“That wasincredible! Totally different from what we planned—you two improvised the whole thing? I can’t decide if I’m mad or not.”
“You’re not,” I called over Kardok’s shoulder as he carried me away from the ice. “You’re very impressed.”
“Iamvery impressed.” He was hurrying after us. “Are you going out for another bow? Maddie is trying to wrap up the exhibition so everyone can go up to dinner.”
“No,” rumbled Kardok. “But you should go out there and get some recognition.”
“I should!” gasped Joshua, turning abruptly around. “I’ll go schmooze with the donors!”
I giggled again as he left us alone right outside the corridor beneath the stands. Kardok kissed me again—softer, gentler—and slowly allowed me to slide down to balance on my feet.
Smiling, I held his arm as I slid my blade guards on first one skate, then the other, then helped him with his. I loved how we could work like this without having to speak.
As soon as he was finished, though, he reached for my hands. “You’re sure, Lila?” His green gaze searched my expression, as if looking for the truth. “Mating isn’t like dating—it’s not even like marriage. It’s?—”
“It’s a knowing,” I finished for him, beaming. “I remember what you told me that night in my apartment.Kardok…” I squeezed his hand. “I remember, and I feel it too. Iknow you. The thought of not being allowed to be with you was…” I shook my head. “It didn’t just hurt, it wasimpossibleto consider.”
“Yeah.” He tugged me closer. “I notice you don’t seem worried about that any longer.”
“Daddy found a solution.”
Humming, he pulled me flush against him, his hands going to my ass. “I wondered if he could figure it out. I visited him yesterday, told him I couldn’t live without my Mate, and I was going to quit the team. He said his lawyers would get on it.”
I’d gasped. “Youweregoing to quit the Terrors? He mentioned something about that.”
“Of course.” He dropped a kiss to my head. “I love hockey, and I love the team, but I love you a fuck of a lot more, Princess.”
This time my gasp was loud enough to knock me over. “You—what? You love me?”
His grin was as wicked as he was. “Of course. You’re my Mate. Whatever comes, Lila, we’re in it together. I swear to spend the rest of my life loving you. I may never be worthy of being your Mate, but I’m going to prove to you and to the world that I can make you happy.”
I gaped.
Because those words? That vow? That was better than anything I’d ever imagined, when I was a little girl planning my pretty princess wedding.
“I love you, Kardok,” I whispered in awe, tears in my eyes.
“What did she say?” a voice called out from above me, causing me to startle and jerk away.
Kardok rolled his eyes and turned us so I could tip my head back to see two orc males in tuxedos leaning over the bottom rail to the stands. “Lila, have you met Torrk?”
“What did she say?” the male—he was the team’s first string goalie, I thought—asked again.
The other male also rolled his eyes. “She said she loves him, you idiot, and she’s accepted his Mate Bond.”
“Yay!” Torrk cheered like a little kid, straightening to slap his palms together in a goofy clap. “I love happy endings.”
The older male, who I recognized as defenseman Dakvaar, clamped his hand around Torrk’s elbow and nodded once to Kardok. “Congratulations,T’mak. I’ll get this asshole upstairs and give you some peace. Hey, Torrk,” he asked while dragging him away, “did you know there’s a buffet upstairs?”
“Ilovebuffets!”
I felt the giggles burbling up in my chest as I turned back to Kardok, who shrugged.
“They’re good guys,” he said.
I hugged him. “They care about you. We’re lucky to have them on our side.”
He was quiet for a moment, then breathed, “We. Yeah, I guess we are pretty lucky. The team, your father… You gonna tell me the plan?”
