"Why do you feel it in your energy?”" Mera asked as Len, Galleli, and Alistair pushed in closer to our circle. Lucien was on his way to join Reece at the gate. “I mean, more than the physical jolt of it, you’re getting an actually connected beat between your energy and the Delfora… But you’re not Desertlandian.”
"I have a lot of history with this world," I reminded her. "The bones of my ancestors are buried here. My blood has spilled here. I bled my soul into these sands, and I think that maybe, through all of that, there's a connection between me and the Desert Lands that can never be broken…"
I trailed off at the heavy clomp of boots in the sands. Reece and Lucien were done with the sentinels. At first, I didn’t think he’d heard the conversation, but then he said, “The reason Angel feels a connection is because we’re bonded."
Everyone stilled at that rather casual statement, like he was discussing the damn weather and not an eternal bond. He continued, "When we were in our youth, I claimed her. We bonded our essence and energy, and with my close ties to the Delfora, there’s no surprise that it would extend to my mate.”
Did he just…What in the actual demons of the deep?
I opened my mouth, emotions spilling out of me so fast that I had no idea what I was going to say. “Mate?” was all that emerged.
Great, Melalekin. You’re a fucking wordsmith.
Reece’s smile was cocky. “You’ve known all along, Lale. We might have lost our way for a few centuries, but there was only one future for us.”
When he was done, it seemed that I was the only one glued to the sands, basically speechless. The others let out a cheer as they rushed forward to hug us. It was clear that no one here was remotely surprised by what he’d said, but I felt like he’d just slammed me in the chest and knocked the air from me.
Reece was close, his big body wrapping around mine until our scents were so mingled I couldn’t tell one from the other. And oddly… it calmed me. "Fight it all you want, Lale,” he murmured. “We know the truth."
For a split second I turned to mush, my head so clouded that I’d all but forgotten I could kill in a second using four hundred different moves. Apparently, I'd sold my warrior soul for orgasms and some desert charm. I mean, incredible orgasms, but still...
Forcing my breaths to even out, I shook my head—Reece and I had too much history for this “mate” claim to just settle. We needed time and healing, and we couldn’t get that until our mission here was complete. "Let's focus on what needs to be done now,” I said, thankful to not sound breathless. “No point worrying about mates if we all die in the Delfora.”
My nickname wasn’tSunshinefor very good reason.
“What did the sentinels say?” I asked Reece directly. “Are our supplies ready; can we just leave?"
Reece's smirk faded into a dark scowl. "Darin is standing firm with his request that we wait for them so that we might approach this together. They've offered us rooms to rest and clean up, and they're preparing a banquet."
"We don't have time for this!" I snapped, agitated in a way I didn’t want to examine.
The energy has not reached the Delfora,Galleli said, standing near the edge of the docks and swirling sands that formed the deeps.Neither have Tsuma or her comrades. They will stay hidden until the last moment.His wings extended as he looked out to the horizon.We have time, and we should refuel. I sense this is a battle we’re unprepared for, and if we lose, it will be over for the worlds.
A slither of unease filtered through our group, grim faces replacing any that had been amused by Reece and me. We’d all learned to take his warnings seriously, and considering that, I could trust that we had enough time to refuel our energies before we found ourselves in a fight for the worlds. On the positive side, some of our team needed these few hours to restore their powerbase—like Reece, who had been controlling the ship and keeping us moving for moons; Lucien, who had run low on his plasma; Alistair, who needed to soak in a tub of liforina; and Shadow, who was about to make the difficult journey from this area to the library and back.
Mera must have had the same thought. "Take me now, Shadow," she said in a rush, twisting in his arms to face him. "Then you'll have time to replenish before walking into battle."
Wanting to ease her worry, because stress was not good for the baby, I quickly said, "We’re strong together. No matter what happens, we won’t leave anyone behind.” Her teary eyes met mine as I continued. “This might be a difficult battle, but I believe there are no warriors stronger than the ones standing here. You hold the fort back home and hold onto that baby until we can return."
Her left hand fell from Shadows chest and pressed to her stomach as we both felt a stab of pain. I cursed that slip up; with children of power, there was no tempting fate. Mera recovered in a moment, but that flash of discomfort remained deep in her eyes. "I'll be fine," she said, waving off the concern that was no doubt written all over my face. Shadow’s too, since he would have felt that stabbing sensation as well. "You all take care and make it through this because if any of you die, I will bring you back and kill you again for making me love you and then leaving me."
Silence, until a snort of laughter escaped Len, and somehow that broke the tension which had been holding us tight. The others moved forward and hugged Mera… after Shadow reluctantly allowed her to stand one foot from his body. If the men held on too long, he growled, and it was only Reece who risked his wrath by lifting her from the sands and twirling her around.
She laughed, and then coughed. "Enough! Enough. This baby does not like the spinning game."
Shadow, who was clearly on edge, rumbled louder than ever, his flames slapping out at the desert god, who only laughed and wiped them away like they were annoying flies and not lethal weapons.
"Take your mate home," Reece said. "We'll see you back here once you've secured the base and left Gaster, Inky, and Midnight in charge."
Shadow’s fire calmed minutely, and at that, the pair clasped hands.
“Awww, Shadow and Shadow the Second.” Mera sighed. “It’s a true bromance.”
Shadow’s glare could have melted the damn ice lands. “I’m going to enjoy removing that word from your vocabulary, mate,” he rumbled.
She looked about as far from worried as a being could get. “Promises, promises.”
Shadow stepped forward, clearly intending to scoop her up, but I hadn’t had my chance at a goodbye yet, so I darted between them before he could. I wrapped my arms around her first, holding on as tightly as I could, breathing in the fiery scent that was all power and sass and Mera.
