Chapter 45
I stare out at the crowd. “Release your spirit jaguars.” I swear not a single person moves, and I force myself not to bite my lip.
“Go ahead. Release your spirit jaguars.” There’s movement, and I can’t help my smile when I see a few spirit jaguars begin to make an appearance.
I stay still as more and more begin to make an appearance.
I see movement out of the corner of my eye and smile when I see four spirit jaguars next to me from the four elders.
Mae doesn’t have one yet; she hasn’t gone through the Spirit Trials yet.
Soon, there are spirit jaguars all over the arena.
Some of them are standing, some are walking around, others are sitting by their bonded.
Some of them have even made their way onto the arena floor.
I can’t even speak for a moment; it’s truly the most breathtaking sight I’ve ever seen.
“Do you see that?” I ask, and my voice is not as strong as I want it to be.
But people can hear me, because heads turn my way.
“That right there.” I take a breath and get control of my emotions.
Veyra brushes against me, and I rest my hand on her head.
“Look around. Have you ever seen a more amazing sight? We literally get to see jaguars every day—the amazing creatures that they are. If that weren’t enough, we get to live in the trees or on the water.
The weather is mild here, and we get to enjoy the sun all year round.
We are protected, closed off from invaders.
Yes, we have a guivre problem; but we’re solving that.
We live in the most beautiful kingdom. We are so blessed.
We have our homes, our mates, our children, and our spirit animals.
What more could we ask for?” There’s cheering, and I wait a moment.
“This. Right here. It’s worth fighting for.
And nobody—not any person or creature—will take that from us.
” Thunderous applause shakes the arena, and I smile as I take it in.
After a moment or two, I give the crowd a head nod and then step out of the way and motion for Zarreth to come take my place.
He gets into the details and the nitty gritty of preparing for more guivre attacks.
It takes a little while, but it’s good. He’s thorough.
When he finishes, I feel like we’re prepared to deal with the threats that lie ahead in the days to come.
When the meeting finally adjourns, I make my way to the ground level exit so I can talk to people.
My team stays near. Well, Jorren and Taren do, but I know Reika and Evren are somewhere nearby watching.
I’m not sure how long I stand in the exit greeting people.
Not everybody gives me a warm reception, but that doesn’t surprise me.
And it oddly doesn’t bother me. There are enough people that do.
It’s a few hours later that I finally finish, and the last person walks away.
My shoulders sag, and I am absolutely depleted.
I want nothing more than to head back to the house and crash.
I start out of the arena, but a voice stops me.
“Do you have time for one more?”
I freeze, and everything slows down around me at the sound of that voice. That beautiful voice. I turn slowly and take in the tall man standing just a few feet away from me. I suck in a breath as tears form in my eyes. “Kaldar?”
“My Queen,” he says, giving me a respectful head nod. “I have to tell you. If I wasn’t already a fan, I would have pledged my allegiance to you today.”
I can’t process his words because he’s here.
Kaldar is here. Standing. Healthy and whole.
I’m running towards him before I even realize what I’m doing.
Thankfully, reality crashes into me a second before I throw myself into his arms. I lift my eyes to his.
His eyebrows rise. “I really thought a hug was coming.”
“Are you still injured?” I ask.
“I’m perfectly whole.”
“Show me,” I demand because I’m not taking his word for it. He wouldn’t tell me even if he was still standing here with open wounds.
“My Queen,” he practically purrs. “So suggestive. While I'm happy to strip for you, we should probably wait until we’re back at the house. Alone.”
I’m pretty sure I blush to the roots of my hair, causing his grin to widen and his eyes to dance with merriment. I don’t let myself get distracted. “Show me your injuries. I want to see for myself that they’re healed.”
He must hear something in my voice, or maybe he sees it in the desperation of my gaze because his face softens. Then he lifts his tunic and pulls it up and over his head. My eyes stare obsessively at his chest and shoulders, searching. “See,” he says quietly. “It’s all healed.”
I lift my gaze to his, still not ready to believe him one hundred percent. “Are you in any pain?” He shakes his head. “You’re completely healed?”
He smiles so tenderly at me. “Yes, my love.” I can’t take it any longer.
I step forward and throw my arms around his chest. His arms come around me half a second later, and he holds me tightly.
I want to cry; I want to scream. I want to jump around in excitement, but I settle for this right here.
Kaldar’s arms around me and him healthy and whole.
I’m not sure how long we stay that way, but it’s not a short amount of time.
Yet, nobody bothers us. Even our team has made themselves scarce.
I glance down at some point and see Veyra lying next to Jespar, and my heart tugs in my chest. Things are right in my world.
I finally break the silence. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
“Me too.” His voice is husky, and I wonder if he’s just as emotional as me.
Needing to make this moment lighter, I pull back and look up at him. “Good because I am so ready for you to take over as King.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Are you teasing?”
“What? No. Why would I be teasing?”
He stares at me, and I get a bad feeling in my stomach. “Angel, my Love, you’re the Queen now. I named you in my place to rule.”
“Just until you came back. I did, but you’re here now. So, you can take over and be king again.”
He shakes his head slowly. “That’s not how it works.”
My stomach drops. “What are you talking about?” My words are a whisper.
He smiles at me, but it doesn’t ease the panic in my chest. He reaches out and strokes my cheek with his thumb.
“Here in the Jag Kingdom,” he begins softly.
“Our laws are set in stone, so to speak. They can’t be undone; they can never be undone.
When I gave you my crown, I was giving it to you for good. ”
“You didn’t give me a crown,” I say, desperately trying to not panic.
“Not literally, figuratively. I gave you my leadership. I made you Queen, and that can never be undone.”
I stare at him. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
His smile just grows. “No, you’re not.” He rubs his hand down my spine. “You just need a moment to let it sink in; you’ll be fine.”
“I won’t be fine, Kaldar. Nothing about this is fine.”
“Breathe, Love,” he says quietly. He pulls me close, not quite hugging me.
His hand continues to run up and down my spine.
“You are now and forever will be Queen of the Jaguar Kingdom, but I will rule at your side.” He leans back and looks into my eyes.
“You will never be alone. We will rule together.” He shrugs. “You’ll just be the figurehead.”
I stare at him, angry suddenly. “Why did nobody tell me this? Everyone must have known, if that’s your law.”
“Oh they did. I told Jorren before my fight to tell everyone that had access to you, so they wouldn’t say anything.”
I stare at him. “Why? I don’t understand.”
He gives me that tender smile again. “Because I knew you needed an out when you panicked, and I knew you would panic. You needed to think that I was coming back, and you wouldn’t have to do this anymore.”
“Yes! Exactly!” I say, nodding my head.
He palms my face with both of his large hands. “It gave you the freedom to rule without the fear, and it proved to you, you could do it.”
I can feel my panic rising. “No, I can’t!”
“Sweetheart.” His thumbs stroke my cheeks again. “That might have convinced me if I hadn’t heard you a few hours ago.”
“No, that’s not going to—” I stop. “Wait. What?” My eyes find his. “You heard me?”
“Every word, and I am so proud to call you my mate. You were amazing up there, Kinsley. You were everything this kingdom needs in its Queen.”
“Kaldar, I can’t—”
“You can, but I’m not going anywhere. I will be with you every step of the way. I’ll make the big decisions; you can lean on me.” He grins. “Or you can make all the big decisions, and I’ll support you.”
“No,” my answer is swift. “If I have to do this, you will make all the decisions with me.” I stare up at him, and my mind races a hundred miles an hour, trying to make sense of all this.
It’s just too much, and I push it aside.
It will be there for me to deal with when I’m ready.
But right now? Right now, I want something very different.
“Kinsley,” he says, cocking his head to the side. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I just want to know while we’re still standing here talking when we could be doing something else, something else much more important.”
“Yeah. What could possibly be more important than talking, My Queen?” I frown at that, but he just grins as he takes a step closer. “Better get used to it, Love.” His hands drop to my hips, and I swear we both relax with the contact. “What did you have in mind?” he asks in a low voice.
I stare up at him, all flirting forgotten. I reach up and touch his cheek. “I can’t believe you’re here, and you’re whole.”
“I am, Love. I won’t ever leave you again.” He leans down so that our lips are almost touching. “Now, what did you have in mind.”
I don’t wait a second longer. I stand on my tiptoes and touch my lips to his.
He meets me halfway, and I sigh against his lips when they touch mine.
My body softens and leans into his muscular, stronger one.
He pulls me impossibly closer and kisses me over and over and over again.
He pulls his lips from mine, and I whimper at the loss of contact.
He hovers over my cheek, kissing me there.
“I love you.” He dips his head and kisses under my chin and the side of my neck before meeting my lips again.
“I love you too,” I manage to get out in between kisses. I pull on his shoulders, trying to get closer.
He pulls back, and his eyes are darker now.
“We need to get back to the house.” I laugh; I can’t help it.
He narrows his eyes at me, but I can see the side of his lips tick up.
“Come on.” He tugs on my hand, and we start towards the exit.
Thankfully, nobody’s still hanging around.
“Straight back to our house,” he says quietly next to my ear.
“Jorren, we’re heading to the house,” he calls out without looking back.
The walk passes in a daze. I’m pretty sure people call out to us, and many celebrate to see the return of Kaldar.
But we just wave and keep moving. Before I know it, we’re back at the house.
Kaldar, tugs on my hand, pulling me to a stop.
“Nobody bothers us,” he calls behind him.
I’m pretty sure my face flames, but I don’t get a chance to think about it as he tugs me inside.