Chapter 54
Valens
Iwas nearly back to the castle when I saw her. She was striding across the yard with purpose, head held high and a fire in her eyes I could spot from a hundred yards away. She was every Valkyrie from the old stories, dark hair streaming and a presence that was undeniable.
She was radiant.
I hoped and prayed she was still mine.
“Valens!” she hollered, demanding my attention as if I could have missed her on any plane of existence.
I shifted back, not caring if any of the milling wolves saw my bare ass, just wanting to hold her, talk to her again.
Thankfully, a random beta passing by snorted and shoved a pair of sweats at me. Nudity was a ubiquitous problem among shifters. I yanked them on midstride, anxious to get to her after running for hours.
The sun was nearly gone, the air crisp and sweet as we met in the middle, the scent of trampled grass burning into my memory along with the sight of her.
“You left. You don’t get to do that when things get hard. Not ever again. Tell me you understand.”
“I understand,” I said, hesitant to interrupt what felt like a tirade building.
“Good. You know what else? I love you. I’ve been lying to myself.
About a lot of things, not just that. But that’s over.
You and me? We’re mates now. That’s not going to go away, and it’s not changing.
So we have to learn how to communicate like adults, not just…
Where have you even been? You look like you’ve been beaten by the backside of a thousand branches. ”
She shook her head, then continued. “Never mind, I don’t care. I don’t! Honestly. But if you ever run off like that again, I’m going to—” She screwed up her lips, trying to think of a sufficiently awful threat. But she didn’t have to.
I caught her around the waist, cutting her lecture off. “You love me?”
“Obviously.”
“I fucking love you too, Firecracker.” I reached up, tucking a strand of silky raven hair behind her ear. “So much. More than anything. And I won’t leave, not ever, if you’ll have me.”
“Well, good, then. It’s decided.”
I snorted. “Just like that, huh?”
“Just like that. So, I guess we’re doing this thing.” She lifted her chin, daring me to argue with her proclamation. As if.
“Oh, there’s no guessing. You told me no more running off. That means you’re spending every day at my side and every night in my bed. I can follow instructions.” I lowered my voice suggestively, leaning in to try to steal a kiss.
“We still need to talk about why you left,” she blurted before I could kiss her.
She was right. “I know. I’m sorry. I… Our bond opened.
When we got our marks, the bond slammed into me from the inside, as if your wolf just sucked me in.
And I was elated at first. You being my mate is a dream come true.
And then I felt everything you were feeling.
You were grieving the bond I was celebrating, and I thought that meant you didn’t want it—that you didn’t want me.
Leaving seemed like it would be kinder than staying and asking you to pretend to feel differently than you did. ”
She bit her bottom lip, letting me finish. I used my thumb to free it, rubbing across it softly after to steady myself. Every word was the truth, even if I felt stupid in hindsight for not just staying and talking to her.
“That’s not what I wanted. I thought I was ready to let go of my old life, but… the reality of it still hurt. Even though I’m excited to bond with you, one of these days when we’re ready.”
I would bond you right now, Firecracker, before you can change your mind.
“Fiona made me see that maybe what I felt wasn’t the whole picture. I was planning to grovel if necessary.”
“How’d she manage that?” she asked with a wicked grin, as if she enjoyed the idea of her friend torching my tail.
“There was a light show and everything.” I mimed fireworks.
Elodie threw her head back and laughed, clinging to my sides like I was the only thing holding her to the planet. “You know I’m going to ask her too, right?”
“Please do. I think she’s proud of the lightning.”
“It’s a miracle she didn’t fry your ass instead of asking questions.”
“She’s definitely temperamental. And protective of her friends.” I planted a quick kiss on her cheek.
“Yeah, we all are.” I felt the tension leach out of her, her whole body softening in my arms as she relaxed.
I hummed my agreement, happy to have her back in my arms, weather-wielding friends and all. I’d run through actual fire for this woman, so what was a little lightning?
Elodie bit her lower lip and peered up at me. “I told Galyna just a few minutes ago. She was surprisingly supportive. She said I still have to get up before dawn and train with them.”
I rocked back on my heels, surprised. “No rest for the wicked, huh?”
“No, doesn’t sound like it.”
“Probably for the best. You seem like the type to get bored if things get too easy.”
She sighed. “One of these days, I’d like the chance to find out.”
I could hear her weariness and couldn’t deny the echo of it in my own soul. “You and me both. We should plan a honeymoon. A blow-out, no-holds-barred epic honeymoon to make the rest of the pack wildly jealous.”
“You know they’re all rich as fuck, right? They can go anywhere they want.”
“But not with you. And no matter where on earth we go, you’ll be the most beautiful part of the view.”
The smile she gave me could launch one thousand ships, I was sure of it. “You’re too much, but don’t you dare change.” She paused, a slightly more somber expression replacing the light one she’d just had. “I have to turn in my sword in the morning.”
“Yeah? That’s probably going to be hard.”
She nodded. “I was thinking that after I drop it off, it might be time to try out the other guardian’s sword. If… you still want that.”
You could have knocked me over with a feather. “More than anything. If you’re sure? It’s okay if you’re not ready. This has all happened fast.”
She shrugged. “Life isn’t slowing down. There’s only one day left until the blood moon.”
The thought saddened me. No matter what, we had to come through on the other side together. I couldn’t find her and then lose her so quickly. It would destroy me.
“I know.”
“So, tomorrow bright and early?”
“Bright and early. Which leaves us the rest of the night,” I whispered suggestively.
“Plenty of time for that groveling you had planned. On your knees. In bed.” She walked her fingertips up my chest with tantalizing slowness.
Damn. She’d barely touched me, and I was hard as a rock.
“Anything you want, Firecracker. Anything.”