“Something is controlling it?”
“The Thegn,” I growl, half under my breath. “It took my mortality.”
“So why is it here now? It has what it wanted.”
“My mortality isn’t the sole thing which makes me worth pursuing.” I dip my head. “You have already encountered another reason the Brag is wanted within the Yeavering.”
Hazel’s brow creases. “The…mating thing?” she queries.
“Brags have always been powerful beings. It’s the reason the Faerie drew us into the war in the Night Lands, telling us the Reivers wanted our mortality, lying to us about why we should fight.” I sigh, tamping down the memories of the Faerie lords and the poison they dripped into the ears of me and my fellows.
Memories which are still painful in their truth.
We should have never believed them.
“Our magic is ancient. It is drawn from the soil beneath our feet, and so much of it is inherent in what we are,” I say as Hazel studies me. “Our mating brings life in more ways than one.” I feel my groin heat. “Our presence causes calm or war, depending on what we want.” I shrug. “Our magic is shed, like the damn Bluecap sheds his scales. Everyone benefits. And were we anything other than warriors, we would be at the mercy of others.”
Hazel looks me up and down. “What does the Thegn want?”
“It wants you.”
She continues to stare at me, her arms by her sides, her hair shining in the weak sunlight, the colours so vivid all I want to do is groom her mouth with mine.
“But it can’t have you. Not now, not ever,” I growl.
“And what happens if it doesn’t get me?” she asks.
My growl deepens.
“The mate of a Brag is considered the most precious of possessions.”
“Because you can be controlled?”
“No, because they have captured a heart which is not supposed to be caged. It makes a Brag’s mare the most powerful in all of the Yeavering.”
“I’m not powerful,” Hazel says. “I was lost, and you found me. Any power I have comes from feeling like I belong with you, and not anything else.”
She touches the hilt of her sword, and I feel a wave of heat through my body, a connection with her, one I relish.
“You are the mate I don’t deserve,” I respond.
“Warden, after everything we’ve both been through, I think we deserve each other, and if the Yeavering or anyone wants to change that, it’s even more reason to stay together.”
This time, the warmth I feel pools around my heart, making me feel like we’ve just mated, like we’re there in the moment of bliss. I don’t know what it is, but I want it to last forever.
Because I feel like I belong.
To her.
HAZEL
The Night Lands might have been filled with creatures hell bent on destruction. It seems the Yeavering is filled with things that want to take and not give back.
I’m almost longing for the Underhill and being chased by Long Meg and her daughters again. At least they weren’t after my magic, or Warden’s. I think they merely wanted to kill and eat us.
Simple times.
Warden’s face has darkened. I’m not sure if it’s related to what I have said or what he is thinking. Maybe I was wrong when I said we should be together. Maybe he wants to go back to his Shadow Keep, send me to my tavern, and be done with what we have.
