“No more,” I assured him. “Except for–”
“Impossible woman,” he snarled and took my mouth again.
My everything melted into him, my body finally collapsing because I was safe. I would dedicate the rest of my life to making this man as happy as he made me.
“Only fun,” he said when he came up for air.
“And fucking. Just not today. That was more running than I’ve done in my entire life.”
“See? You’re already improving.”
“I'll greatly improve if you take me home. We can go home, right? The forest won’t die without you existing in it as a giant were-man-wolf?”
I could get used to being a Queen andputting my people first. I just needed to think about it like hosting a dinner party. Doing it right meant everyone had what they needed.
Declan ducked his head, his cheeks pink. “I don’t think anyone has gone Ajak for about two thousand years so I’m really not sure. We can come check on it tomorrow.”
My heart swelled because there would be plenty of tomorrows with Declan. I just had to get out of my own way.
Chapter 29
Declan
Fear was a tricky thing. Not even Fallon planting a real kiss on my lips after I told her how beautiful she looked in her ceremonial mate dress quelled all of it. But I packed it away to admire the thick leather belt that cinched her waist, highlighting the luscious curves of her ass. The straight drape of blue fabric from neck to ankle left her hips and thighs peeking out. My nerves didn’t stand a chance as we argued about underwear.
“It’s going to come off in five seconds anyway,” I said.
She crossed her arms, stretching the tight sleeves to the maximum. I got distracted hoping a thread would pop. “What if I have to bend over?”
I sighed when nothing ripped. “We’re going to a ceremony. Why would you have to bend over?”
“Have you met us? When we’re in a group, whatcouldn’tgo wrong?”
“You have a dragon, a witch, a Nightmare, and a sorcerer bear-shifter rolled into one. Nothing is going to go wrong.” I wanted to sound more confident about that than I felt. Honey wasn’t entirely wrong about our friends.
“It’s freezing outside.”
Giddiness for the next part threatened to burst my heart out of my chest. “That’s what this is for.”
The spelled, sheer collar of moth thread, embroidered with wisteria flowers picked out with gold, silver, and voidberry-dyed thread, covered her neck and shoulders like a gossamer shroud. She looked resplendent, everything and nothing like the Old Magic’s vision of her.
“Better?”
She eyed it like it would bite her. “I am warmer.”
It took some further convincing that this was not a joke, but a handmade heirloom passed down to members of the pack for generations. But our bickering had a gentle quality. The warm glow across the bond was everything I wanted since the moment I laid eyes on Honey.
“Where’s your keepsake?”
“I have this fancy cape pin.” An emerald the width of my hand sat in gold filigree to hold back the forest-green cape folded over one shoulder. Unspelled, I needed the fur trim and wool to keep warm. “It was my father’s.”
That fear was back, pouring into the dark cracks of myconfidence. Only held at bay by the concern filling her eyes.
“You don’t have to, Dec.”
I fiddled with my legacy. “I want a reminder of what we sacrifice and what we hold close.”
The heartbroken expression on her face conversely lightened mine. It meant she knew I took this seriously.
