Chapter 10 #2
In my arms, Tabby pulls back and sends a terrified hazel gaze my way. “He’s gone?”
“Yes. I’m here, love. How do you feel? How did you get free?”
“I’m fine. When he slapped me, I pretended to pass out, hoping he’d drop me or think me useless as a hostage.”
Wishful thinking.
“When Mathias blasted the water through the room, I-I felt him dissolving himself into the water,” she continues. “The way he grabbed me, I knew he meant to take me with him. And if he did, he’d kill me. So I surprised him by kneeing him in the groin and shoving away just as he dissipated.”
If Mathias hadn’t already been in the midst of breaking down his form to float away with Tabitha, he would likely have remained behind and killed her just for spite.
I clutch her tighter. I didn’t save her, damn it. She saved herself. The thought guts me, but I’m equal parts terrified and proud that she was cunning and brave and stayed strong.
“You amaze me, Tabby.”
She clings softly. “Please don’t leave me again.”
I don’t know what to do. But I can’t give her back to Blackbourne, if the other wizard still lives. That, I know.
“You haven’t mated yet,” I observe by studying her signature.
“I—I told Sean I needed time to mourn, that I couldn’t pile what should be the happiest time of my life on top of the saddest.”
I close my eyes. I wanted Tabby safe…but the thought of her being Blackbourne’s ripped my heart out and poured acid in the empty hole.
“But Sean suspected,” she goes on, “that I was stalling. He knew I mourned you as well.”
I hesitate. I brought her here for safety, but if I hadn’t returned tonight, Blackbourne would have failed her. She might, even now, have been dead. Or worse.
At my feet, Sean Blackbourne staggers upright—drenched, bruised, and unsteady—and sees Tabitha in my arms. He freezes, defeat and resignation settling across his features.
“You’ve come back for her, then?”
I look between him and Tabby—and realize that even with the risk of war, she’ll be safer with me and the rest of the Doomsday Brethren.
As long as Mathias roams free, trying to overtake magickind, there will be danger everywhere.
I’ve seen plenty of casualties among magickind’s innocents, who have no defense against a maniac like Mathias.
“Civilians” like Blackbourne are ill-equipped to fight this terrible threat.
Mathias might come for Tabitha again and again—until he succeeds.
I shudder to think what will happen if I’m not by her side.
Meeting Blackbourne’s stare, I simply say, “Yes.”
The other wizard sighs with regret, then looks at Tabitha. “I don’t have to ask what you want. It’s clear that you love him.”
Tabitha’s lips press together before she slowly makes her way to Blackbourne and kisses his cheek. “I’m sorry.”
A sad half smile creeps across the older wizard’s face.
“Don’t be. Your haunted eyes told me everything.
At first I thought that mourning was strictly for your family, but every time you said his name, I knew.
” Then he glares at me. “You’re mating with her, correct? No more crap about lacking instinct?”
I stiffen. “That’s something Tabitha and I will discuss.”
“See that you do. Quickly.”
Biting back anger, I resist telling Blackbourne what he can do with his edicts. But the wizard is letting us go with no malice, and getting Tabby to safety is more important.
With Blackbourne’s permission, we all teleport away from his estate and back to Ice’s caves. The other wizards quickly make themselves scarce. I take Tabby’s hand and drag her to my cave, then set her on the edge of my bed.
I kneel beside her, resisting the urge to fidget. “You deserve better than me.”
“You’re the best. You’ve risked everything to keep me safe,” she argues quietly.
“It’s not enough.”
“You don’t have to do it all alone. We’ve survived two attacks together. We can in the future, as well.”
“You don’t know that!” I jump to my feet.
“I know without a doubt that you’ll do everything in your power to keep me and our youngling safe.”
True. And I’ll never stop.
“This war is dangerous. I may not live to see old age.”
“I’ll cherish every moment we have, but I have faith you’ll do everything to return to me safely.”
Another truth.
Tabby grabs my hand and urges me back down with a gentle tug. “Life doesn’t come with guarantees. These are dangerous times. Is anyone safe?”
No. I know that. Hell, I thought it myself mere minutes ago. “You’re right, but I’m…” I shake my head, trying to force the words out of my mouth. I want Tabby so badly. But I want her happiness more. “I’m terrible mate material.”
“How do you know? You’ve never tried mating.”
Closing my eyes, I hang my head. Shame claws through me. I wasted years, focused on nothing more than conquering one female after another. It’s all I know. “You’re well aware of my reputation.”
“Indeed.” She sighs. “If I released you now and gave you leave to bed any woman you wished, are you certain you wouldn’t choose me?”
Not choose Tabitha? No woman has ever affected me so much. I’d choose her every time. “You know I want you. God, so much...”
“Have you ever felt about another woman as you do about me?”
Until her, I never fathomed feeling anything for any woman. Tabitha consumes me completely. “No.”
“Have you ever told another woman you love her?”
Say the three scariest words to some meaningless lay? “No. But your parents wanted—“
“My parents believed that you would never love me. If they were here now, what would you tell them?”
A wave of emotion breaks over me. A realization. Sadness, joy. My love for Tabitha flows through my veins, as natural as breathing.
Suddenly, I know exactly what I want. Always before, I was afraid to believe in it, fight for it.
Not anymore.
I take her face in my hands, feeling tears well in my eyes. “I’d tell them that I’ll defend you to my dying breath, that I will want you always, and that I love you more than my own life.”
She smiles softly, tears running from those thick-fringed hazel eyes. “That’s what I hoped you would say.”
My thoughts race. Only one thing stands between Tabby and me now.
My hands shake. God, if she turns away from me now, it will finish me.
She’s already the axis my whole damned world tilts around.
I faced down Mathias tonight with less terror than asking my encinta the question on the tip of my tongue.
“Do you have any reservations about mating with me?”
She caresses the side of my face and sends me a huge, bright-eyed smile that lights up my heart. “Call to me and find out.”
Issue the formal vow of a wizard to his mate. Right. Hell, do I even know the words?
I close my eyes and picture the rest of my days with Tabby. In contentment, shrouded in love.
The sacred words fill my head.
“Become a part of me, as I become a part of you. And ever after, I promise myself to thee. Each day we share, I’ll be honest, good, and true. If this you seek, heed my Call. From this moment on, there is no other for me but you.”
Tears flood her beautiful hazel eyes, and I swear that even with her hair half-tumbling out of its knot and her clothes soaked, she’s never looked more radiant.
“Was that so difficult?” she whispers.
No. In fact, as I spoke the vow, I’ve never felt more certain about anything in my life. Except… “Are you going to answer?”
“Indeed. I can’t wait.” Tabitha presses a kiss to my lips, and nothing has ever tasted sweeter.
“As I become a part of you, you will become a part of me. I will be honest, good, and true. I heed your Call. ’Tis you I seek.
From this moment on, there is no other for me but you.
” She smiles again. “We’re officially mated. ”
“We are, indeed.” I tear off my shirt and hover above her to remove the last of the pins from her damp hair. Then I send her a lopsided grin. “I need to make you mine, mate. Now.”
She sighs as she unbuttons her blouse. “I already am.”