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“Exhausted, but…better. My mind is clear.”

“I’m so glad.” I hesitate, because I’m unsure if I should ask. But I do it anyway. “Do you remember anything from the last couple months—moon cycles?”

“Bits and pieces. A lot of it is blurred darkness and powerful emotions. Rage mostly.” He squeezes my hand. “Aside from you. The brightest memories I have are of you. The stories you told me. The gifts you brought me. Your soothing presence alone is what I remember most.”

I swallow and sniff back the tears that are threatening to fall. A part of me is sure I’m still asleep, and this is nothing more than a dream. It can’t be real that I’ve finally found a mate, especially since I’ve grown to care about Alik.

“You scared me. I was so worried about you.”

“I will recover.” Already, though, his eyes grow heavy.

“Why don’t you get some more rest? Your mind needs to heal and that’s the best thing for it.”

“You won’t leave me?”

I reach out and brush back the few stray strands of hair clinging to his cheek. “I’ll be here whenever you wake up next. I promise.”

As if that’s all Alik needed to hear, he relaxes, and within seconds his breathing evens out. I don’t let go of his hand. I can’t. I want to keep holding on to him to remind myself he’s real and we’re here together and no longer in the pit.

Chapter 17

Alik

My dreams are filled with dark, ugly thoughts of death and destruction. More than once I wake up, barely able to catch my breath, and the echoes of screams fill my head. My only saving grace is that each time, Devon is beside me to chase the darkness away.

I slowly come awake, the harsh visions finally at rest. For several ticks, I don’t open my eyes. Instead, I breathe in my mate’s—my heart’s fire’s—scent. The same luveelo and soft musk fragrance I could never forget and could pick out in a crowd of females. I have spent nearly all my life not wanting a mate. Not since I learned of my mother’s cursed bloodline. I had no desire to inflict that on my progeny, and yet the gods had other plans for me, because they brought me Devon.

Before her, I welcomed death to take me, but now, I could never hurt her in that way. My heart’s fire doesn’t deserve the pain it would bring. Which means I have to confess the family secret, so she can prepare herself. It will have to wait for another day though.

I open my eyes. She sits curled up in the chair with her knees tucked against her chest. I take a moment to study her. She’s plaited her dark, spiraled hair into two sections on either side of her head and tied them each off with a piece of leather. The look flatters her features. She is lovely, no matter how she wears it.

Devon’s clothing is not traditional Bohnari, but more Earth-like. An image of her in the deep purple dress she wore the day we mated pops in my head. I remember her tugging the hem of it up, exposing first her cunt, shielded by a narrow strip of black hair, and then her breasts with their dusky-colored nipples.

I bite back a groan, but too late. Devon’s eyes flutter open at the sound and meet mine. My breath catches at the smile that curls her lips upward.

“Hi,” she greets me softly.

“Hi.”

“Did you sleep okay?”

Not really. “Yes.”

“Good.” She stretches her arms over her head, causing her breasts to thrust forward and her shirt to rise, exposing a thin strip of bare copper skin.

My cock hardens at the sight, and I swallow down another moan. At the same time, a wildfire spreads through my veins. A sharp knock on the door interrupts us, and Vornak steps inside.

“Excellent, you’re awake,” the head healer notes and approaches. “How are you feeling?”

I pause to take account of my body and mind. “Better.”

He runs a handheld scanner over me until it beeps. I watch as he studies the screen. Devon’s hand slides within mine and her grip tightens.

“Vitals are back to normal. Your head scan is clear. So long as you are feeling strong enough, I see no reason you’d need to remain in the healing facility,” Vornak announces. “Feel free to return to the palace whenever you desire, Your Highness, but if any of the symptoms of the madness return, be sure to comm me.”

Briefly, I freeze at the word. Madness. That’s what happened. The mating fever flamed out of control and the beast took full rein.

“It’ll be okay, Alik,” Devon says, her voice a calming balm to the panic that threatens to take hold. “You have me now, remember?”