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I instantly missed him.
How was it possible to feel someone so deeply, that the union of your flesh stopped representing a carnal need, and served a deeper purpose? One that went far beyond logic or physical want, and made your soul whole…
Lowering his head to my chest, Braxton sucked on my tender nipples one last time, savoring them while my fingers still gripped the back of his neck and shoulders fiercely. He gently lifted the silk top over my breasts and fixed his pants. A naughty smirk tilted his mouth, disappearing when he claimed my lips again into a slow, sensual, and meaningful kiss that left me breathless.
“I love you.” His greenish-yellow eyes bore into mine with the declaration, showing both the powerful truth and the dread that accompanied it.
Gasping, I opened my mouth to speak but he turned on his heel, not giving me a chance to answer. Braxton left me there, wide eyed, speechless, and longing for him to return.
When I entered the forge several moments later, everyone was still where I left them. Kingston and Skylar were deep in conversation by her desk, and she seemed to be sketching something. Asher, Arlo, and Penelope were inspecting a wall that held an array of large axes, while Harper and Elijah admired the swords—apparently choosing a matching pair. Everyone else was scattered along the shields and armor section. This place was definitely their weakness, and they didn’t really need to protect me in my hidden kingdom.
Braxton, stood at a stall across from us with Willow, talking to Daisy and Harriet—elderly sisters who had spent their lives mastering the harvesting of silk from their worm farm. The silk fabrics Willow used for my dresses were woven by them, but they were also experts on cotton.
Part of me wondered what he was telling them as they nodded, agreeing to something with Willow, but most of me was still trying to process the fact that he had just told me he loved me… and something about that seemed to scare him.
Was it because he had never told that to a girl before, or because of who I was?
His uncertainty saddened me, but I understood the feeling, because I feared I had fallen in love with Braxton too.
“Your hair looks beautiful today, Princess. You should wear it loose.”
Startled by her sudden presence behind me, I glanced back at Skylar, and saw her reach for my hair, undoing my braid without waiting for an answer. “What—?”
“The back of your dress got scratched,” she whispered in my ear while fanning my long strands over it. “Possibly against a wall…”
Gods!
The breath halted in my chest. She knew. How did she know? Had she seen us leave? Had anyone else?
Her eyes discretely swept over Braxton then returned to me, causing me to begin hyperventilating. Except, she slightly shook her head to calm my panic, and winked at me like she approved. Skylar was a few years older than I, almost Willow’s age so I had known her my entire life. She was my friend, and her reassuring gesture allowed me to breathe easy.
“There, now you look perfect.” Grinning, she returned to her desk and placed a hand over her father’s arm, who remained none the wiser. “I have what I need now. I’ll start working on that right away.”
“Thank you, Daughter,” my guardian offered, his gaze finally leaving the sketchbook. Leaning in, he placed a parting kiss on her forehead, making his way back to my side.
I intended to ask what he had ordered from her—it had captured his full attention, which meant it was important to him. Yet, his gaze became reproaching when he looked beyond me, and I followed it to find Lachlan approaching us with a few of his men.
“If this is the way you prove yourself to us, do not bother to finish what you have started,” Kingston growled, and all our warriors instantly flanked him.
“Chief, I—”
“You were supposed to return with confirmation of our contact’s help days ago, Lachlan,” I scolded, sharing my guardian’s ire. “It has been a week, and those of our people who would be safe and free by now, are still trapped in that nightmare.”
“I apologize, Princess Evanna, but I didn’t hear back from Nikau until last night. I’ve only just returned from retrieving his message.” He paused when Braxton moved to my other side, all but pushing Asher out of the way, and once again they engaged in a battle of wills.
Gods help me. I did not have time for masculine drama today.
“I will read the note.” My words wrenched Lachlan’s attention away from my mate, and he reached for something in the back of his belt.
“The ravens brought me this.” He handed me a tiny, rolled strip of parchment that had been tied to the bird’s feet.
“Not safe. Will try my best. The beast is restless…”
My gut tightened as I read the words out loud, its meaning clear. It was accompanied by a time, and a north west location to the fortress. One that most of us had never visited, but Kingston knew like the back of his hand.
“Azazel must be enraged by our latest encounter, not fully under control,” Kingston considered, scowling at the paper over my shoulder.
“Your encounter?” Lachlan asked, not fully aware of everything that had happened.
