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“That’s just it,” he says, dropping his voice. “A day is going to come when we aren’t enough—when we aren’t strong enough, fast enough—and I fear that day will be sooner than we all think. I just… I don’t want to lose you.”
My smile fades as our eyes remain locked and I fully see the conflicting emotions in his dark eyes. He thinks I’ll be safer here with Rafe because he doubts his ability to protect me. He’s worried that somehow between him and Azarius, it won’t be enough to keep me from the Malevs.
While I understand his worries, I think he’s being too hard on himself. He doesn’t see the strength that I do. I’ve seen them all in combat, and I know just how capable he is. If I thought there was a chance he and Azarius couldn’t protect me completely, I wouldn’t be so hellbent on this mission of mine to travel with them to Havec.
Or maybe I would. But I don’t doubt them in the slightest.
I trust them with every part of me: my body, soul, and life.
“You will be enough, Elio,” I say encouragingly, leaning closer to place my head on his chest. He’s tense, muscles rigid, but one of his hands moves to cup the back of my neck, and I feel his chin settle on the top of my head. “You and Az are a force to be reckoned with. I’ve seen it. I have complete faith in you.”
We stand there for a long moment in silence, neither one of us daring to move. Finally, after what seems like forever, he sighs and his body relaxes against mine.
“I sure hope you’re right.”
ChapterThree
ELIO
Idon’t like this.
Not a single fucking bit.
But it’s clear my concerns only matter to me, and we’re doing this regardless of what I say or think. If I don’t agree, Azarius and Devyn will probably attempt the trip alone knowing them, and I can’t allow that. She needs both of us to protect her. She needsme.
As I pull up the nesda root from the garden, I’m already dreading the pungent odor that’s soon to fill the mansion because of it. It’s disgusting stuff, but it’s necessary to keep Devyn safe.
MyPrincess.
My mate.
It still feels strange having a mate, even after weeks of my soul being tied to hers, because I never saw it as something I would want for myself. Being tethered to one person forever always seemed daunting, unappealing, but not when it comes to Devyn. She is everything I didn’t know I needed, who came to me at the most unexpected time.
We’re weeks away from full on war, and instead of battle strategies consuming my thoughts, she lives in my mind constantly. Worries me constantly.Like now.
This entire plan is ludicrous, dangerous. It’s true, we made it to the city and back one time successfully, but we were lucky then. The Malevs have become incessant and relentless in their pursuit of dominating the realm. So many things could go awry this time. There’s no promise that even with the both of us that we can keep her safe.
I can only hope we get lucky again and prepare myself for anything just in case.
Grumbling, I head back up to Devyn’s room where she and Az are waiting. I slip through the door to find them wrapped in an embrace and watch with a flicker of jealousy as he dips to catch her mouth with his. My jaw clenches and I clear my throat to catch their attention, but that doesn’t cut their kiss off abruptly the way I’d hoped.
Even though Azarius is my best friend, and there’s no one else I’d rather share my mate with, it’s still difficult sometimes to see them together. Devyn ismineand the fire burning its way through my veins is a clear reminder of that fact, but as much as I would love to have her all to myself, I can’t. She’s chosen Az, Rafe, and me to be her mates, and that has to be good enough.
It’s either share her or not have her at all, and that’s not an option I’m willing to entertain.
“If I’m interrupting, I can leave,” I say, dropping the nesda roots onto the small table near the bed.
Finally, the two pull apart slowly like Velcro, and Devyn looks over her shoulder at me with a grin. “Or you can join if you want.”
My cock twitches at the suggestion, and I swallow hard.
She’s wearing a brown dress–probably from one of the spare bedrooms here–that hangs just below her knees. The straps are tied in knots to make them fit, but it’s still noticeably too big.
Still, she looks breathtaking.
My eyes flick from her smirk to Az, who winks in my direction with a chuckle, and the back of my neck warms. I roll my eyes at the suggestion, shoving the thought from my mind before I can give it too much consideration. I can’t say I haven’t thought about it on multiple occasions, but now is not the time.
We have an itinerary to follow. We must make it to Havec.We have to find Ignatius.
