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“We don’t even know if there is another one,” Lavinia said, her voice low. “At least they have each other.”
“Maybe now they will stop playing cat and mouse and finally give in to their mating bond,” Killian said. “By the time we find a way to rescue them, they will be sick of each other.”
I glanced at Raika a few feet from us as she laughed about something Ivy said. My heart squeezed, the always-there tug pushing me to her. I couldn’t imagine ever getting sick of her.
“I think everyone is here,” Hamill announced. “It’s time for your speech.”
I groaned as I stepped on one of the benches so everyone could see me.
“Good evening,” I said to my family, friends, and pack members as they all walked closer and faced me. “I’ll be brief, I promise.”
Chuckles echoed through them.
I cleared my throat. “Our pack has been through a lot. So many wrong turns, hardships, and trials, I couldn’t count on my fingers. But we endured. We stayed strong and true to our hearts, and we made it. We emerged on the other side even stronger and braver, and more importantly, united. After what we’ve been through, we know we can take on anything and anyone, and we’ll survive.” I paused. “Though I hope those days are far behind us.” Lots of heads nodded. “Today marks a new beginning for the Nightshade pack. Every year, we’ll celebrate this day as the ‘New Day.’ We’ll remember and honor our fallen, and we’ll renew our bond and unity.” I raised my beer high. “To a new day!”
“To a new day!” everyone repeated after me.
“It’s time to celebrate,” I said.
Cheers followed. Music played from the small speaker placed on the table and the party seemed to finally start as people started dancing beside the tables. The sun lowered behind the trees and the sky became a beautiful, stained painting of dark orange, purple, and dark blue.
An arm hooked mine and tugged me backward.
With a smile, I turned and let Raika guide me to the improvised dance floor. Swaying side to side, she wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I followed her rhythm and I splayed my hands on her back, securing her closer to me.
After getting rid of the dragon’s magic, Raika remained in the infirmary at DuMoir Castle for one more day. Thea and Almae wanted to be sure she was one hundred percent well before releasing her. And, despite having Paimon’s darkfire within her, Raika was as healthy as anyone could be. It was as if she had never had a power that was killing her.
My chest constricted. To think I had almost lost her three times, I couldn’t bear. But Raika was strong, the strongest of all of us. While I fell into my own despair believing I was alone, she had been the one strong piece that held this pack together for an entire year. We owed it all to her. I owed it all to her—my sanity, my peace, my happiness.
“Great speech,” she said. “If I wasn’t in love with you, I would have fallen for you right then.”
I chuckled. “Oh, so speeches turn you on.”
She raised her eyebrows. “I like when you talk while we …” Her cheeks gained a pink tint. By the moon, this woman was too beautiful for her own good.
I leaned into her and whispered in her ear, “How about we go for a run and visit an old place of ours?”
Her breath hitched. She knew I was talking about the fissure where the bond first snapped. We had made love once outside the fissure, never inside. The walls were too rough, but if I brought a blanket to wrap around us …
My pants tightened again.
“The first one there gets to call the shots,” she whispered back, then ran from me. I stared at her, stunned and amused as she darted from the party, giggling.
Some heads turned, but by now the entire pack knew us—we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.
I smiled and set off after her.
Wherever she went, I followed.
Forever.
* * *
