Lyall chuckles. “I asked you to bite me where ulfhednar claim our lovers when we mate. That spot is… quite sensitive.”
“Is that what this is?” I run my thumb carefully over the scars of teeth marks. My chest hitches. “Are these marks…”
“Aye. They’re yours, love.”
My throat thickens as I run my fingers over the scars, a reminder of the love we shared that hasn’t faded.
“You have them too.”
That draws me out of my thoughts. “Huh?” I’d have noticed if I had teeth marks in my shoulder. “Where?” I check each shoulder even though I’ve seen them thousands of times by now.
Lyall runs his fingers over the spot between my neck and shoulders on my left side. “They should be here.” Sadness pulls at his brow. “I think the Council took those away as well.”
Of course they did. Motherfuckers.
“Oh…” I don’t know how it’s possible to grieve for something I can’t remember having. I hate that so much of my life with Lyall was taken from me.
“I could always give them back—if you want,” Lyall adds hastily. He looks away, uncertainty on his face. Does he think I’d say no? Even though it will hurt, I want it morethan anything. I want to be marked by him. I need it on a primal level I can’t comprehend.
“I want that,” I say, grabbing his hand and holding tight. “So much. I don’t even know why, or what it means. Not really.”
Lyall exhales softly, smiling. “Even now, there’s still a part of you that recalls our bond. They couldn’t take that from you, no matter how hard they tried. When ulfhednar exchange bites, it completes the mating bond. It means sharing in your joy and your struggles and being connected in our hearts and minds. It’s… a feeling like no other.” Lyall leans in to rest his forehead against mine. “I have missed that connection to you, Soren. So much.” The pain in his voice makes my eyes sting.
I take his face in my hands. “I’m here, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere. I want everything you just described, but not yet. Not until I know we’re both safe.”
Lyall touches his lips to mine. “I’ll wait for you as I always have, Soren. Time has taught me that you’re worth it.”
I pull him close and kiss him until I’m breathless, never wanting to stop.
Soon we won’t have to hide. We can start our lives somewhere new, and we’ll never be separated again.
Lyall called a friend of his before we fell asleep, Arlo, and Arlo confirmed that the TTA doesn’t have a headquarters in San Francisco. Which is perfect because my friend Tom owns a chain of restaurants, one of which is in San Francisco. I’ll ask if he can get me a job at his SF location. If he agrees, then I’ll start looking for apartments there.
It’ll be a big change, moving across the country. I’ll be so far away from Fergus and my friends. If someone had told me I’d be uprooting my whole life to be with a guy I’d only just met, I’d have laughed in their face.
But it feels right. Lyall is it for me, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with him.
All I have to do now is fight for us. It won’t be easy, but Lyall is worth it. I’m not the only one making sacrifices. Lyall will be leaving his world behind. He’ll have even more to adjust to than I will. It will be a difficult transition, but we’ll have each other.
Once I’m at work, I begin the first phase of my plan. Franklin and Tom arrive within the first hour of my shift, and while I prepare their drinks, I try to piece together what I’m going to say.
“You okay?” Tom asks when I set their drinks down.
I force a laugh. “I’m fine, just been thinking it’s time for a change.”
Franklin sips his cocktail. “Oooh. Interesting! You gonna grow a mustache? No, wait! You’re getting a tattoo!”
I snort. “No, and hell no.”
Tom chuckles and pats his partner on the back. “How about we let him tell us the big news? Besides, he’s obviously going to get a Prince Albert.”
I wince and cover my crotch. “God, no! I… I’m moving. Possibly. It depends.”
“No!” Franklin gasps dramatically and takes my hand. “Where? Why? With who?”
“I’m thinking San Francisco, and my boyfriend’s going with me.”
Tom shoots me a quizzical look. “The guy you just started dating?”
