Skylar Cathal
Daxton.
Exhaling a shuddering breath, I surveyed him, finding the face of the being I cherished most in this world, the soul I would always find in this life and the next.
Shifting into my human form, flames continued to dance around my naked flesh as my gaze locked onto a silver storm. Every nerve in my body and breath in my lungs ignited like the fire at my command as Daxton approached me in the clearing. He didn’t spare anyone else a glance. He didn’t look at his fallen comrades or slain enemies. He only saw me.
The world outside Daxton faded as I felt the mate bond click into place.
The threads that bound us glowed brighter than any flame, burning star, or sun in the sky. It was beautiful, illuminating any tinge of lingering darkness that dared separate us.
The overwhelming sensations soaring through our bond caused my heart to ache. Daxton’s emotions ranged from hatred to sorrow, love to loss. But at thecenter of it was a profound feeling of hope that never dimmed or faltered. The unrelenting belief that our bond would lead me home—to him.
That we wouldalwaysfind each other.
My chest heaved as I stared at my mate, unable to move from where I stood as tears rolled down my cheeks. There was so much I wanted to say to him, needed to tell him, but I couldn’t summon the courage to speak.
Any verbal declaration of love would fall short of what we felt, of what we shared together.
“Skylar?” Daxton murmured with heavy emotion.
“Daxton,” I sobbed, overcome by the depth of devotion I held for this male.
Daxton’s chest shuddered as he allowed himself to finally breathe. Tears formed in his eyes as he swallowed a heavy breath, bending to take a knee before me. Silently, he held out Valencia, bowing his head as he laid his majestic weapon at my feet.
“I bow before you, my queen,” Daxton said. “I pledge my blade, my magic, and my life to you—and only you.”
“I accept, on one condition,” I answered, my phoenix’s magic igniting our surroundings in a blaze of flames in agreement. “Only ifyouare myking.”
Daxton lifted his gaze and stood to meet me in a rush. I fisted his hair and dragged his mouth to mine. The taste of him swallowed me in ecstasy, his tongue parting the way for us to consume each other, stealing this moment for ourselves. Our kiss deepened as his handsparted the flames covering my body, bending to his touch and his touch only.
“Take me away,” I moaned against his lips. “Take us somewhere we can escape, where I can finally claim you.”
“As you command, my queen,” Daxton replied, bending to sweep me into his arms and teleport us away in a flash of silver.
Chapter Seventy-Five
Skylar Cathal
We reappeared in the hanging valley, the final petals of the moondance flower closing as the cresting sun along the eastern mountain peaks painted the meadow in a golden hue.
“Dax, I need to tell you—”
“No,” he said sharply, carrying me toward a bed of soft grass near the trickling creek. “Don’t. Not yet, I need—”
Heavy emotion rang through the bond as a whirlwind of intense feelings hammered into my heart, melting me against him. Daxton’s grip on me tightened as he came to a stop, falling to the grass and tucking me between his legs. I reached out a hand to cup his bearded chin, longing to meet his gaze.
“Dax,” I whispered, kissing his cheek as my tears trickled onto his face.
Daxton turned to kiss my brow, his hold on me refusing to give way as I looped my arms around his neck. I opened myself to our bond, vanquishing any remaining walls that dared to separate us, creating a safe place for us to retreat together.
“I-I’m so sorry.” I sobbed as Daxton’s grief drowned me in an endless sea of sorrow. His pain from watching me die was unfathomable, and I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.
He was so gods-damned strong.
“I heard you,” I rasped. “When I was at the crossing, I felt you calling me home.” I pulled back to meet his gaze, the gray eyes I remembered now a brilliant silver rivaling the stars. “You saved me.”
“You saved us all,” Daxton answered, pressing his brow to mine as a wave of emotion crashed over us.
