Hunted

“You think they’ll be mated?”

“She hasn’t said anything, but she’s eighteen now and can choose him if she likes.” Her tone was neutral, but my empathic senses picked up envy.

Why would she be jealous of Izzy? Kim hooked up with different guys all the time, two in the past year, strung them along then dumped them. I wanted to ask her what was wrong without appearing nosy, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it.

“It’s interesting that we…women…get to choose who we mate with,” I said.

She shrugged. “That was Goddess Xenia’s way of dealing with male arrogance. She saw how our forefathers abused their power by taking many mates.”

“So do you have someone in mind for a mate?” I asked tentatively.

Kim bit her lower lip, and for a brief moment I was sure she wouldn’t respond.

“Why don’t you go for a swim too instead of interrogating me?” she said.

“Nah,” I said, shaking my head. I’d done enough scuba diving. Bran and his ability to trap pockets of air under water made scuba diving quite an experience.

“I suppose you and Bran will have a pactus when you officially choose him,” Kim asked with a mocking smile that usually bugged me. Not today though. Beach times had been rare this summer and I wasn’t about to let her spoil it for me. “I guess so.”

He was my soul mate, or to use the ancient term, my alrune. I was attracted to him the moment we met even though I thought he was from the loony bin at the time. He was confident and fearless. But his most admirable quality was his loyalty to his family, even to his brother, who didn’t deserve it. Falling in love with him had been inevitable. Mating with him was something I’d assumed was a given, not that I needed to think about such things now. I had about a year to go before I could ask him to be my mate.

Frowning, I studied him. Would he say yes? Just because women did the asking didn’t necessarily mean men said yes. I’d never attended a pactus, the mating ceremony performed in the temple of Goddess Xenia in Xenith—the Guardians’ homeland. Nephlings weren’t allowed in Xenith, and since I was one, thanks to my human grandmother, that meant Bran and I would not be mated there.

“I’m going to read in the cabana for a while.” I nodded toward the one set aside just for us Cardinals.

“Remember, we’re leaving in less than hour,” she reminded me.

“I know.” I reached for the book in my tote bag, my hand brushing against the strap of my dagger’s belt. Even on vacation, we carried weapons just in case demons attacked. Not that they would dare come after us on Pearls Island.

A shadow fell over me, the silhouette of the wings reaching Kim. Squinting, I looked up at Bran and fought a blush when he studied me with heated emerald eyes.

Water droplets glistened like diamonds on his tanned chest, the scar of the Guardian amulet light between his pecs. Funny, I had once thought the scar marred the perfection of his golden skin. Now it was a reminder of how much he’d sacrificed to leave the demonic world and join us.

“Done showing off?” I asked, smiling.

“For the moment,” he answered cockily. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” He must have felt my brief moment of sadness when I was thinking about Xenith. It was great to have a boyfriend so in tune with my feelings.

Izzy appeared behind him. “If you want to drool over the new and improved Lil, take her away from here and do it in private.”

“I second that,” Kim said with a bite in her voice.

Bran ignored them. He offered me his hand, pulled me straight into his arms and wrapped a possessive arm around my waist.

“New and improved?” he asked, his right eyebrow arcing as he glanced at Izzy.

“You know. The hair, new swimsuit, the whole makeover. She looks hot. Told you he’d drool,” she added, winking at me.

“I don’t drool,” Bran protested though half-heartedly.

“Do too,” Izzy retorted.

“I don’t need to. Lil always looks hot in anything she wears,” he added, smiling.

I hugged his arm. He said the nicest things ever. I kissed him.

Izzy made a gagging sound. “You two are nauseating.”

Kim pointed toward the cabana and added imperiously, “Go. You’re messing with my tan.”

Bran grinned. “We’re going, but not because you ordered us to. I’ve something else on my mind.”

“Yeah, we know,” Kim quipped.

“Thank me later,” Izzy teased.

“Shut up.” I still wasn’t used to their teasing. Let’s go to the lounge, I telepathed Bran.

No, we’re heading up. He scooped me up like I weighed nothing, then he teleported with me.

We materialized in the air, his wings beating fast to stabilize us. Below us, the Guardians looked like ants on the powder-white beach. The Bahamian colonial-style houses of the resort blended with the palm trees and the pristine turquoise waters lapping the shores of the island. Admiring the view from the air wasn’t what I had in mind, but at least we were alone.

He shot up, aiming higher. Over his shoulders, the islands grew smaller. A few miles away, several cruise ships drifted in the darker, deeper waters. Not a single cloud marred the perfection of the sky.

Bran did a couple of loop-de-loops, then steadied us, his dimples flashing and emerald-green eyes sparkling. He was happiest when flying.

“What do you think of the view?” Bran asked.

“Beautiful.” I looked into his eyes. “I think you deliberately brought me up here because you were losing.”

“Losing?”

“The game where you’d look at me then pretend not to.” I tapped his nose. “You’re not that sneaky.”

He chuckled and brushed his lips against my temple. “I could never ignore you, Sunshine. You’re my chosen mate.”

“I haven’t decided on that yet,” I teased, trying not to laugh when shock registered in his expressive green eyes.

“Take that back or I’ll drop you.” He removed his arm from under my knees. I tightened my arms around his neck and scrambled to wrap my legs around him.

“That wasn’t funny,” I scolded him. “I could have fallen.”

“I’d fall with you.” He dropped a quick kiss on my lips this time. “In life and in death, Lil Falcon.” He pressed his forehead against mine and added softly, “This lifetime is not enough for the things I plan to do with you.”

“Me, too.”

His arms tightened around me. “Then choose me as your mate,” he said, his voice low. “Make it official.”

I giggled. “I can do that after I turn eighteen, silly. Pactus must be performed in front of witnesses. It’s the Guardian tradition.”

“On Coronis Isle, we didn’t have a temple. Alrunes made their own vows.” His eyes grew intense. “Let’s make ours right now, with the elements as our witnesses.”

“Bran—”

“Do it,” he added softly, daring me.

He was worried. How ridiculous. I’d never choose anyone else. “I love you, silly, and if you want this, then let’s do it.” I took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. “I vow right here and now that you, Bran Llyr, are my chosen mate. With the sun, the stars, the waters, the air, and the earth as my witnesses, I will love you through eternity.”

“In flesh and ascension,” he added.

“In flesh and ascension,” I repeated.