A rough hand yanked on my shoulder, making me lie flat on my back. A scowling Wyn leaned over me, his braid falling over his shoulder, nearly smacking me in the face.
He grabbed my chin in a painful grip. “You will eat,” he said, snarling.
“No.”
“So help me, Monqilcolnen, I will force food down your throat.”
I growled back, but Wyn did not release me or even loosen his grip.
“You will listen to me, Star. You can grieve for as long as you need. What happened was unfair and it is painful. I understand it has only been a few days, but you are pulling away from me. I can feel it; I can see it; I cannot allow it. You will not wither. Do you understand me?”
I tried to shake my head, but his grasp did not allow it.
“There is no other answer but yes,” he snapped. “Do you understand me, Monqilcolnen?”
Even as much as I loved Wyn, he couldn’t stem the tide of sadness and grief in me. It had burrowed into the marrow of my bones, and I feared it would be the death of me. One day it would take me from him; I was thankful that it wouldn’t be the end of his life too.
Wyn pressed his lips to mine in a fierce kiss. When he pulled back, his eyes were glassy with emotion. “You are mine.”
Was I?
His mouth claimed me again. “You belong to me, and I will not surrender you to anyone or anything. Not to another person. Not to your cousins. Not to your parents. Not to your grief. Not to death. Not to anything. You are mine and mine alone. Do you understand?”
My breath came in short bursts. Was he saying what I thought he was saying?
Wyn slipped something cold onto my arm, but I was unwilling to look away from the burning in his light blue eyes. He nipped at my bottom lip hard enough to draw blood, and I grunted from the sharp sting. He lapped at the blood, adding a richness to his claiming kiss.
I groaned. Never had blood been a desire for me, but tasting my own on Wyn’s tongue was more erotic than I’d ever thought possible. I moaned, twining my tongue with his and relinquishing all control to him. Wyn fucked into my mouth, claiming, controlling, and taking what he wanted; I gave it all to him and more. He could have everything. My life, my breath, my very soul—all of it was his. I would keep nothing from him.
Against my lips, Wyn said, “You are my mate, Star, and I refuse to live without you.”
Something joyous and fiery ignited in my chest and sent tears coursing down my cheeks. I had never thought this was possible.I had hoped for this moment once I had started to get to know Wyn better, but I had never truly thought I would receive his care or become his mate. It seemed too unfathomable.
“You are mine,” I sobbed, unable to stop the tears. “You are my mate as well.”
Wyn finally loosened his harsh grip on my chin to hold my cheek, brushing the pad of his thumb over my scales. “You are not just saying that to appease me, right?”
“No, Peace. You are mine. I have known for some time.”
He smiled and continued to stroke me so softly. “I won’t let you go, so I need you to fight for me, for us. We are worth living for, Monqilcolnen. Our future is worth living for.”
Chapter 60
I am not alone.
I lay on top of Wyn, bathing the wound where his soul scales used to be. I was still furious he’d removed them—it was dangerous—and yet it touched me so. I dragged my tongue over the mottled skin that had been sealed, and Wyn shivered. I didn’t know where his soul scales were—something I would find out later—but I wanted them. Until they were on me, I would continue to clean Wyn’s injury.
Our skin was incredibly sensitive because it wasn’t meant to be without scales. Having it touched was one of the most intense sensations. But it was incredibly delicate. The hazards of extreme weather or the skin drying out were always present.
I would have to watch over Wyn. He had given me his soul scales, telling me that he was mine, and it was my duty to be the shield he now needed. I would do everything in my life to make sure he was safe.
Wyn buried his fingers in my hair as I flattened my tongue and dragged it over his injury once again. He released a long breath and pulled me close. “I love you.”
My soul pounded. I pressed my forehead into his soft skin and said, “I love you so much it frightens me.”
“While I don’t like scaring you, I do adore you care about me as much as I care about you.”
I looked up at my mate. “So do I, Mate.”
