“I will make multiple trips. You stay here, where you're safe.”
“Don't get all Bleiten-male with me!” I snapped, pointing in his face. “I'm not your dvarra, and even if I were, you don't get to boss me around just because I...” I trailed off.
“Because you what?” Braxis went still, his violet gaze going intense. “Just because youwhat, Amara?” He grabbed my upper arms and lowered his face to mine. “Say it. You've given me forever, but it's nothing without you. Please, say the words that will give eternity meaning.”
“I love you,” I whispered.
Braxis's face broke into an expression of joy, and he whooped as he lifted me into the air and spun me.
I laughed even as I smacked his arms and said, “Put me down, you brute!”
Braxis set me on my feet, but only to kiss me, and then pull me into a tight embrace. “This is the greatest day of my life. The woman I love has given me her heart at last.”
I laid my palm on his cheek. “I still don't know what this means for us. Love doesn't automatically mean forever, even if I just handed them both to you.”
Braxis went somber. “I know and I understand. But let me have this moment, Dvarra.”
“Okay, go ahead. But stop calling me dvarra.”
Braxis chuckled again. “I will if you say it one more time.”
“I love you, Braxis,” I said, feeling it shiver through me.
Destiny. Fate. Whatever you want to call it. I'd had a glimpse of it once and then forgotten. But I remembered it now; it swept through me. I had seen this exact moment—Braxis's violet eyes staring down at me adoringly as I told him I loved him. He'd been right all along; we were meant for each other.
“I love you too,Amara,” Braxis said and brought his lips back to mine.
He kissed me gently, tenderly brushing his mouth over mine before sweeping his tongue inside to coax mine forth. Luring me into him, stroking me as if he could make me feel his love through this alone.
And damn if he didn't.
Love shivered through me and something awakened. I knew in that instant that despite my warnings, the Fusion would accept him. It was already reaching for him, clamoring in my heart to be released. Shouting that this man was ours. Claim him! But I pushed the magic back, satisfied with the knowledge that it was there, and just enjoyed our kiss. We had forever, after all. There was no need to rush.
Chapter Forty-Two
We discovered that the med-mod not only healed injuries but also neutralized the tranquilizer. So we decided to put everyone in it—one at a time, of course.
Once awake, my men had taken one look at Braxis's eyes and knew what I'd done. That shade of violet was hard to miss, it was even brighter than Malik's. Braxis and I had to explain everything—multiple times as my kishanos were revived by the med-mod—but once they'd heard what had happened, all of them approved of my decision.
“How manydoses of tranquilizer?” Malik scowled.
“I think Talon hit him at least five times, maybe more,” I said. “I couldn't believe it when he got up and tackled Talon.”
“I kept seeing your frightened face,” Braxis said softly to me. “It pulled me back to consciousness.”
I smiled softly at him, but Malik only grunted. I think he was annoyed that Braxis was able to fight off more of the tranquilizer than he did. I lifted a brow at him.
“Thank you for saving Amara... again,” Malik said grudgingly.
“I was closer to her than you,” Braxis reminded him. “I acted on your order. And there's one more thing we haven't told you yet.” He pulled out the tracking device and handed it to Malik. “I was able to tag him.”
Malik took the black case and grinned slowly. “Well done, Duke Braxis. And welcome to the immortality club.” He held a hand out to Braxis, and they shook.
“Thank you, Prince Malik,” Braxis said respectfully.
I guess titles were okay when Bleiten were congratulating each other on military achievements. I rolled my eyes at my father, who was leaning against a counter next to Rywen. All my kishanos and most of F.E.A.R. was awake. Jason was still in the med-mod and the room next door was full of sleeping Dralmarin and one Bleiten.
“Yes, good job,” Landry drawled. “You saved my girl and won immortality. There's just one problem,pretty eyes.” He looked pointedly at Braxis's violet eyes.
