I saw Lila take a deep breath and realized I was matching it. Then she dug in her skate and threw herself forward.
Full commit, just like that axe.
I’d promised her I would be there for her, but I couldn’t wait for her to come to me. I shot forward too, moving before I realized it, and when I hit center ice, I stopped so suddenly, shaved ice flew up between us.
I shifted my weight, turned, and reached for her.
Just as my princess threw herself into my arms, a smile on her face showingthe entire fucking worldhow much she trusted me.
I couldn’t contain myKteer’sresponse; with a wordless roar, I lifted her over my head, my hands cupping her waist, distributing her weight as I skated backwards, one foot crossing over the other, displaying my Mate proudly.
The audience seemed to understand. Vaguely I realized they were on their feet, applauding and cheering, and my chest swelled.
For this moment, at least, they’d accepted us.
Together.
As the music reached its familiar crescendo, I made my way back to center ice and slowed, shifting my hold on Lila and allowing her to slide down my body. This was the point where she would step away from me, do one last spin—one of those twirls that seemed to go on for an impossibly long time—while I watched, and then we’d both bow.
But instead, on the way down, she wrapped her arms around my neck, halting my movement. I froze, my hands still holding her by her waist, and remembered this was the position we’d been in that night she’d kissed me for the first time.
“Dkaar,” I whispered.
Lila’s eyes were shining, and not with suppressed tears, like yesterday. “I love you, Kardok. So much. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.
And it was like the last piece of a puzzle slid into place with a comfortable click in my chest.
I exhaled, blocking out the sounds of the crowd to focus on the breath of the female in my arms.
“Lila, you’re my Mate. I’myours.” Her eyes had widened, and I was beyond happy to know she understood. “You remember what I told you about orcs finding their Mates?”
“Forever,” she breathed, and I knew she did.
“I guessed it a while ago,” I confessed in a murmur, then winced. “Well, a few of the guys helped me to see it. I wasn’t sure how you felt, so I guess…”
Her fingers curled in the hair at the back of my head. “Mate.”
MyKteerhowled in glee to hear the word on her lips. “Mate,” I agreed.
Then Lila Fairbanks, darling of high society, tugged my lips down to hers. There, in center ice, wearing a cocktail dress, she kissed me for everyone to see.
Marking me. Claiming me.
I didn’t know how we were going to make this work, but I smiled against her lips, my heart finally at peace.
Chapter Sixteen
Lila
I refused to release Kardok.Or perhaps he didn’t want to letmego? Either way, he skated toward the boards still holding me, and I was fine with it. A lifetime of performance told me to kick my feet up, so our profile would look as if we planned this…but I couldn’t resist wriggling happily.
“Mate,” I told him again, just because I loved the way his eyes flared green when I said it, and then giggled when he growled.
“I’m going to kiss you again if you keep saying that.”
“Oh, no,” I pretended to fret. “A kiss from my Mate. Mate, Mate, Mate.”
Kardok’s lips were gentle, and the kiss was over far too soon. But Joshua was there, holding the gate open for us,handing me our blade guards, smiling and babbling on about the performance.
