Solveig clung to the last scrap of common sense she had. “There is more to this than you know.”
His head flopped against the mattress, hand dragging down his face. “Seems like the story of my life lately,” he muttered.
“Yes, mine as well.”
“So tell me,” he ordered, and she balked at his tone.
“Of course,Your Highness,” she hissed.
His smile was wicked. “I no longer hate it when you call me that, General,” he teased, lifting himself up on his elbows.
She threw a pillow at him and sat on the edge of the bed. When he moved to sit closer to her, it was a surprise that her body relaxed into him without hesitation. The ease with which they moved together, communicated, it was all new, and yet it was already second nature.
Mates. She was still in shock at the revelation. Still in shock she had been so blind.
He hooked an arm around her waist, and she allowed him to drag them across the bed so they were propped up against the headboard. Like he needed more contact, he entwined their hands and placed a soft kiss on her shoulder.
“Whatever it is, Solveig, whatever you face, you are not alone. I am with you.”
Solveig took a deep breath and explained as best she could. When she got to the part about his parents and their knowledge of his mate’s whereabouts, he leapt out of bed, intent on exacting justice on their behalf.
She silenced his rage with her mouth, gripping his still-bare shoulders and pulling him down. He immediately fell into her, lifting her up so he didn’t have to bend. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he devoured her mouth, his hands unable to find purchase as they moved across her body.
The back of his knees hit the bed and they tumbled down together, her robe coming open again. He kissed down her body, lingering at her breasts as he took one peaked tip into his mouth and then the other.
Solveig groaned and used all her remaining willpower to shove him off. She left the bed so she wouldn’t do anything she’d regret. He growled low and lunged, tackling her into the mattress, only stopping when her dagger found his throat.
“Do it,” he teased, leaning down to kiss her, a drop of blood trickling down her hand. Resisting the urge to lick it off was more difficult than she expected. She’d never craved blood before—even with her Fae lovers, she’d never had the urge. Then again, she’d never had a mate before.
The dagger fell to the side, and he wrapped himself around her. “You’re making it very difficult for me to respect your wishes,” he mumbled into her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
Her head was foggy with the mating bond insisting they complete the coupling. But she couldn’t.
“Westley,” she urged. His head dropped to the crook of her neck as he groaned.
“You’ll be the death of me,” he muttered into her skin.
She laughed. “I keep telling you that.”
His green eyes came up to meet hers, devouring her, staring so hard she almost broke her resolve.
“What else?” he gritted out, flopping onto his back and bringing her into his side. She draped her leg over his waist like it was the most natural thing in the world as he pulled her in tighter.
Like the dam had finally broken between them, conversation flowed as naturally as a river from the sea. She continued to tell him of Koa’s visions and the realms’ involvement in the scheme to bring them together, until she came upon the last prophecy—the one she had feared her entire life.
“Before you’re dead set on mating with me, you have to know something,” she said cautiously.
“Too late,” he whispered, placing a kiss on her head. His fingers traced patterns on her skin, disrupting her thoughts. She smiled into his bare chest, letting her magic intertwine with his.
Safe. Home. Fear.
“There’s a prophecy. One that foretells of my mate, and how formidable he would be.”
Westley puffed out his chest proudly, and Solveig gently sank her teeth into the sensitive skin at his side.
“Ow.” Lightly squeezing her, he chuckled. Goddess, that sound.
“What else did it say?” he asked. And because he was already so attuned to her, he added, “Can you tell me the whole thing?”
