Page 15

“I turned to stone a hundred times over, Ravena,” I whisper, “and every time, it was you I dreamed of waking up to.”

“Kiss me,” she whispers. “Please.”

I pull her mouth to mine. Our lips touch and I kiss her with all the intensity that’s been burning inside me for ages while I waited for my mate.

I moan when I feel her hot soft tongue on mine, sliding, exploring, gliding into my mouth.

Her lips are so soft. Her flesh so delicate. I grab her hip and pull her against my body, wrapping my arms around her as I kiss her with a desperation that surprises me.

I’ve waited so long for her.

Now she’s here and I still can’t quite believe it.

Her hands slide onto my chest and then onto my arms as I deepen the kiss, loving the sexy sounds of her whimpers and moans. I’m the first to kiss her like this. A possessive growl rumbles out of my chest.

Mine.

She’s all mine.

Sweet gods, I could taste her for a century at least and still not have enough. If I could freeze time, if I could turn us both to stone, locked in this heavenly embrace for centuries, I would. I never want to let go.

She pulls back and gasps when she sees my tail curled around her leg.

“My apologies,” I say as she stares at it wrapped around her calf. “It has a mind of its own sometimes.”

She just smiles and I fall in love with those sparkling green eyes as she looks up at me, her adorable freckled cheeks all red. “No, it’s okay. I just… wasn’t expecting it.”

I’m in awe of her. I can’t stop staring at her face. My mate. My everything. Here at last.

She kind of rolls her eyes at herself and then steps on her toes, pulling me to her mouth. I wrap my arms around her and kiss her again, every possessive instinct in my body roaring awake.

I feel the vibrations before I hear the sound.

Ravena gasps in shock as I pull away and quickly cover her ears with my big hands.

“What are y⁠—?”

The tower explodes with sound. The massive bells sway from side to side, clanging loud enough for the whole village and surrounding areas to hear, only we’re inches from them.

It’s deafening.

But I only have two hands, so I cover my mate’s ears instead of my own.

She grits her teeth as the clanging vibrates through us, and then she does the sweetest thing. She steps on her toes, reaches up, and covers my ears with her hands.

Her hands are small and dainty, and do almost nothing to drown out the thundering sound, but it’s thoughtful and kind, and I appreciate it nonetheless.

There’s an old legend about this tower. It’s said that when true mates find each other, the bells ring out in celebration.

That’s what’s happening now. I just wish they weren’t celebrating so close to our ears.

Finally, the ringing ends, and the bells slow to a subtle rock.

I release my mate’s ears and smile down at her. “Are you okay?”

“What?!” she screams.

She won’t be able to hear me for a while.

So, I just kiss her again.