At the same time, my mate cried, “Rage!”
Her voice shook me to my core.
I moved so fast that I had no memory of even shifting my weight. One moment, I was in bed, and then next, I stood before her, scanning her for injuries, rope burns, any signs of torture.
And, Mother Mage … she had plenty.
Her beautiful face was marred with dirt and scratches that were not quite healed, and her eyes were puffy like she’d been crying—a lot. There were blood and soot under her nails, and her shirt was torn.
“What … who hurt you?” I gathered her into my arms and pressed her to my chest, relieved when she melted into me without protest. “Was this your grandfather’s doing?” I growled with the thought as I rubbed one hand up and down her back, pressing her body into mine. “If so, I’ll kill him.”
She pulled away just enough to rise up on her toes and kiss my neck. The feel of her body pressing into mine caused me to loosen my hold, and then she took my face in her hands.
“Oh, Rage,” she whispered, her voice breaking. Her expression crumpled, and fresh tears glimmered in her eyes. “He’s … dying.” Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she buried her face in my chest.
I held her, letting her grief pour out in racking sobs and disjointed sentences, trying to understand what she meant. After a hard shudder, she sucked in a deep breath, sniffed, and then pulled herself together, at least enough to speak.
“It’s bad,” she said, wiping the moisture from her face. “I went to help grandpa at your coronation. He told me he needed to formally declare me as his heir before he died. I thought I’d sneak right back after we signed the heir declaration, but then I got thrust into an initiation obstacle course to prove myself worthy.” She blinked, offering me a watery smile. “I thought we’d be able to still speak through the bond. I’msosorry, Rage. I’m sofreakingsorry.” Her voice broke.
Her grandfather was dying? At least, her aunt was right about that. But she left … willingly.
“Heir declaration? Obstacle course?” What the hell was she talking about?
She exhaled, long and slow, then shook her head. Her gaze dropped, and she brushed her fingers over my lips. “I-I don’t want to talk about that place right now. Can we put that all on hold, please?” She took another breath. “I really want to talk about …us.”
As she spoke that last word, her fingers trailed down my neck and then my chest, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.
I forced a swallow and dug my fingers into her hips, my entire body trembling. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I couldn’t keep my shit together. “I … I thought you werekidnapped, Nai. You … you left me. On my coronation day.” I swallowed hard again. “You did thatwillingly?”
I needed something more than an apology—I needed some way to make sense of…
“Thathurt.”
A tear slid down her cheek.
It was like a dam had burst, and I couldn’t stop. “Why did it have to be right then? Why couldn’t you tell me? Why … you left without even a thought,” I growled.
Fresh tears trickled down her face, and she nodded. “I-I was scared you wouldn’t let me go,” she whispered. “My grandfather said we had a limited amount of time to record my name in the books—and I had to be there for it. He said if I don’t inherit his spirit magic, the one that lets him raise the dead, like Honor, it will go to Kian and the other high mage councilmen.”
The breath whooshed out of me as I thought of creepy-ass Kian having more power. “Yeah, we can’t let that happen…”
That would be worse than Declan 2.0. Way worse.
She sighed and ran her hand through her silky hair; black soot fell all around her. “I came back as soon as I could. I’ve barely slept since I left.” She punctuated her statement with a yawn. “Not that it looks like you’ve slept much, either.” She stared into my eyes, and more tears oozed from the corners of her eyes. “I was so worried you’d think I just left you.”
I reached up and brushed away her tears with the pad of my thumbs. “Dammit, woman.” I rested my forehead to hers and whispered the bitter truth. “You nearly broke me.”
Nai lifted her chin. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice breathy. “I love you, Rage. I love you so much.”
My lips parted as the air in the room charged with energy. Need coursed through me as my heart thundered wildly against my ribs.
“Nai.” I spoke her name—both a plea and a blessing—and I let my fingers dance over her satin skin, down her neck until my palm rested against her chest. Her heart thumped against my hand, and her breath quickened. Leaning forward, she sucked my bottom lip into her mouth, and I groaned, every single muscle in my body clenching with need.
“Rage…” she panted against my lips.
I walked her backward, closing the door as I boxed her in. Pressing my body to hers, I trailed kisses down her skin and then slowly dragged the tip of my tongue up her neck. She arched to give me better access as I scented her, and I slipped my hand under her shirt to caress her breast. “I love you, Nai,” I growled with a squeeze, and then I nipped at the sensitive spot just below her ear. “You are mine,mate.”
She moaned, melting into me as she raked her fingers down my back. “Yes,” she breathed and then slid her tongue into my mouth.
