Page 51
‘Think on it. Pray on it. Talk to Grace. Tell her what you fear. Strengthen your bond by telling the hard truth. Let her sit in that with you. Watch the shadows fade, and the darkness lose to love. Then you’ll understand.’
I would have asked him how to do that, but he faded from my mind. He must have been flying right at the edge of our range, because suddenly, he was gone—and not because he’d shut me out.
I was left lying there, holding my mate, warm despite the cold of the room, and my mind still reeling… but now with images that made me want to hope we could win.
Because I already had something to fight for.
In the Light of Day
~ GRACE ~
When I woke, I knew it was much later in the day than I’d expected. Though the curtains on the four-poster bed were closed, warm, bright light bled between the seams and it wasn’t difficult to see Voski, sitting with his back to the headboard, staring down at me with dark eyes.
I scrambled up to sit. “What is it? What’s happened? Are you—”
“Whoa, whoa. Just breathe. You’ve been asleep. All is well. There’s no danger.”
I blew out a breath and looked around, mildly self-conscious because I’d pushed up with no covers and now I sat there in the dim light, naked. But Voski was naked as well, and unconcerned.
Two memories rushed back to me.
Lying in the bed, in the treehouse, with Voski sitting next to me, both of us stunned after completing the bond.
Voski kneeling before me fully clothed, while I knelt naked, and he bared his soul as completely as I bared my body.
“What is it? What did you just think?” he asked quietly.
I swallowed. “The… the treehouse, and the hut. The dim light and being naked and—it just reminded me. That’s all,” I said breathlessly. But I knew my smile was shaky.
Last night had been intense. Incredible. Needed. But my heart hammered with nerves now, because the first glimpse of Voski was that dark, guarded countenance that had been so familiar, just weeks ago.
He sighed and reached for me.
I went to him eagerly, plastering myself to his side and throwing an arm over his chest as he hugged me under one arm and kissed my hair. When we were comfortable and his fingers trailed up and down my arm, I was able to exhale.
“Good morning,” he said in a husky gravel that made my stomach trill. I could hear the smile on his lips, though I rested my head on his chest and stared down his body.
“Good morning.” I didn’t know why I felt uncertain. There’d been no barriers between us last night. Nothing. Voski had thrown his heart wide open for me, and we’d reveled in each other. I’d nearly wept with the sheer joy of it.
I could feel tension in him now, the bond churning, coiling between warm rushes of love, and chilled winds of tension. But he didn’t pull away. He seemed as eager to be close as I was.
“Did you have enough rest?” he asked quietly.
I nodded. “How long have you been awake?”
“About an hour, I think. I’m not sure. I can’t see the sun’s movement clearly.”
“Should we open the curtains?” Then I was gripped in a memory of the night before…
After the second time we made love, he lifted me from the carpet, swung me to his chest, still kissing me, his body still urgent and demanding, the bond pulsing with delight, and carried me to the bed. He tossed me between the curtains to its soft surface, laughing when I bounced. I giggled too, but immediately pushed to hands and knees to crawl toward him, because he hadn’t followed me onto the bed. Instead, with a fierce expression, he’d stormed around the bed, tugging the curtains closed, as if to keep the rest of the world out.
A wonderful idea, I thought…
“Not yet,” he sighed. “Let’s just… be, for a time. I’ll get food soon. Bring it to you—I don’t want anyone catching sight of you in the halls. I’m afraid you’ll be my captive for the next day or two.”
“I can think of worse punishments,” I said with a grin, tipping my head up so I could see his expression.
It warmed my heart when he smiled down at me. But it was only moments before he turned away again, to stare at the curtains, and that V reappeared between his brows.
