At last.
The breeze twines through the grounds again and the earth seems to tilt.
A spark of light shimmers between them and the mating bond settles into place.
“It’s about damn time,” Lachlan chuckles, as he threads his fingers through mine.
Mathilda and Tane pull apart, the energy between them exhilarating as they stare into each other’s eyes. A deep longing tying them both together.
Evander enters the ring and claps Tane on the back. “That was incredible.”
Lachlan’s brows raise in surprise. “Impressive goading Mathilda.”
She nuzzles into Tane’s side, the look of joy on her face enough to make me cry.
Luna pushes off the railing of the fence and stands beside us, apprehension lines her face. “Good, that’s settled. We have other more pressing demands to see to.”
The happiness of the moment shatters.
“Are you serious?” I wheel on her.
She shrugs, and a look of annoyance flashes across her face. “What?” She gestures to Tane. “He’s all better now.”
I roll my eyes, ignoring her. With Tane’s position secured, there’s one less thing for me to be concerned about, so in a way—she is right.
“I’m starving. Let’s head back, anyway.”
On the walk to the Great Hall, Tane and Mathilda are congratulated both on their mating, but also on Tane’s victory.
Lachlan wraps an arm around me as we lead the others back. I’m so happy for Mathilda and Tane. Decades of love between them finally solidified by the mating bond. They must be so relieved.
“I don’t think we’ll have the time to throw them the mating ceremony they deserve before we leave,” I murmur.
Lachlan looks over his shoulder at them as they walk together, their eyes locked onto each other’s face still. He snorts. “I dinna think they’ll care.”
When we breach the throne room, I turn around, waiting for the rest of our friends to stumble in.
Tane and Mathilda. Followed by Evander, Mina, and Luna.
The throne room is empty beside the seven of us. But now seems as good a time as any.
Luna’s expression slips further into something dreadful. My stomach drops. The space between my ribs tightens and I struggle to breathe normally.
“Alright Luna, what are thesemore pressing demands?”
She stiffens at my unexpected announcement and glares at me before looking around at the others. “I don’t think you want to do this here.”
Lachlan’s grip on my hand tightens at her words or her tone. I’m not sure.
I huff, gesturing at everyone in the room. “What you can say to me, you can say to them. We don’t keep secrets in this court.”
She lowers her head, and fear grips me completely. What could be so bad that it has Luna, of all people, uncomfortable. Her eyes meet mine and my breathing halts altogether.
“You’re going to die.”
Mina bursts out laughing. The sound ricochets around us.
I glance sidelong at Lachlan. His jaw flexes as he grinds his teeth.
