Turning right again, she headed in the direction of the stream, not wanting to stray too far from the clearing. Moving at a quick trot so that she didn’t tire, she scanned her surroundings. Rodric would be on her heels in no time. She shivered, imagining how silent and powerful he must look stalking through the woods. Her certainty was fueled by the prowling intensity of emotion radiating through the bond. She’d succeeded in awakening not just the top-of-the-chain hunter but the Preddari.
A glimmer of purple caught her eye, and she stopped short.Is that… Leopard’s Bane!Darting over to the monstrous plant, she lifted the huge heart-shaped leaves tinged with purple edges that hung to the ground in a draping arc. Being friends with an earth mage was about to pay off. It was a Zamyran plant she’d seen a dozen times in Sam’s drawings, and his mother’s favorite. Althea had planted it at the estate for Sam when he was young, and they’d often found him hiding there when he was upset.
Grinning, she slipped underneath the plant into the cavernous space created by the arc. She’d be practically invisible from outside as she hid in the sheltered alcove.Thank you, Sam.
Deep growling filled her mind, making her freeze with alarm. Was that…Rodric?The sound simmered to a steady rumble. Had he felt her thoughts specifically enough to identify that she had been thinking about Sam? The growl intensified briefly with menace, stunning Celina. Rodric didn’t have the type of magic to communicate that way, but… there were legends about soul-bonds deepening to that level of intimacy over time.
Rodric was in a hunting mindset, and his magic was obviously translating that primal emotion to her in the form of a leopard hunting his mate. Working on instinct, she brought his image to the forefront of her mind and purred, feeling a little silly—until he froze. His attention literally shifting direction as he turned toward her. The growl stuttered to a rumble and then transformed into a focused, heavy purr.
Celina startled, a sharp zing racing through her when the branch in front of her lifted.
Green eyes glowing brighter than she’d ever seen them sparked with gold, as if the magic inside him was lighting up his eyes from the inside. The stunning sight made her breath catch and her heart stutter. Stars, he was a beautiful, powerful, man. And he was hers.
The colors in his eyes deepened, the purr in her mind on the verge of becoming truly vocal. Latching on to her arms, he pulled her out from under the brush and lifted her off the ground, swinging her up in a fluid motion so that she wrapped her legs around his waist and clutched at his shoulders to keep her balance.
One arm underneath her, supporting her weight, he held her to his chest and growled in her ear, “Mine.My mate.Not his.” Biting her neck with a gentleness that made her tremble, he squeezed her tightly. Their bond overflowed with possessive, protective intensity, flooding her senses with the true essence of the hunter. He would track her, fight for her, love her, until his dying breath. The bite turned to hot open kisses, covering her neck and jaw in blistering heat.
Overwhelmed, her breath died in her throat, and she fought to get her promise past dry lips. “Yes. Yours, Rodric. Only yours.”
Finally taking her mouth, he kissed her fiercely, amping the intensity to a level they’d not had before. Drowning in the taste of him, she pulled herself closer, meeting him kiss for ravaging kiss.
Too distracted to send certain thoughts to him, she opened her soul and let her essence flow around his, twining their bond into an even tighter braid.Always yours.The hunter’s satisfied rumble entered her mind again, wrapping her in the unique sound of his soul.
Within seconds, he’d shed enough clothing to bring them skin to skin. Laying her on a boulder, he joined them together with an intensity that both thrilled and terrified her. There was little gentleness in the hunter, and she truly loved this part of him. Challenging him to be his true self had given her a gift as well—she got to be not the healer nor the leader, but the leopardess. His powerful, beloved mate. It was special, and theirs alone, bound by magic. Freeing both their souls from the constraints of the world for a primal, blissful joining.
By law of the wilds, you’re mine. I caught you. I’m keeping you. Promise me, Celina.
I will be your mate. I will love you, for eternity, Rodric.
Their souls twined in an intimate dance, weaving them together on a spiritual plane as Rodric made love to her in the physical one. Trembling with exhaustion from his passionate embrace, she stroked his skin, loving the way he shuddered.
Smiling, she pressed a final kiss on his chest, basking in the powerful beat of his heart. He’d used his magic to find her.
Chapter 25
Mountainview, Realm of Eldridge
Thebusyhumofthe town set off a low, constant irritation in Rodric’s nerves. As a border town, it had a number of unusual shops catering to the tastes and inclinations of travelers from nearby Zamyra. Though nothing like the overcrowded coastal cities surrounding Eldridge’s capital, there was plenty of noise and commotion. With his tension curled into a tight fist edged with fury, even the minor irritant added to his stress.
Moving purposely but slowly enough not to garner attention, they made their way to the central court where numerous market stalls were set up. Thanks to Cass and Sev’s foresight, they had plenty of travel gear they’d kept from the mercenary group. Mainly, they were in need of food, clothing, and blankets.
“Remember, take your time. No one has any reason to be interested in you. Don’t give them a reason,” Cass reminded them before she and Sev separated to handle their assigned tasks.
The warrior had briefed them on the ride about hiding in plain sight, going over the basics of stealth operations. At its core, it wasn’t unlike the training he gave the newest of his hunters. Become part of the forest. Being out of sync causes you to get noticed. He made them practice for weeks until they could move through the forest without disturbing the wildlife. Only then were they granted weapons and allowed to hunt in his territory as apprentices. After a few years of proving their skills and their respect for the game and the forests, they were given the actual title of an Eldrin hunter and upheld to the accompanying standards. It seemed blending into a group of people was the same basic concept, just with a different focus.
Putting an arm around Celina, he pulled her close for a moment, pausing his beating heart and rattled nerves long enough to breathe her in. The warm, bright scent was like sunshine, filling him with a calm warmth the actual air lacked. The day had dawned sunless, with gray clouds and drizzling rain plaguing their journey to town.
Kissing her Eldrin-styled braids, he loosened his hold enough for them to continue walking. The sooner they gathered the supplies they needed, the sooner they could leave. He’d feel better watching the fortress for the remainder of the long day of waiting ahead.
Rodric paused as they passed a smith shop on the way to find clothing and blankets, feeling the need to arm himself as he mentally prepared for the coming battle. Tilting his head toward the shop, he placed his hand on the small of Celina’s back and ushered her inside.
Heat blasted them as they entered, a sickening change from cold outside. Various weapons were organized by size and purpose in a large, shelved area on the side and back walls, out of the way of the working equipment in the center and rear of the room. Guilt and grief pained him as he looked around. It was as nice a shop as the one his cousin ran on their estate.
An older man worked the forge, hands occupied by a piece of metal being shaped into a sword. Glancing up, the man made a brief assessment of them with stern eyes before turning back to his work. “Purchase or commission?”
“Purchase, if the quality is high enough,” Rodric said.
“Take a look around. Be with you in a bit.”
