A soft giggle filled her mind as the water brushed her fingertips, her lips curling into a smile I wanted to engrave into my memory and never let go.
This female was firmly inside my soul. Her face the only one I wanted to see. Her heart the only one I needed to own. Her body the only one I desired to possess.
At some point during our time together, I’d fallen off a cliff of lust into something much deeper.
Perhaps it was our link.
Perhaps it was fate.
Maybe even some combination of both.
But this female had begun to mean something to me that defied reason and understanding.
She made me want to drop the bag of devices, rush over to her, and carry her out into the ocean. Strip out of our clothes. And make love among the waves.
It was such a vivid yearning, one that encompassed all my thoughts and vision, so much so that I didn’t realize Kylan had joined me until he cleared his throat.
“Hmm, so it is love, then,” he mused, his hands in the pockets of his black slacks, the sleeves of his dark dress shirt rolled to his elbows, and the collar unbuttoned at his neck. “You wear it well, old friend. Congratulations on finding your heart.”
I nearly corrected him, my old habit of nonchalance desiring an outlet.
But I couldn’t voice the words.
Because I didn’t want to lie. I didn’t want to degrade what Calina and I had. I wasn’t sure if it was love. That seemed too light a term for the marriage between our minds. She felt like my other half, making a life without her impossible to fathom.
She’d died, and I’d been so lost that I’d killed a royal and ruined over a century’s worth of plans. Yet I knew if it happened again, I would do the same damn thing.
Because she was mine to protect.
I would never apologize for avenging her.
Kylan cleared his throat. “Darius just spoke to Damien. It turns out he already suspected Mira because one of the lab techs recognized her from afar. He didn’t say anything because he wanted more proof, but he’s keeping tabs on her.”
I nodded. “Then it sounds like we’re heading to Majestic Clan.”
“Indeed we are. Ryder is making arrangements with Edon, Silas, and Luna to meet us all there.”
“Another meeting,” I said, my gaze still on Calina. “And almost in time for the original one Lilith had planned.”
“Funny how that works,” Kylan drawled, his hand clapping against my shoulder once before he started to tug the bag away from me. “Darius and Juliet will fly with me so you can properly play with your new pet.”
Normally, I would argue with such a statement and remind him of my superior position.
But he was older.
And I really didn’t want to debate the gift he’d just given me.
So I merely nodded my gratitude and continued watching my mate play in the water. She’d taken off her shoes and rolled her pants to the calves to truly experience the waves. It was such a youthful thing to do, but she deserved this moment. It helped her relax and forget the memories brought up in those files. It helped her escape from the truth of her heritage. And it made her smile.
That last part was all I needed to know that this moment mattered to her.
A new experience for her mind.
I sat on the beach while she continued to splash around, her gaze only lifting once as Kylan’s jet took off. He would have to stop for fuel along the way, while we were fully stocked from the Lajos City airfield.
So even if I gave Calina another thirty minutes here, we’d still beat them to Majestic Clan.
Knowing that, I leaned back on my elbows and watched my little nymph dance in the moonlight, her blonde hair sparkling as she spun around with a laugh.
