Chapter Fourteen
Korvin Slater
Aftermath
“What the fuck?” I roar at Krishka as I watch my mate slump into a heap on the mat of the octagon.
She shakes her head with a roll of her eyes. “Will you relax, Bear?” she snaps at me. “Your little witch doesn’t take direction well. She depleted her reserves, giving Knox more than she should. Her body needs rest.”
I have Akasha swept up into my arms as I glare at her. “How often will this happen?”
“Until she learns her limitations or kills herself. Whichever happens first.”
“What can I do?” I feel impotent at this moment.
“Not much,” Krishka says. “Make sure she stays hydrated once she wakes up, and talk to her. Not shouty black bear bullshit. Just talk.”
I glare at her before moving toward the stairs. Once I emerge into The Gin Room, Aldron stands there waiting for me.
“Take one of the open apartments upstairs,” he says. “Taking her all the way back home will be difficult alone. Besides, now that you’re mated, I’ll want you living here instead, especially with her training.”
I nod and make my way to the elevator. Aldron follows us inside, chooses a floor, and leads us to a vacant apartment. He doesn’t linger or speak. He simply nods before he closes the door and leaves us alone.
The entire apartment is decorated in white without a single personal touch, a lot like my own apartment. If this is where Akasha and I will be staying for the foreseeable future, I can’t wait to see what she will do to make it more a home than just another place to stay.
I lay her down on the stark white bedding and stare at her. What the fuck am I supposed to do until she wakes up?
****
She sleeps for six fucking hours. Six of the longest, most stressful hours of my life. Just when I want to give up and call Krishka to come and check on her, she stirs, her eyes fluttering open. She smiles when she sees me, and I don’t know if I want to kiss her or tan her ass.
“How are you feeling?”
“Thirsty.” Her voice is hoarse, and I quickly hand her a bottle of cold water.
She scoots around on the bed, resting against the headboard as she slowly sips from the bottle.
“Is this your apartment?” she asks looking around with a frown.
“No. Aldron has been converting one of the floors in the building for the mated couples. The apartments are for single staff.”
“Ari didn’t mention that. She just said there were apartments and office space,” she says, taking in everything around here. “Does that mean we’ll be moving?”
“Already moved,” I correct. “Aldron had someone pack up our apartments while you were asleep. They just dropped everything here.”
“Damn!” She whistled. “That man moves fast. How long was I asleep?”
“Six hours.”
“Really? It felt like ten minutes.”
“Krishka, the head of the Obsidian Coven, said you need to rest and this will happen often until you learn to listen.” I know I’m frowning but at least my tone is even. I don’t want her to feel like a chastised child or that I am fighting with her, but I need her to know how scared I was. “You need to take what Krishka tells you and teaches you to heart, Little Mate.”
“I know.” She looks at her hands with the water bottle still clutched between her fingers. “I just wanted to help.”
“I know, and your heart is one of the reasons I fell in love with you, but you can’t put yourself in danger like that. I can’t remember ever being that scared in all my forty-five years.”
“You love me?” she asks softly, staring at me with wide eyes.
I frown. Surely, I have said the words in the past four days of lovemaking, fucking, and all my efforts to breed her. But I can’t think of a single time those words crossed my lips.
I sit beside her on the bed and take her face in my hands. I kiss her, hard, pouring all my love and passion into the single action.
“I love you, Akasha,” I say once I pull away. “I love your body and your mind. Your beautiful soul and your open heart. I love the way you say my name in your sleep and the birthmark on your left butt cheek. I love you completely and irrevocably.”
A tear slips down her cheek and I gently wipe it away with my thumb.
“And I love you too,” she whispers. “You and your beautiful black bear.”