Page 264 of Volik

Volik

“Holy shit,” my uncle’s voice sounds close.

I blink my eyes open.

He is very close.

“Volik.” His face is inches above mine, and his eyes are wide.

“Uncle.” I shift my shoulders to check I am still lying in the grass. “We are alive?”

“Alive? Nepos, you are better than alive!”

My lips pull into a smile as I tighten my arms around Nix. “We are together.”

“Yeah, that. But, my boy.” His eyes sparkle as he looks down at me. “Your mate grew horns.”

Part Four

Mint, Orchids, and Ozone

Chapter 122

Volik

Istare at my uncle.

His eyes are bloodshot.

Tears stain his cheeks.

And I think I remember… dying?

I think our hearts stopped again.

But unlike the other times, this time, my consciousness stopped with it.

But Uncle’s smile is wide. And I can feel my mate’s exhale on my neck. I can feel her back rising and falling under my hands.

We are alive, but my brain is not on track yet. “What did you say?”

Uncle wiggles his brows. “Horns.”

Maybe Uncle’s brain is not on track yet either.

I close my eyes.

Crazy old man.

He huffs. But I just squeeze my mate.

My Nixy.

My lips pull into a smile as I move my hands up and down her back.

She’s asleep—unconscious—but I can feel her strength. She just needs a moment to recover from the blast of magic she absorbed.

Our clothes are mostly dry from my heat. But I lift my hand to smooth over her hair, wanting it dry and combed when she wakes.