I lifted higher on my toes to kiss him, and the whole room cheered.
The dancing hadn’t even started properly when Savla swept me off my feet.
Literally.
One second, I was still reeling from the surge of magick and in the next, a warm, solid arm slid under my knees and another wrapped around my back, lifting me against his chest as if I weighed nothing. I squeaked—an embarrassingly high sound.Savla’s mouth twitched in a rare, boyish smile.
“You’re shaking,” he murmured against my hair.
“I’m not—” I started, but I had to stop.
Because I wasabsolutelyshaking. My fingers curled into the collar of his shirt on instinct.The bond pulsed, warm and dizzying, rushing heat through my ribs. Being this close was suddenly too much and not enough all at once. Every breath I took felt like it belonged partly to him. He held on to me tighter.
And behind us, the clanerupted.
“Oh, look at him!” Enka crowed. “He’s gone feral. He’s never putting her down again!”
“Carrying her straight to his bed!” Zara shouted. “Full romance mode!”
Krusk rumbled, “Don’t listen to them. Take her to your room, lock the door and please say it’s soundproofed.”
“Krusk!” I shrieked, burying my face in Savla’s shoulder.
Dristan cupped his hands around his mouth.“That’s my brother! Show her the—”
“No!” Penelope’s voice rang from the hallway. “No finishing that sentence!”
Becca yelled back, “Let him finish! Forscience!”
Savla groaned softly into my hair. “They’re never going to stop.”
“No,” I whispered, mortified. “They really aren’t.”
Ribbon—sweet, enormous andcompletelylacking boundaries—hopped after us, croaking triumphantly like he personally facilitated our union.
Savla adjusted his hold on me and whispered, “Tell me if you want me to put you down.”
I curled my fingers into his shirt. “No. Don’t.”
His breath hitched but he kept walking.The coven parted around us, smiling and murmuring blessings. The lights flickered warm and soft overhead. The laughter and drums faded behind as he carried me down the quiet corridor to the elevator.
My magick flared green against his skin as my fingersbrushed his. It recognized him as mine now.
The bond hummed—pure, undeniable connection. Every inhale of his chest brushed mine and every beat of his heart pulsed through my ribs.
It wasintoxicating.When the elevator doors closed, silence wrapped around us. Savla’s forehead lowered to mine, his breath trembling.
“Hanna,” he murmured, voice rough, “I can feel everything you’re feeling.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “I know.”
“You’re… overwhelmed.”
I swallowed. “Are you?”
He didn’t answer with words. Instead, his grip tightened—the careful, reverent kind of tight—as if he wanted me closer but was too controlled to take more than I offered.
My mate’s always so controlled. Right up until it snaps.
