “Don’t let this go too far.”
“I will do my best.
As I’d do mine. That was all either of us could do. I braced myself, focusing on my goals, and then I twisted to look back at Carmine.
His breaths were uneven, and though this was the obvious time to finally rip the veil off, he didn’t take it.
Understanding dawned.Hewas playing pretend too. We were both relying on this veil.
I shook off his hold on my hand and reached up to rip the veil off. I flung it off the cliff.
