“How could I not be?”
“If anything,” she said and stepped closer slowly, skirts whispering against the mossy forest floor. “I’m grateful to you.”
Confusion rolled through me instantly.
“What? Why would you be grateful?”
I tilted my head slightly as she closed the remaining distance between us.
Gods.
The closer she came, the stronger the matebond pulsed.
Pleasure rolled through my body in warm waves the second her palms settled against my chest.
She hummed softly in contentment.
The sound nearly destroyed me.
Sweet little noises like that had rapidly become my greatest weakness.
“My whole life,” she said quietly, “no one ever thought I was strong enough. Or smart enough. Or… enough enough.”
Pain tightened immediately in my chest.
She looked down briefly before continuing.
“You gave me the strength to face her when all my life I cowered before her. And now I know, my mother always meant well in her own way, but everything with the Coven became about usefulness eventually. Power. Status. Potential.” Her laugh cracked slightly. “And I was never anyone’s idea of potential.”
Absolute fucking madness.
I stared down at her, stunned that anyone could look at this female and fail to see her worth immediately.
Amrin’s fingers curled tighter against my chest.
“But then I met you.” Her eyes lifted slowly back to mine. “And suddenly I didn’t feel broken anymore.”
Emotion struck me hard enough my breath caught.
“You make me feel like I’m enough,” she whispered.
Gods. This woman is so fucking perfect.
My throat tightened painfully.
“And tonight?” she continued softly. “You gave me the strength to stand up to my mother for the first time in my life.”
I cupped her face immediately.
“You are enough, Amrin,” I said fiercely. “You are everything.”
And I kissed her.
I could not help myself.
The moment our mouths met, she moaned so sweetly I nearly lost what remained of my restraint entirely.
Mine.
