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“Call it intuition. Rather, I heard about Madam Moonie’s vision. And you know how those are. I also sort of caught the call, but I couldn’t make out your words. But, I had the sense that you were okay. We’ve been waiting for the sand storm to clear. I knew you would be okay. I didn’t have my worried senses like when you were sick.”
Mari nodded, her hand slipping into mine. I took it, giving her a gentle squeeze.
“We need to get to the ship and out of here,” Zin said, turning to address the driver. “Get us through that checkpoint without any issues, please.”
“Yes, your highness.”
I snorted. “Your highness?”
Zin made a haughty expression. His three yellow eyes narrowed on me. “I am a prince. The Lazulian prince, thank you. Mari, are you certainheis your mate?”
“Yes,” she said seriously. “He is. Things are not what they seem. He’s not the bad guy here, his brother is. When we get to the ship, we’ll explain. How did you find us?”
“Everyone is looking for you, Mari,” Stella said softly. “Everyone. We’ve been driving around all day.”
I felt a flicker of guilt. I’d taken her from her friends and family.
Mari blew out a breath and then leaned against me. “Everything feels surreal.”
“But youdidabduct her,” Toras said, his tentacles moving with displeasure.
“I did,” I said, looking up at him. I held his gaze, noting that the circle on his face was tinted red. “I planned to use her to clear my name.”
Toras and Zin glowered even more. “I can throw him out of the car, if you’d like,” Zin said to Mari. “Better yet, we can turn him in.”
I ignored him, holding my mate a little closer. “Let me explain. I planned to use her, but then we discovered she is my mate. And I would do anything to keep her safe and make her happy. The reason I took her was because I heard my brother was obsessed with her. He is the reason I’ve done the things I have. Mari means everything to me, even in such a short amount of time. I have never felt this way about anyone. It’s as if I have found the other half of my soul and am seeing the world for the first time.”
Mari sucked in a breath.
“Give her cowboy a chance,” Stella said, raising a brow at her mates.
“Little star, we are merely concerned—”
“I don’t want to hear it. All three of us know what thebondis like.”
They grumbled but didn’t argue.
Mari smiled and looked up at me, her warmth grounding me. I was anxious and nervous and all sorts of things, but she was keeping me here. Keeping me believing that we could find a happy ending through this mess.
“Get down,” Toras said. “Both of you.”
I leaned down as much as I could, although I was large and that was difficult. Mari slipped down to the floorboard, tucked out of sight.
The solarcar slowed to a halt, the driver rolling down the window. Silence fell over all of us as we listened.
“I carry the Lazulian Prince. We are taking this direction per his highness’s request. We have clearance.”
“License and clearance,” the guard demanded. “Who else is in the vehicle?”
“His mates, sir.”
More grumbling. I swallowed hard, but Mari squeezed my hand again. More reassurance.
For the first time, it hit me that I wasn’t working alone.
I breathed in deep as the car started to move again. We waited until everyone else exhaled, relief flooding through us all.
“You are safe for now,” Zin said to me.
