And then she thought about Ralvar's hands, gentle on her wounds. His voice in the darkness, asking what she wanted. His body beneath hers, trembling with pleasure she'd given him.
"Yes." The word came out steady. Certain.
His eyes widened. "You don't—you don't need to thinkabout it? Don't need time to—"
"No." She leaned down, pressing her forehead to his. "I don't need time. I don't need to wait. I don't need to 'establish my independence' or 'find myself' or whatever else you're about to suggest."
"But—"
She caught his face in both hands, making him look at her.
"I'm choosing you from freedom, not fear. Don't you understand that? Asking me to wait would undermine everything. That would tell me you don't trust my choice. That would say I'm not capable of knowing my own heart."
Tears were streaming down her face now, but she didn't care.
"I know my heart, Ralvar. My heart saysyou. My heart saysyes. My heart saysnow, not later." She leaned in, pressing her lips to his. "My heart saystomorrow."
"Tomorrow." His hand stroked down her back, slow and reverent. "I'll speak to the elder at first light. The ceremony itself is simple—declarations made before witnesses, tokens exchanged. It can be done by midday."
"And then?"
"And then you'll be mine." His voice dropped lower, rough with promise. "Officially. Permanently. In the eyes of the clan and the mountain itself."
"And you'll be mine."
"I've been yours since the hollow." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, gentle and fierce all at once. "I just didn't know how to say it yet."
They lay in silence for a moment, his palm moving in slow circles against her spine.
"You'll need a token," he said quietly. "Something to exchange. It can be anything. Something that matters to you."
"I have something in mind."
"Are you sure? I can help you find—"
"I'm sure." She pressed a kiss to his chest. "Trust me."
He was quiet for a moment, then pulled her closer. "Always."
She settled against his chest, exhaustion and emotion pulling at her. But beneath it all was something bright and certain, a warmth that had nothing to do with his body heat.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow she would stand before the clan and declare herself his. Would hear him declare himself hers. Would take another step into this new life, this impossible life she'd stumbled into while running from everything she'd ever known.
She fell asleep in his arms, and for the first time since she could remember, she dreamed of nothing but warmth.
Chapter 27
The courtyard was full when Delia emerged the next afternoon.
She'd expected witnesses, but she hadn't expectedthis.
Warriors lined the walls, their war-marks vivid in the midday sun. Support staff filled the spaces between them—smiths still dusty from their forges, cooks wiping their hands on aprons, stable hands who smelled of horses. Brenneth stood near the front, and Thessaly was beside him. Even the children had gathered, small green-skinned figures peering around their parents' legs with wide curious eyes.
And at the center of it all, the elder.
The ancient orc who had granted her sanctuary sat in a carved chair that looked like it had grown from the stone of the courtyard itself. His yellowed tusks caught the light as he turned to watch her approach. His staff rested across his knees.
