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He smiles softly, lifts me out of the water, and deposits me on a soft patch of grass where he lies down beside me. Studying me with a look so conflicted—so full of longing, wonder, and nervous anticipation—I can’t help but draw him to me, eager to assure him that this is exactly where we’re both meant to be.
His lips find mine, but just as the kiss grows deeper, more heated, he pulls away, saying, “I hope you don’t think this is weird, but—I’ve only done this one other time.”
“Anyone I know?” I avert my gaze, biting back a small stab of jealousy.
Please don’t let it be Lita. Or Jacy. Or Crickett. Or Xotichl. Or anyone else I’ve befriended …
“No,” he murmurs, gaze far away. “No one I know anymore.”
I weave my fingers into the soft silken strands of his long, glossy hair, trying to temper my relief. I say, “Well, that’s still one more time than me.” My eyes meet his, fielding his curious look when I add, “Despite what you may have heard about my wild Hollywood past.” I know what he’s thinking: That someone who’s lived the kind of life I have, who’s hooked up with someone as presumably hot as Vane Wick, must’ve been here at least once, and I’m quick to refute it. “Seriously, I never quite got to this point. Guess I was waiting for you.”
He angles closer, not saying a word. His face clouded with emotion as he traces a finger along the strap of my buckskin pouch, circling the place where it rests just over my heart.
Leaving me so dizzy with his touch, I can’t help but whisper, “Though I have seen enough movies to know this is how it starts…”
My fingers inch lower, peeling his briefs from his hips, as he rids me of my underthings. Absorbed by the sheer glorious sight of him, I allow my hands to roam the curve of his shoulders, the taut muscles of his chest, the lean valley of his abdomen. My skin sliding deliciously against his when he pulls me tightly to him, trails his lips over my flesh, and eases his body into mine.
I gasp—stunned by a sharp stab of pain that’s soon eased by his hips pressing and circling, as his heart pulses wildly. And it’s not long before I lose myself in sensation. In the feel of him—the magick of him—the euphoria of him.
All of him.
Surrendering to the wave of splendor rolling through me—leaving me untethered—released. Floating free of my body. Soaring beside him.
Two souls ascending at dizzying speed—swirling through constellations—skimming across a bright pool of stars.
The words unspoken but true all the same: This is the moment that joins us—unites as—for all of eternity.
His gaze never once leaving mine, he cradles my face in his hands and guides me back toward the earth where he draws me into his arms and nestles his body around me. His face buried in my hair, he breathes deeply, slowly, seeking rhythm with mine, as I fight to hang on to the moment. Desperate to fend off all thoughts of the real world but not coming close to succeeding, I say, “I refuse to feel guilty.”
Dace lifts himself onto his elbow and stares down at me, unsure of my meaning.
“For this.” I roll over to face him, flattening my palm against his taut bare chest, aware of his heart beating against it. “I refuse to feel guilty for us—for pausing the hunt to be with you.” My gaze burns on his, wanting so badly for the words to be true. But with so much chaos occurring around us, it’s a pretty tough sale. Still, I go on to add, “I’ve been down here for hours. I was an exhausted wreck when Raven led me to you. And look, the spring really did heal me.” I wiggle my finger as proof, smiling when he latches onto it, curls his around it.
“Daire, you don’t have to make excuses,” he says. “Love is the highest energy of all. It needs no forgiveness, no apology.”
“I like when you say it.” I grin. “In fact, I was wondering when you’d get around to it.”
He laughs, tossing his head back and exposing a glorious column of neck. “That’s a pretty big declaration to put out there, you know. Guess I wanted to be sure there was a chance it might be reciprocated.”
I study him closely. Amused he couldn’t see what I thought was so clear. “Did you seriously doubt me?” I slide my leg across his, reveling in the deliciousness of his skin.
He smiles softly, focusing his gaze on the vines overhead. He summons a glorious red bloom to his fingers and tucks it into my hair. “You can be a little guarded sometimes—a little tough to read.” He shrugs.
“Oh yeah?” I grin. “Then tell me, Dace Whitefeather, how would you read this?” I pull him back to me.
He replies with a kiss.
seven
“I’m glad this place was spared.” I pull my sweater back over my head, as Dace pulls on his jeans. “It really is enchanted, able to heal itself—just like it healed me.”
I look to Dace for confirmation, but he’s no longer listening, his attention’s
been claimed.
“What is it?” I start toward him, halting when he turns, presses a finger to his lips, then continues creeping ahead.
I snatch my jacket from the ground, shrug it onto my shoulders, and rush to catch up. Nearly smacking into his back when he stops without warning, only to peer past his shoulder and find a familiar coyote with gleaming red eyes and Dace’s twin brother Cade standing beside it.
