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“You better explain before I go basic on your butt.”
“Luna was the one who healed me when I was paralyzed.”
Blair sucked in a breath. “How old is Luna?”
“Over fifteen centuries, though some say she nears twenty.” Kaien closed the distance between them and tugged Blair into his arms. “Luna was the only one skilled enough at that time to assist me—and the only one we trusted enough to ask. In a time when I was still actively mourning my mother, she was the closest thing I had.”
Blair nestled her head into his shoulder, the quietness of the moment striking both of them with its simplicity. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Kaien.”
“Our past is what defines us, but our present is what we live for. And I intend to live to the fullest, mate.” His fingers tenderly trailed down her cheek, propping up her chin to look her in the eyes. “I’d never felt complete in my life, Blair. Now that I have you, I can’t imagine a day without.”
Her smile bloomed beautifully for him, adoration highlighting her features. “You mean everything to me, Kaien. Don’t you ever forget that, lumberjack.” She snapped her teeth at him playfully, but then sobered. “Let’s go see Nina. I know you must be anxious to make sure she’s okay.”
Relief loosened his shoulders and he nodded.
“We need to talk to her about coming home.”
Kaien froze. While they’d originally spoken about it what seemed ages ago, he’d forgotten about their agreement in the meantime. His limbs suddenly felt weak.
“You aren’t failing her by asking her to return, Kaien.” Blair’s hand rested lightly on his arm. “She’s failing you by putting you in this position.”
Clearing his throat, he gave a jerky nod. “You’re right. Confronting her, though, it’ll be hard.”
“That’s why I’ll be right there with you.”
Pressing her lips into his shadowed chin, he growled at her closeness and tugged her ever closer. Blair’s girlish giggle took him by surprise, but only deepened his need for her. Nipping at her neck, he inhaled deeply, savoring everything about her.
“If you keep this up, Kaien,” Blair’s teeth clamped around his palm before he took a step back, “we’ll never get there.”
Kaien rolled his eyes but ceded to her insight. “Fine. Let’s go see our sovereign.”
“Good idea,” Blair laughed again, “but, as much as it pains me to ask, perhaps you should put on a shirt?”
“And you, kitten, should probably find some pants.”
Thirty minutes—and one sizzling kiss that devolved into a passionate interlude—later, they strolled hand in hand toward Nina’s home. Gusty summer wind ruffled through their clothes, but neither felt the oppressive humidity, too blissful in their bond to take notice.
Before entering, Kaien could already feel the signatures of the other lieutenants within the structure. Mentally preparing himself for a confrontation about his atypical deviations of late, he straightened his spine and pulled the door open for his mate.
Blair was confidence personified. She had no inhibitions waltzing into a room of immortals and sinking into the last remaining open armchair with an expectant look plastered across her features.
Conversation halted as soon as they’d entered, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. It was an atmosphere heavily laden with suggestive looks and smirks that told Kaien his cohorts knew exactly what the new couple had been up to the past day and a half.
“Had a bite before coming, then?” Remmus’ was barely fighting a lopsided smile, lounging on the couch next to Celeste who boasted a blissful grin.
Nudging Remmus with a stilettoed heel, Celeste sighed dreamily. “Look at them, lovesick doves flying home.”
Blair threw the nearest object—which happened to be a hard-backed book—at Celeste’s head. The female Raeth didn’t miss a beat, stopping the trajectory mid-air with telekinesis and flinging it back at the vampire.
“I amend my previous statement: you’re now a vicious love hawk, Blair.”
Blair caught it without blinking. “Glad we’re on the same page, PowerPuff.” When his confusion abounded, Kaien’s mate took pity on him. “We’ll have to do something about your complete and utter lack of pop culture knowledge, lumberjack.”
Smirking at her, Kaien walked to where his sister lay covered with a blanket on her couch. Two fingers went to her temple to verify her mental state, and he breathed a sigh of relief when she registered as normal.
While he’d been out, Blair informed him that several of their closest allies had remained in clan territory, not the least of which was Nero. The other sovereign, chatting happily in the corner with Aidan, gave him a nod of approval.
Drake and Kane, both at ease among the assembled Raeths, leaned up against the wall to his left, deep in conversation. Off to the side were Toni and Lucy, the two young Elementals giggling about something on their phones.
