Page 121 of A Shadow of Her

Since returning to the packlands, Blaidd was living in their old house while Fae remained in the smaller cottage two doors down. Close enough to reach, but far enough to give her space. He chased her down the moment he was free from his official pack duties. Recently, he had been supporting Maxen more and more. Eira had not spoken since she came back; she just stared blankly at the wall. Blaidd's parents took her in. On one visit to their home to check on Eira, Blaidd had insisted on fixing the fence that had gone down with the recent storm. Ragnor stood beside her, eyes fixed on Blaidd as he worked the fence with restless, driving force.

"He's like he was before Isolde," he said quietly, voice rough. "Could never stay still."

Blaidd's hands on hers pulled her out of her wool-gathering. He drew her up into his arms, as though the distance between them had suddenly become unbearable.

His hands found her waist, drawing her against the steady warmth of his chest. Every parting had begun to feel like this—too long to be borne. His palms roamed her back as though committing the shape of her to memory again and again. He took the blow he had earned without flinching.

"If I could go back," he said quietly, "I would watch you walk down that path again. I would not look at the ground; I would not look away. I would not look anywhere but at you."

Her fingers tightened on the silk.

"I would remember the orange blossoms in your hair. That gold dress." His voice roughened with memory, belying his claim that he saw nothing. "My eyes would not have been able to look away from the way your hair caught the low light like a flame. Your brown eyes turned gold—how they would have lowered, not because you thought your lifemate didn't care…but because I would have been thinking of removing that dress like a gift I did not deserve."

Her breath caught as he wouldn't let her look away.

"I would not have hidden what I was thinking," he continued. "I would have stood there proudly. Grateful that you came into my life. Terrified of losing this blessing I never earned."

The space between them pulsed with that now familiar current that lit up whenever they were close.

"I cannot change that memory," he said at last, stepping closer, his voice a poignant whisper against her ear. "But I can make a new one."

He lifted his hand, brushing his knuckles gently along the edge of the veil where it rested against her wrist.

"I should go," he murmured, though he made no move to leave.

She nodded, breath shallow, but neither of them stepped away.

His lips brushed hers once, then again. Then once more, softer and slower, as though each kiss made leaving harder than the last. At last, he forced himself back, hands sliding reluctantly from her waist. "Try it on," he said softly, his plea in his eyes.

***

Aiko had stood as bridesmaid during the ceremony under the wishing tree, her chin high and eyes like liquid pools of serenity, despite the shadows beneath them. Something was going on, but Aiko stayed tight-lipped.

Blaidd took Fae's hands before the gathered pack. She was radiant, the gossamer veil covering her face. The armband of gold that Blaidd had gifted her eight years ago shone on her arm.

"I promise," he said, voice carrying across the gathering, "to be the lifemate you deserved from the beginning."

A murmur rippled through the hall.