She scoffed slightly and rolled her eyes. “Aye, but you had been stuck in darkness for months. You were delirious.”
“I was brilliant, is what I was.” Grinning, I tipped my head to the side to kiss her forehead. “Ye are mine,dkaar, as I’ve been saying.”
“And…” She took a deep breath. “You aremine.”
My smile grew as my hold on her tightened. “Aye. Once we are joined—” I stopped, a sudden thought knotting my stomach. “Ye understand what I mean?”
“About the sex?” Her tone was dry. “I have extrapolated from the previous few days, Kragorn.”
I had to chuckle. “I meant about the public joining. I explained well enough for ye?”
“Nay, not at all. You weredistractedat the time.” Her finger poked my side. “But I had a nice visit with Isadora and Verna last night, and they explained.”
“Thank fook,” I sighed. “And? Are ye willing to undergo such a ceremony?”
Lillian was quiet for long enough for the dread to settle in my chest once more, and myKteerto whine with worry. She pressed her cheek to my shoulder.
Finally, she took a deep breath.
“I think… I am terrified at the prospect of so many eyes upon me foranyceremony, Kragorn. But I think, if it means being joined with you for the rest of our lives, then I can undergo such humiliation.”
Humiliation?
My Mate’s words bounced around my chest, even as I gathered her to me, rolling her atop me, trying to show her my joy and excitement.
“Love, ‘tis anhonor, no’ a humiliation. But the fact ye’re willing to become my Mate in every sense . . ..” My voice grew thick with emotion. “It means much to me.”
“Does it?” she whispered, wriggling her warm little naked body atop mine. “How much?”
Grinning, I showed herexactlyhow much she meant to me.
‘Twas much later—the sun already high in the sky, when I finished dressing. Lillian was pattering around the cottage with her hair tumbling down around her shoulders and her feet encased with warm woolen socks as she finished ladling the porridge into bowls.
How had I become so used to her presence in such a short time? Here in my home, in myheart. I vowed to have some rugs made to keep her feet warm in the winter, and to fetch some sweet-smelling herbs for the hearth.
What else could I do to bring my Mate joy?
I would have a lifetime to discover.
The knock at the door jolted me into muttering a curse.
“Who is it?” Lillian shot me a curious look. “You sound as if you’re expecting someone.”
“I suspect,” I growled, then stomped to the door and raised my voice. “Go away. My Mate is naked and ye’ll no’ gawk at her.”
Lillian’s gasp was drowned out by the chuckles from the other side of the door.
“Ye sleep late, chief,” came the mocking call.
“Fook me,” I muttered, and turned to see Lillian’s wide eyes, and I knew I had to explain. “’Tis Vrogul Stormseeker, the chief of the Islay Battleborn. He came to visit last night with news.”
“News?” she squeaked as her hands—holding the porridge—began to shake. Nay, her entire body shook!
“He was the one in the hall…that—that night?”
Forgetting the other male, I darted to her side, placing the porridge bowl safely on the table and gathering her in my arms.
“Hush, love, hush. He cannae hurt ye, he cannae hurt us.”
