Tears leaked from my eyes as he continued his soft assault on my body. He reached up to wipe them away, but I stopped him. I wanted to remember this moment. It was so blissfully perfect. “I didn’t know what I was searching for, but now I do. All my life I was searching for you, and fuck, I…” I choked, but I couldn’t get the words out. There would be no going back after this. If I said those words… If I agreed to that…
Our bodies moved together until we fell together in a perfect rhythm, coming apart together and casting out our worries into the universe. Tonight was only about us, and it was the most perfect night I’d ever experienced. I knew I would burn the world for him, gods be damned. He was mine, and I was his.
I didn’t feel like I had done enough, said enough, to show the level of commitment I felt toward him. So, I did the only thing I knew I could do. I grabbed his wrist, placing my finger above his racing pulse. His eyes grew wide as he realized what I was about to do. “I accept you as my mate, Matthew. Now and forever may we be bonded together in the heavens, before the gods, before anyone who may try to tear us apart. I promise to love and cherish you, from this day forward until the end of our days.” I kissed him as the tears flowed freely from my eyes, but they weren’t tears of sorrow. No, they were tears of joy. I had accepted him as my mate.
He looked at me, unsure of what to say. Happiness danced in his eyes, but he was scared as well. I could feel the emotion rippling from his very essence. “Are you sure?” he whispered. “We can wait… We don’t have to do this now…” His head dropped before me, but I took it in my hands.
“I have never been more sure of anything in my entire life. I want you until my dying breaths, Matthew. We were destined for each other, written in the stars before we were even born. You were handpicked for me by the gods, I thank them every day for bringing you to me, even if it hasn’t been easy.” He laughed.
I loved it when he laughed. I wanted to hear it every day for the rest of my life, and if I had my way, then I would.
He grabbed my other hand and mimicked what I had done. His finger placed against my pulse, and I swore I felt a surge of magic beneath the surface. “I accept you as my mate, Evalyne. Now and forever may we be bonded together in the heavens, before the gods, before anyone who may try to tear us apart. I promise to love and cherish you, from this day forward until the end of our days.” He placed a soft kiss against my lips. Our magic reared up in response, marking us as mates.
I looked down at the small tattoo that was now located on my wrist and traced the faint lines in wonder. It was so completely and perfectlyus. Permanently etched on my skin was a raven presenting its wings for flight. Behind it shone the sun, bright rays glimmering around the bird.
Brandings weren’t always common with mating ceremonies but should the heavens desire you to be marked, then there wasn’t much of a choice in the matter. It was more common with royal matings or those whose relationship might be called into question. How fitting that it had happened to us? My mother and father had been marked, and now that I understood the threat that Lachlan had been to their relationship, it made sense. I thought about Damien, how I knew he would contest our bond, but there was no denying it now.
We stared at each other in awe, taking our time to soak in these precious moments where our magic continued to mingle. I inhaled his sweet sandalwood scent, committing it to my memory for all eternity.
Matthew chuckled, which then grew into an outright laugh.
“What, may I ask, is so damn funny?” I scowled.
“It’s just that… Kalen is going to be so pissed when he finds out that he wasn’t here for this,” he cupped my cheek gently. I leaned in and kissed his brand.
“Then I suppose we will have to have another one then, just so he can be there to shower us in flower petals.” We both laughed and collapsed into one another.
At some point, Kalen had returned to the cottage – without the pie, to my frustration – teasing Matthew and me that the entire realm could have heard our encounter. But there was a certain level of love and respect that shone from his eyes, and I could tell that he was genuinely happy for his best friend and I for professing our love.
Something had changed in our relationship after we made love for the first time. It had a sense of tangibility that it didn’t before and somehow made what we had real. Our souls were interconnected now, and we seemed to come together as one.
I couldn’t help but think about Damien and how he would feel about my transformation. I didn’t want to hurt him. In fact, I felt sick to my stomach thinking about the whole situation, but it wasn’t like Matthew or I had a say in the matter. One of us could reject the bond, of course, but the chances of that ever happening had been rare. I thought back to what Orion had said at the cabin, that Damien wouldn’t let me go if I had found my mate. Would that be true? Would he hinder my happiness for his own selfish justifications?Yes, I thought,he just might.
Despite his grumbling, Kalen had given Matthew and me the bed since we wouldn’t be sleeping apart. I looked over to see his large body hanging off the small sofa. Everything he did looked ridiculous because of his size.
Matthew stirred beside me and reached out, cupping my cheek with his hand. It was rough and calloused, but the love behind his tender touch melted my heart. “Good morning, my love,” he whispered, leaning forward, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
Butterflies flew around in my stomach like they were chasing each other. I smiled, staring into his eyes. Today, they were more green than normal. Maybe it was because of the way the sunlight was caught in them, but they were burning brightly with mischief.
A groan sounded from behind us. “Don’t start that shit again. Please, for the love of all that is holy!” Kalen said. We both launched into a fit of giggles before a knock sounded at the door, silencing the three of us immediately.
Both men jumped up, Matthew grabbing me and pushing me behind him. My heart was racing. Judging by the way they were reacting, whoever was at the door was unknown and unwelcome. A low growl came from Matthew’s throat and was quickly echoed by Kalen.
“Open up, Eva. I know you’re in there,” the voice called, and dread spread rapidly through my body.
Luka was here.
34
EVA
“How the fuck does he know we were here?” Kalen whispered, looking between Matthew and I. Judgment and worry rolled off both of them.
“You don’t honestly believe that I told him, do you?” I asked defensively. Matthew raised his hands in the air.
“No one is accusing you of that, darling. We just don’t know how we were found is all,” he said. He pressed a quick kiss to my temple, and I released the tension that seemed to destroy my body.
Luka’s fist pounded on the door. “Eva, open the fucking door!”
