Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Snow’s lashes fluttered as he awakened in his bed, the late afternoon light filtering in through the long shears covering the windows.
It gave his bedroom a dreamlike atmosphere, as if he wasn’t in the real world.
His head was foggy, too, and he struggled to clear it.
Suddenly, he bolted upright. The funeral.
He was late to his mate’s funeral.
Nay.
He heard that in Vor’s voice, of course.
A small smile played over his lips before more tears fell.
Snow’s gaze first went to Shen at his left, who sat on the side of his bed with a soft smile of his own.
But it was too bright given the circumstances.
A halo of light circled his head from the windows behind him.
Hwa sat beside him, farther down the bed, also smiling.
Why would they smile like that on the second worst day of his life?
Whipping his head to the other side, Owan sat across from Hwa. Right beside…
Vor.
Snow struggled to take in his next breath. His heart thundered inside his chest. The memory of them in the chapel came back to him like a flash. A flash. Just like the lightning that had taken Vor from him in the meadow.
Tears burned the backs of his eyes. “Are you really here?”
“I am,” Vor murmured. His smile grew. He took Snow’s hand and kissed the palm. “I’m alive, my love.”
Snow leapt to his knees and pushed himself onto Vor’s lap, wrapping his arms around the alpha. He buried his nose against Vor’s neck, inhaling the man’s scent deep. Vor smelled of the woods. Oak, pine, strength, and sunshine.
Snow’s sunshine.
His light in the darkness.
Vor was alive.
Or it was a dream Snow never wished to be awoken from. Either way, his mate was returned to him and he was never letting go. Sobs rose up Snow’s chest, and Vor hugged him tighter.
“It’s okay, my little prince… I’m here,” Vor whispered against his ear before pressing a kiss against the spot his earlobe met neck. “I’m here.”
“Thank heavens,” Snow whispered back. He leaned back. “But how?”
Vor shrugged. “I couldn’t say. The last thing I remember is the fight… sinking my axe into the wizard and the power surging through me… and then you and I in the chapel, tasting your sorrow on my lips.”
“Perhaps that’s what did it,” Hwa said. “Snow’s kisses brought you back to life.”
“Mayhap,” Vor said, appearing unable to take his gaze off Snow. “His lips have always made me feel more alive.”
Snow lifted himself to capture Vor’s lips. If that was what had brought Vor back, Snow would kiss him as often as possible to ensure he never left again. Vor grasped the back of Snow’s head and deepened the kiss, growling.
A moan escaped Snow’s lips. He was more than ready to show Vor how much he was missed. Someone cleared their throat, breaking the seductive spell. Snow peeked out from where he held on to Vor for dear life. His father stood at the foot of his bed, one noble brow held aloft.
“Father,” Snow murmured, his cheeks growing warm. “Have you been introduced to my mate?”
“We’ve spoken. Briefly,” his father said, no hint of pleasure on his face.
Snow eyed Vor for a second before refocusing on his father. “I hope you two can get better acquainted.”
“We will. Hopefully before your mating ceremony,” his father said grimly.
“Our mating ceremony?” Snow asked, his gaze whipping to Vor’s.
“My physician came to examine you after you passed out,” the king said.
“He asked if it were possible you were with child.” The king’s stare moved to Vor.
“And your mate’s expression implied there was a chance.
” His father’s stern gaze landed back on Snow.
“You shared a heat… so we must rush a ceremony to have you properly mated in case a child grows in your womb even now.”
Snow’s cheeks warmed, but he fought a smile at the same time. He peeked at Vor and found a similar smile reflected back at him. His heart soared at the sight. Vor caressed his cheek and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
“Thankfully he’s a nobleman and not the peasant you told me he was,” the king said next.
“A nobleman?” Snow spat, his gaze flying to Vor’s.
Vor winced, shaking his head.
“You lied to me.”
Vor’s cheeks warmed to a deep red. “I told… a fib.”
Snow scoffed.
“I was the seventh son, Snow. My father had more heirs than he could ever need. I meant nothing to him,” Vor said. “I was treated little better than the servants. And it wasn’t as if my title meant anything in that cottage.”
“But this means you’re of noble blood. No one could argue our mating wasn’t legitimate,” Snow said happily. “There’s nothing to stop us now.”
Pain tightened over Vor’s expression. “My hands are dirty, Snow. Of that, I did not lie.”
“We should go,” Shen said, waving everyone out, including Snow’s incredulous father. “Let these two have a moment to speak in private.”
From the look on Shen, Hwa, and Owan’s faces as they walked out, Snow grew worried. Once they were alone, Vor sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging. Tears glistened in Vor’s eyes when he lifted his gaze.
“The wizard had a good reason to imprison me, Snow.”
Snow frowned. “What was the reason?”
Vor scrubbed his face with one hand. “I callously beat a beta outside an alehouse for the crime of… laughing at and disrespecting me.”
Snow shook his head. “That’s not the man I know.”
“I was an entitled, angry young man. No one respected me… because my father ignored my very presence. Looking back, perhaps he saw what I really was and hated what he saw. Then, I blamed him for everything. I drank and fucked away most of my days.” Vor inhaled deeply and met Snow’s gaze again.
“During a particular wild night of debauchery, a beta walked into me in a pub and spilled his ale over my tunic. When I demanded he apologize… on his knees, kissing my feet… he refused as he rightfully should have. I told him who I was, and he laughed in my face. Something broke within me, and I demanded he face me outside. When he refused, I dragged him out and I beat him mercilessly. I wasn’t as big as I am now…
but I was still quite a bit larger than him.
I was a bully, even before that night, but I was probably something far worse than that.
Had the wizard not intervened on the beta’s behalf, I might’ve killed him. ”
Snow searched Vor’s face and saw remorse there. “What happened after the wizard intervened?”
Vor chuckled, but there was no mirth in it.
“I was belligerent, of course. Angry to have been stopped. The wizard saw me for what I was and eviscerated me with his cruel tongue. All I could think was ‘how dare a weak, old, little omega speak to me like that?’ I cursed and belittled him right back. He laughed, which only enraged me more. I stormed closer, ready to make it physical. The next thing I knew, I woke up in that accursed meadow, incensed and confused. It took me years to recognize that I had put myself in that prison, not the wizard. My entitlement… my cruelty… they were the shackles on my wrists.”
“You said you were imprisoned for hunger.”
Vor winced. “Hunger for power. Hunger for unearned respect. Hunger to have more than my fair share because of a title my father carried.” Vor cleared his throat.
“Hunger to have others feel more pain than I did.” He looked down at his hands.
“That’s not who I am now, but I can’t deny that’s who I once was. ”
“You sound as if you’ve seen the error of your ways,” Snow murmured. “Have you?”
“I don’t know that I have,” Vor said. “I killed my jailor, the only person to ever hold me accountable for my sins.”
“Your jailor was trying to kill me.”
“I know,” Vor said. “I just… my first instinct was once again violence. Yes, it was to protect you, but it makes me fear I’ve not changed as much as I thought I had.”
“I daresay your doubt shows you have changed. The fact you question if you’re a good man proves to me that you are.”
“Does it, though?” Vor asked.
“Even if it didn’t, you were imprisoned for fourteen years, Vor. You gave your life to save mine.” Snow brushed back a lock of Vor’s silky hair and tucked it behind one ear. “I believe you’ve paid a price for the sins of your youth and now it’s time to see how far you’ve come.”
“What if I haven’t changed? What if I fall back on bad habits? What if I hurt—” Tears shone in Vor’s eyes. “If I ever hurt you… I could never forgive myself.”
“You have been nothing but tender and gentle with me,” Snow said.
“Have I really?”
“Yes. You have. But if it makes you feel better, we have Shen, Hwa, and Owan here to ensure you remain on your best behavior.”
Vor’s lips almost twisted into a smile.
“One wrong move and Hwa would be happy to teach you a little respect. I’ve heard him say as much,” Snow said, wrapping his arms back around Vor’s neck.
“Will your father allow them to remain here with us if we mate?” Vor asked.
“I’ll demand it,” Snow said. “And given that one day I’ll be king, I believe I have the right to choose who sleeps in my bed and who doesn’t.”
Vor held his gaze. “Are you sure you want me in it?”
Snow had lost Vor once. He wasn’t going to lose him again. But what if Vor didn’t want to be kept?
“Do you not wish to mate me?”
“Of course I do,” Vor said. “Even if we weren’t bound, I’d be a fool not to see how amazing you are, Snow.”
“Then why are you fighting this so hard? First it was your prison and now you’re not good enough. What will it be next?”
“I’ve never felt that I was good enough for you.”
“You are,” Snow whispered. Snow slid from Vor’s lap and tugged him into bed. “You’re mine. I won’t let you go. This is where you belong.”
“I am yours,” Vor whispered, kissing Snow’s forehead.
“Fate brought you back to me, and I won’t allow anything to steal you away again. Including your own doubts. You’re not the same man you were then. You said it yourself just moments ago.” Snow climbed astride Vor and stared down at his mate. “And you’ve been punished enough.”