"It's that simple?" she asked.
"There's nothing simple about it," he said.
Elise gave him a look. "So, what? The universe has put us together, and we're going to find each other in every lifetime? Or something like that?" Considering she was a witch, she sounded very doubtful about the concept of fate.
"I don't know if it's like that," he said. "But my wolf saw you. From that first moment, he wanted you, and he loved you even before I knew that I did. That's what it is, basically, between the wolf and the man, choosing our partner, our mate."
"For good?" she asked carefully.
He reached out and grabbed her hand. "I guess we'll see."
He had already made that decision. But she seemed a little bit freaked out right now, and he wasn't about to make any declarations that would send her running.
Though if she hadn't run yet, he doubted she would start anytime soon.
"I think I don't mind that," she finally said. "But there's one other thing I should have told you a while ago."
"What?" Were they keeping secrets now? What could it possibly be that she needed to tell him?
"Do you remember the tracking spell that the coven put on you?" He could feel the pulse of her magic in his chest.
"Yes, I remember the kidnapping," he said. "I remember being tied up in your basement."
Elise rolled her eyes. "I thought we were getting over that," she said. "You literally joked about that two days ago." She stuck her tongue out at him. "Well, Serena lifted the tracking spell,so if you want, I can take my magic back. It's not really doing anything inside of you, and it really is a risk to you if I were to?—"
"You're not going to hurt me," he interrupted. "I know that. Even if something happened between us, I know you would never use that against me."
"I mean, yeah," she said, "but it really is?—"
"I don't care," he said, and he was adamant now. "Is there anything harmful to the magic just sitting inside me? Is it doing anything to me?"
"No, it shouldn't be," she said. "It's just there."
"Do you need the power back?" he asked. "Am I leaching something from you?"
"No, it's just a little spark," she said.
"Well, then I don't want to give it back," he said. "It's mine now."
"Oh, it's yours now?"
"It is."
"Are you sure?"
"I like having a piece of you near my heart," he said. "My wolf chose you as my mate, and I like to think this is your magic choosing me."
She opened her mouth, and he thought she might have been trying to dismiss his admittedly sappy explanation. But then she closed her mouth and smiled and nodded.
"Okay," she said. "I kind of like the thought of that, too," she said. "But you tell me if you ever want me to remove it."
"I won't," he said.
And then he leaned in and kissed her.
Epilogue
Three monthslater
