Page 173 of Tempting Fate

Thunder rolled across the sky in a long, insistent grumble.

Good enough. The thought vanished as soon as it came.

“Mine. My soulbound mate, oh, Imani, I have dreamed of this. We are now bound in every possible way. Is it enough?”

At any other time I would have been laughing, crying, or both, but there was only calm, only us. “More than. You were always enough.” And so was I.

Another peal of thunder, quieter this time, a contented rumble.

“Why now though?” Why not bond us earlier? Why did it make us wait?

“I do not know, my love. But I suspect the fates are capricious and will not bend to our whims.

Our whims… “Are you telling me your fates made me get over myself?”

He chuckled, a low rumble that echoed the storm outside. “I would never dream of it, my moonlight. But perhaps if it had happened sooner, a part of you might always have wondered? Or worried, even with the bond, that things might not work out?”

Maybe I would have. I kissed him, a simple touch of lips, saying everything I needed to say.

Airida nuzzled his face against mine. “Shall we put our show on? We were so close to finishing the season.”

Tempting, but so was something else. My arms tingled where the mating marks were still forming. My whole body felt alive, energy coursing through me, and I brought my hand to his stiff dick. “What about this?”

He sucked in a breath, then let it out in a joyous chuckle. “Later. I cannot tell you how I know, but I do: kalidi has passed.” He pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. “Much as I want you, I wish to enjoy the novelty of ignoring my body’s demands.”

I could understand that. And, oh, I’m going to have fun with this. “Let’s not keep Lietan waiting, then.”

As we cuddled up, wrapped in blankets and each other, the holodisplay lit the wall with our favourite show. The credits rolled. The music rang an easy counterpoint to the storm. And as the sun crept higher in the sky and the storm eased, Vaenallra paced a high gantry on Lietan Shipyard.

Yoria appeared in the archway. “I hope this means what I think it means.”

Vaenallra nodded, tears in her eyes. “I have two gifts for you. This necklace. And me. Forever, if you’ll have me.”

Yoria bowed their head, letting the nebaru woman clasp the jewellery around their neck.

There. Now they looked as I remembered from the very first time I’d seen them—on the Dorimisa all those months ago. The ship that had brought me here. The ship that had brought him here. To me.

Yoria took Vaenallra’s trembling hand and brought it to their lips. “Of course I will. You were always mine, and always will be.”

I felt Airida’s joy through the growing soul bond—and his love. He could feel mine too, I was sure of it. “I never knew anything could be like this,” I whispered.

He flicked his tongue over my ear, making me soften against him. “Believe it, my beautiful fate. Our lives are only just beginning.”

Epilogue 2

Airida

One year later

SHOHARI GROWLED, BARING her teeth, her face against mine as our staves locked together. “Yield, brother.”

“Not a chance.” I pushed forwards then let up. She overbalanced, falling into me, and I slammed my staff into hers with a polyphonic shout. “Back!”

She staggered across the training room floor and fell on her arse.

Would you look at that.

“That’s cheating,” she rumbled.