Chapter
Sixteen
ROWAN
Ilay tangled in Evie, her hair spread out like a fan over my chest. Words could not describe what I felt right now. Everything about the last few hours had been perfect. We’d have to come out and face everything that had happened eventually, but for now, I was content to stay here with her, with my mate.
Both fae and shifter. The two bonds had tangled together sometime during our first mating. Our next two encounters solidified the bond into a completely fused thing of light and magic.
All my life I’d never dreamed I’d be so lucky. Never had I thought I’d end up with such a ferociously independent, beautiful, powerful woman lying beside me, completely sated and knowing her, ready to go again the second she opened her eyes.
I couldn’t help the grin spreading over my face. The last few days had been a whirlwind. I regretted none of it, not the stress, not the worry, not Cernunnos’ obvious attempts to manipulate Evie, though I planned to speak to him later about that. I couldn’t regret anything because it had led me to this moment with Evie curled against me.
Stars glittered above us, casting Evie’s bare body in silver moonlight. The silent evening was shattered by the sound of hundreds of wolves howling. Evie’s eyes flew open. She took a second to get her bearings.
I dropped a kiss on her nose. “Hi.”
Her eyes glowed a bright silvery azure blue. “Hi.”
All the screaming had made her voice a little hoarse. The bear in me preened at that.
She snorted. “I recall you were a little noisy too.”
“Mmm. Yes. I’d like to do that again and again and again.”
Her cheeks went pink making me laugh. “Do you think everyone heard?”
“I try not to lie to my mate,” I said primly.
“Gods.” Evie buried her face in my chest.
“They would have felt the binding. Every one of my shifters is bonded to me. Now they are bonded to you as well. I’m not sure if they felt the fae bond, though I wouldn’t be surprised, but they definitely knew when the shifter bond was finalized.”
“That’s what it is,” Evie murmured, rubbing the spot on her chest. “I feel you most of all, but there are threads—many, many threads. Those are your people.”
“Yes. You will know when someone is hurt and needs their Lady.”
Evie blinked. “Oh shit. I forgot about that.”
I laughed. “You were too busy ogling my perfect form.”
Evie smacked me on the chest. “The fae bond is powerfully sexual. We’re going to be tired if that one doesn’t calm down.”
“You underestimate my prowess and how much self-control it took not to take you against every flat surface we passed by over these last couple of months.”
Evie snorted, but as she stared into my eyes, her face sobered. “I never asked you if you wanted children.”
I picked up her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “Bears are not especially fertile. Our kind tends to have few children, one to two usually. Some of us are more fortunate. I once knew a mated couple with four cubs.” The chaotic memory made me smile. “They went through three couches a year and couldn’t keep a kitchen table because of all the wrestling.”
Evie chuckled.
“They were so blessed.” I let out a heavy exhale. “I love children. I’m in no hurry to have them, but if we were blessed with a cub, I would be the happiest man in the world.” I tugged her closer. “If it’s possible for me to be happier than I am now.”
Evie cupped my cheek. “You are the king of the fae. Are you okay with the title?”
“Too late to do shit about it.”
Evie groaned.
