When the moment passes, I look over at Sadie. She looks shocked, her face pale and her eyes wide.
“What does it mean?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I’m not sure. I’ll need to think about it.”
As she packs up the items, I ponder the prophecy.
The only thing it can possibly mean is the sickness in the pack—that it’s going to be solved by our marriage!
Relief floods through me, so powerful that goosebumps rush across my skin. The tension in my muscles eases, and I feel better than I have in days.
“Sadie,” I say, reaching out to take her hand.
“Yes?” she asks, looking over at me.
“Thank you,” I say, squeezing her hand gently. “Really, thank you so much for this.”
She smiles, and I feel like the lightness in me has spread to her, and suddenly we’re on the same wavelength.
“Okay,” she says.
I can tell she has more to say, but I don’t want to hear it—all I want is to immerse myself in this feeling, and ride the wave into that beautiful light the prophecy promised me.
I lean forward, running my hands up Sadie’s arms to pull her closer, and kiss her.
Chapter 18 - Sadie
The moment Rhys’s lips touch mine, I feel the response from deep inside my body, beyond just desire, something connected to my soul. My head wants to pull back and think about everything that just happened, but my heart won’t let me.
I used magic just now—real magic—and he doesn’t even know.
Rhys was so concerned about the use of magic, I know he won’t take it well if I admit it now, even though the whole point of this exercise was to finally tell him and see if we really are on the same team.
I didn’t expect it to work, and what does that message even mean?
Rhys’s hands tighten on my upper arms, and he kisses me even harder. A low moan rises in my throat, and I know I can’t fight this anymore.
Reaching for him, I shuffle forward on my knees, knocking the chest out of the way. I’d set things up the day before, when I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to go through with it.
I wanted to see how he’d react to magic happening right in front of him and create an opening for us to talk about it together. Now I’m even more confused than before.
Rhys wraps his arms around me and leans back, forcing us off balance so he slips backwards, and I fall on top of him. He locks his arms around my waist and squeezes me tight, making me laugh.
“Got you now,” he whispers.
“Any tighter, and I’ll pop a rib,” I giggle.
“I don’t know,” he jokes, sliding his hands down to grab my ass. “I think I should keep a firm grip.”
He gives my cheeks a hard squeeze, making me yelp. Rhys laughs softly, running his hands back up my spine, trailing with his fingertips to tease my skin through the thin fabric of my dress.
“You feel so good,” he whispers.
I look into his eyes, and in the dying light, they look like dark amber crystals. There’s a soft glow somewhere deep within, like embers slowly coming to life in a cold fire. His expression is so intense, I have to look away, and I lower my lips to his, taking solace in the heat of his kiss.
Rhys’s hand cups the back of my head while his other arm curls around my waist. I squirm on top of him, heat rushing through me. I pull back to take a breath, and I feel a moment of hesitation as if he’s about to speak.
No. Please don’t.
