“You weren’t ready,” I tell her.
“You’re really fucking this up,”Thorin says, and part of me wishes I could strangle my own wolf.
Her eyes harden on mine, and she grabs my wrist and pulls it from my face. Her wand materializes out of nowhere as she heads for the front door of the cabin.
“Violet, stop,” I say, following after her.
As she goes to open the door, I place a hand well above her head and slam it shut. She spins on her heel and shoves the tip of her silver wand into the center of my chest.
“I’m sick and fucking tired of people keeping secrets from me. I expected more from you.”
I swallow thickly and look down at my incredibly pissed witch, who looks too hot for her own good when she’s angry. I grab her wrist that holds her wand and place it above her head, holding it still as I grab her other wrist until both of her hands are secured above her head with my palm.
“Tell me, little witch, what really has you so angry? Was it the thought of me with someone else?” I ask and she glares at me, and I can’t help but to smirk. “There could never be anyone else. All my life it’s been you, Vi.”
“You lied,” she says and I lean in and kiss her cheek, which she tries to tug away.
“I didn’t know if you would be able to feel the mating connection with your wolf not being a complete part of you. There was a lot going on. I didn’t plan on hiding this forever.”
“When, then? When were you going to tell me?” she asks.
My face falters, because I didn’t really have a timeline.
She sighs. “Let me go, Silas.”
“No,” I tell her. Invading her space more and crowding her. “I’m sorry, little witch. Let me make it up to you,” I say, my breath caressing the side of her face.
She softens ever so slightly, but I can tell she’s pissed. But there’s no fucking way I’m letting my mate, my wife, walk out of that door now that she’s in danger, now that she’s been exposed.
“Let me go,” she says, but there’s not enough heat with it.
I hold her wrists with one hand as I use the other to slide down her body and grip her hip.
“I wouldn’t have killed him if you weren’t there, you know? When he said that about you, I haven’t lost control like that in a long time. Do you know why?”
“Why?” she whispers.
“Because you’re my mate, my wife, my fucking everything, Vi. I would do anything to keep you safe, to protect you. I think that’s part of why I didn’t tell you. This hex, the circumstances, I wanted you to choose me the same way I’ve always chosen you. It’s always been you.”
“How do I know you want me for real?” she whispers. I tighten my grip on her wrist and press my body against hers.
“I loved you when I didn’t have a wolf present, and I’ll love you till the day that I die, Vi,” I tell her softly.
Her big blue eyes search my face as she licks her lips.
“I love you too,” she says softly.
As soon as the words slip out of her mouth, there’s a gentle sensation that slithers its way through me. It’s strong enough to give me pause and to loosen my grip on Violet’s wrists.
She must have felt it too, with the way she relaxes against the door. Her brows furrow, and she blinks rapidly as she tries to escape my hold. When I tighten, not letting her move, she groans.
“See if you can take off your wedding ring,” she says and confusion hits me. That is not where I saw things going after confirming our feelings for each other. “Just try it. You can put it right back on,” she says with a smirk.
I let her wrists go, and they fall to her sides as I reach over and grip the tungsten carbide ring between two fingers and pull it off of my finger.
“What the fuck?” I say.
She smiles and shakes her head. “Of course,” she says, clearly not passing the revelation on to me. “The hex. We gave it what it really wanted.”
