Almost as if it’s our own.
Zina felt a sudden flash of light through her chest. Her antelope had dashed suddenly through her mind, swift and nimble, and disappeared just as quickly as it had come.
She could feel her heart beating swiftly within her chest – and suddenly she remembered all the moments she’d struggled to keep her hands off Trent, all the times she’d felt instinctively that she could trust him, and not just because she’d had no choice. All the moments oftendernessshe’d felt when looking at him, and not understanding where they’d come from.
And what was it that made me call him in the first place? How did Iknow, somehow, that he’d take care of the eggs?
Suddenly, everything began falling into place. She stared up at him, her heart pounding.
It’s true. He’s my mate. We’re each other’s mates.
Zina had never thought much about finding her mate before – she’d been too focused on her work for that.
She’d always imagined when it happened, though, she’d feel the knowledge rushing through her with a blinding surge of light… but somehow, she’d still known. Despite everything, despite the desperate measures she’d had to take, despite all the danger and the suppression of her shifter instincts, somehow, she’d stillknown.
“How – how long have you –” she managed to stutter out.
“Since London,” Trent told her, his words coming out in a rush. “But there was no time – and now –”
“London?All that time?!” Zina shook her head. “Oh my God. I’ve been such an idiot. I didn’t eventhink –”
“You did what you had to do,” Trent said, taking another step toward her, pressing their hands between their bodies. “I don’t blame you, Zina. And maybe I should have said something sooner. So it’s my fault as w—”
Trent didn’t get very far into what he was saying – whatever that might have been – as Zina finally gave in to the pull of temptation that she felt like she’d been fighting off ever since she’d first laid eyes on Trent again, and kissed him.
The spark of electricity that shot straight up her spine seemed to bloom all the way through her body the moment their lips touched – and from there, suddenly, came the burst of golden light Zina had always been told she’d feel the moment when she met her mate.
He is! He really is our mate!
Her antelope suddenly burst into her mind, breaking free of the last of the suppressants that had kept it dormant for so long. Zina could feel its joy coursing through her as it kicked up its heels, prancing and leaping, tossing its head wildly. Zina hadn’t felt her antelope in so long that she was left feeling almost winded by the force of its emotions – though it wasn’t as if the kiss washelpingthere, either.
Trent’s lips on hers were warm and soft, and they sent a tingling sensation all through her veins, settling warmly in the pit of her belly.
Zina had never had time for romance – her job had been her life, and she’d always felt it was simply too much to ask of someone to make a long-term commitment to her, when she knew she could get called away for a dangerous mission at any moment.
But now, none of that seemed to matter – not in the face of the mated bond she could feel flowing between herself and Trent, filling her chest with warm, golden light; not when desperate sparks of electricity were flowing between them, setting her nerves on fire, making her skin tingle, and her stomach clench.
Zina pressed forward, wanting to be even closer to him – now that she’d finally given in to what she realized she’d been feeling all this time, she felt she couldn’t stand a moment longer without touching him. Groaning into his mouth, she wound her arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer, her breasts pushing against his chest. She felt Trent’s own arms around her, drawing her even closer as the kiss deepened, sending stars spiraling behind her closed eyelids.
Yes – this is what we want – what we’ve been waiting for –
The joy Zina’s antelope felt at being finally free to tell her what it must desperately have wanted her to know for so long enveloped her heart, melting everything else away – everything except the feel of Trent’s lips on hers, his arms around her, her arms around him.
Which was why it was such a shock when Trent suddenly pulled back, his breath coming in pants as he looked down at her face.
“Zina – are you really sure –”
“Of course I’m sure,” Zina said, cutting him off. Maybe it was sudden, but right now, Zina had never been more sure of anything else in her life. “Now that I know, I can’t believe what an idiot I’ve been this whole time,” she said after a moment, after collecting her thoughts. “I should have been able to tell. After everything you did for me – after how much Itrustedyou, right from the start – I knew you’d protect them. I knew you’d understand.”
“I’ll protectyoutoo, Zina,” Trent said, his voice low and husky as his hand came up to cup her cheek. “I’ll do whatever it takes, I swear. We’ll get the eggs to safety, together. But I won’t go anywhere without you.”
Zina gazed up at him, with his kiss-swollen lips, his eyes darkened with desire – but along with the fierce protectiveness she could also feel swelling in her own heart.
“Me neither,” she said, her voice sounding rough even to her own ears. “Wherever you go, I go. We’re in this together. Forever.”
It was as much as she could do to get the words out before crushing her lips against his once again, her need to be close to him overwhelming her completely.
It didn’t matter that all they had to sleep on was a blanket spread out on the bare ground. Right now, the only thing that mattered to Zina – and, she was pretty sure, to Trent as well – was showing him just how much the mated bond meant to her.
