“Get up,” Konstam says, “before you accidentally make babies.”
“Hold onto that thought,” I growl, and I see her eyes widen. “Right, Princess?”
Having a family with her would be the culmination of every dream, but we haven’t talked about our future, and I don’t want her to feel any pressure.
She smiles, though, all flushed and pretty, and says softly, “Right.”
Which makes me think she doesn’t mind the thought.
Which means she really likes me.
Fuck…
“Valen…” She lifts a hand to my face, under my eyes. “Are you crying?”
“Me? Never. What an idea.” I chuckle, then wince. “Don’t tell the others, I beg you. Their teasing will know no bounds.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Wrong? Nothing. On the contrary, everything’s perfect. You’re perfect. And I’m yours to do whatever you want with, Princess.”
“And I am yours,” she breathes, slaying me all over again. “I’ve been yours since the beginning, but I hadn’t realized. You won me over.”
I smirk. “With my manly strength?”
Her grin is wide. “With beingyou. Now, let me up before your friends have a coronary. They seem very concerned that we might start having sex. I thought wolves were relaxed?”
“We are relaxed,” Darian says, “but your bastard lord of the manor may not be.”
“Point taken,” I say. Sitting back on my heels, I pull her up with me so we’re both standing, our arms around each other. “Time to go.”
“And the plan is?”
“We three will shift, and you will ride me,” I tell her. “Just hold on tight, keep your body close to my back. Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall.”
“I know,” she says simply. “You’d never hurt me.”
“Fuck, I love you.” I give her another quick kiss because I can’t help myself. “Let’s go home.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
ROSAMUND
The journey is a dream. Holding on to Valen’s neck, I ride through the plain like the wind, so fast that the landscape is a blur. The other two wolves flank us, occasionally running ahead to scout.
The lowlands give way to hills and rises, and the mountains jut up ahead like the teeth of a giant monster biting through the crust of the earth. They aren’t bare, though, as they’d seemed from afar. Their steep slopes are covered in forest, and streams trickle down.
The loping run of the wolves eats the distance. I’m not sure riding a horse would have been faster. The dream rips, wisps of memories tearing away from me. Nightmares falling away. Monsters that haunted me getting trampled under the wolves’ paws.
Freeing me.
Whatever this new world I’m traveling to is like, I’m ready for the change. The adventure of a lifetime. The hope for a new beginning.
Tired, after what feels like forever, I rest my head on Valen’s back, where his strong neck rises. My hands are fisted in his thick fur, and his scent is soothing, embracing me. I don’t meanto fall asleep, but the last couple of days are catching up with me. Valen’s pace becomes slower, lulling me.
I’m shaken awake when he rises to his feet. I hadn’t realized when we stopped. I wish I could talk to him in this form. I think of him, and I feel a warm spot inside my chest. When I card my fingers through his fur, it becomes warmer, glowing like a small star.
“Valen,” I whisper, and the star pulses. A tingle travels down my spine, and I shiver.
