She gasps as the slight chill of the water touches her skin, but then relaxes against me. Her arms slide around my neck, clinging to me as she presses her face into my shoulder, her breath warm against my throat.
“It’s alright,” I murmur, and I’m not sure if I’m speaking to her, or to the part of myself that is still caught in that moment of nearly losing her. “I have you, Vivienne.”
Carefully, I lift one hand and drag my fingers through her hair, rinsing away the grime and blood, watching as the river carries it from her in slow, drifting ribbons.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
My hold on her tightens without thought, pulling her closer to my chest as I press my nose briefly into her damp hair, grounding myself in the delicate scent of my mate. “Always.”
When I saw her in the monster’s grasp, strangling tendrils of fear coiled tight around my spine. They are rooted there still. I almost lost she who is more precious to me than anything in this world.
We are two days away from my kingdom. Once we reach it, we’ll meet back up with my guards and travel from there to the capital—Elyrith.
I’d wanted to travel alone with her for a bit longer, to win her heart before she learned who I am, but her safety is more important. We need to reach my guards as quickly as possible.
I nearly lost her tonight.Never again.I will not risk her for anything.
CHAPTER 29
VIVIENNE
After we bathe in the river, Auren carries me back to our tent and wraps me in his thick cloak to keep me warm.
Vaelen walks over to us. “Stand guard tonight, my friend,” Auren says, stroking his fur.
The wolf chuffs in response and exits the tent, settling on the ground just outside the entrance.
Auren turns to me and gently tucks a stray tendril of hair behind my ear. “Would you like me to help you ready for bed?”
“Yes,” I reply because, for once, Iwanthim to take care of me.
The memory of the hag is burned into my mind. Even knowing she’s dead, I can’t stop thinking about what could have happened. She would have killed me if not for him.
Carefully, he removes my shoes and then gestures to my tunic. “May I?”
I nod.
His fingers are gentle as he loosens the ties, his knuckles brushing against my back as he eases the fabric down to revealmy shift. His touch is careful and measured, as if unwrapping something fragile.
Once I’m settled, he unfastens his tunic. His back is to me, muscles flexing as he pulls it over his head, the glow of the fire casting golden shadows over the thick planes of muscle along his back.
Turned away from me, I study his lean muscular form. Broad shoulders taper into a narrow waist. Moonlight illuminates his smooth, gray-blue skin and the sharp, black claws tipping each finger, reminding me he is far from human.
And yet… I want him. I’ve always found him handsome, even from the start. At first, I resented marrying him, and I was resolved to resist the pull I felt. When he gave me an out—thirty days to make a decision about our marriage—I tried to harden myself to him.
But with his kindness and patience, he’s managed to break down every wall I’ve put up. I tried to distance myself, not wanting to fall, but as I look at him, I recognize an inescapable truth: I have already fallen. He has completely captured my heart.
He is a Dark Elf warrior. And when he came to my rescue, his eyes were blazing with fury, blue fire curling down his blade, as the storm of his magic arced through the air like lightning.
I’ve never seen anything as powerful, terrifying, or beautiful as him. But even in that moment, as I witnessed his raw, untamed power in all its destructive force, I wasn’t afraid. I could never fear him.
Auren would never hurt me. He makes me feel safe and cherished in a way that I’ve never felt before.
He turns back, and kneels before me, cupping my chin. “Are you alright?”
I nod even though I’m not.
“I’ll make you some tea,” he murmurs. “It’ll help you sleep."
