“I agree with Caedmon.” Atlas cut her off before she could finish, and she knew exactly why he did it—he thought he could change her mind. “Curses are a different thing in Faerie. They’re very real and very deadly. Rumors that the forest is haunted have been around since I was young.”
“Rumors only?” Morgan admitted to being a tiny bit curious, but that wasn’t the real reason why she was asking. “Because if they’re only rumors, I want to take the quickest path. The faster we leave Faerie, the better. The longer we remain, the more danger there is for the both of you. If anything happened to either of you, I would be here all alone.”
Atlas sighed, and Morgan knew she’d won her point. Caedmon wasn’t so easily swayed. He narrowed his eyes like he was trying to see inside her head and figure out her motives.
Smart man.
She kept her face impassive, not giving him an inch.
She was right, and he knew it.
When he didn’t get the answers he wanted, he turned toward the forest as if calculating the best course of action. “Very well, but you will stick close to us. At the first sign of danger, you run, understand?”
“I understand.” She bit back a smirk.
Understanding didn’t mean agreeing.
Morgan didn’t quibble with their rules, she was just grateful that they both ultimately agreed. The fae bragged that Faerie was supposed to be beautiful beyond a person’s wildest dreams, but it felt more like the Grimms’ fairy tale version than the happily ever after kind.
The longer they stayed, the more she feared one of them wouldn’t come out alive.
Both guys clearly didn’t believe her innocent act, but they allowed her to get away with it. Atlas went to gather a few supplies, leaving her alone with Caedmon, and she was struck by a case of nerves.
He was different from her other mates.
Intimidating.
Old beyond her comprehension.
There was nothing that he hadn’t already done.
She just didn’t understand what he saw in her. Instead of fretting over it, she gathered her courage and just asked. “Do you regret our night together?”
“Never,” he vowed, grabbing her arm and pulling her against his chest. “It happened so fast that I was worried you would have doubts. I wanted to give you time to adjust to being mated. I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”
His nearness eased the itch that lived under her skin when one of her mates wasn’t near. Peering up at him, she ran her fingers over his chest, growing more confident when a growl rumbled beneath her hand and his eyes dilated. “And if I don’t want distance? I made my decision last night. Have you?”
He leaned down, kissing the just healed mark he’d placed on her shoulder. The bite was like a direct link to her clit, and she shivered, her knees weakening at even the lightest brush of his lips.
“Humans give rings for commitment, where they can take it off whenever they want. Wolves are different. There is no hesitation, no doubt, no going back for us when we find our mate.” He lowered his head until his lips hovered just above her own. “I made my decision the first time I laid eyes on you. Each day is a miracle when you’re by my side. The more I get to know you, the more I fall in love with you. Fate couldn’t have chosen anyone more perfect.”
Morgan could only gape at his confession, joy bubbling up inher chest. “I don’t know if I want to smack you or kiss you. Why the hell didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“You weren’t ready.” That was all he said. Like his feelings didn’t matter. “And if you want my opinion, I vote for the kiss.”
He flashed her a charming wink. It was so unexpected that Morgan snorted, and the tension between them vanished. “No more secrets next time. It hurts you to be near me and not claim me, and it makes me sad that you went through that alone.”
“Not alone.” He leaned down and brushed the tip of his nose against her own. “Being near you helped. And your mates did everything they could to make me feel welcome. It’s much more than most would get. Many females put their males through their paces before they commit.”
Morgan scrunched up her nose, remembering her first days at the Academy. “You mean torture them.”
A casual shrug was all she received in response. “Just remember that fae can take decades before they select their mate. I would’ve waited for you forever.”
Her heart just melted, and she leaned up, kissing him hard and fast. “Then I guess it’s lucky you got such a generous mate.”
Any humor in his expression vanished, and he became the imposing fae warrior she’d first met once more. “I thank the ancestors for it every day since I met you.”
His romantic words sent her heart fluttering. Despite having six mates, she wasn’t used to the flattery yet, and she didn’t think she ever would.
