“How long will you let this go on? Don’t you feel what’s between us?”
She stops, then spins around to meet my eyes. “Of course I feel it. It’s all I think about besides saving everyone. But it’s too much. Being distracted gets us dead. And too many people need us focused.”
“This isn’t about them, Anima. We can still defeat Scur and Rahna while being together. You’re it for me. You are my life now.”
Anima runs her hands through her hair and tilts her face to the sky, closing her eyes. She fists her hands at her sides. I won’t back down from this. She means more to me than anything. I didn’t lie to Nox.
“It’s not that simple.” The fight drains out of her, and she appears tired. The weight of the world is on her shoulders, and this is one more thing.
“It is, and you know it. The Fates deemed us to be together. We were enemies and now mates. Everything else we can get through together.”
“You’re staying.” It’s a whisper in the wind. The force of the words crashes into me.
“So?” It’s not the most reasonable answer, but I’m unsure why this matters now.
“I’m not. I don’t belong here. My home is in the Mortal Realm. I have friends there and a life. Even if it won’t ever be the same, it’s where I want to live.”
“Is this what has been bothering you the whole time? Our possible separation?” I chuckle, but I grab her hand before she can use it. Her scowl tells me I was three seconds away from a throat punch.
“I won’t give in, Torque. I’ve worked too hard to have a sense of normal. Here, I’m a freak. There, I’m someone.”
“I’d never ask you to give up what you love. I go where you go. It’s simple.”
“Having your people happy is your number one. You’ve said so frequently. I’ll impede on that.”
I pull her to me again, molding our bodies together. Her silver eyes dart around my face, searching for something. “Anima, I vow to you from this day that I will stand by your side no matter the place you are in. If you want to live in the Mortal Realm, I will be there with you. If you want to live in the Darklands or the Bloodlands, I’ll be with you. I don’t care where we make a home—what I care about is you. You’re a part of my soul. Being without you isn’t an option.”
A breath leaves her as she closes her eyes. She leans into me, clutching my tunic. “I’m scared.”
She loses her voice among the fabric, but I know. Being a warrior is lonely. Trusting people you may have to kill the next day isn’t something that comes easy, but your mate? The one you’re destined to be with shouldn’t be a question.
“Our bond is nothing to be afraid of. We don’t have to seal it until you’re ready, but I need to know you want this.”
She lifts her head from my chest, reaches up to cup my jaw. “I’ve wanted you since the night we fought. Your whiskey and brimstone scent made me feel things I’ve never felt.”
Smiling down at her, I can’t help but press my lips to hers again. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of kissing her. She grips my chest, making me want to take her right there.
My hands wrap around her hips to merge us tighter together. The bond lights with intensity, making my need grow. She bites my bottom lip, pulling it into her mouth.
“I’m losing what little control I have,” I growl.
She laughs, pulling away. “We have too much work to do.”
Sighing, I have to agree. Preparing for war is our top priority. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.
ANIMA
Confessing my need for Torque lowered my guard more than anything I’ve ever done. I allowed him to see me. For the first time, I’ve trusted someone other than Shelley.
Namir meets me in the courtyard when Torque and I head up to the castle. Agitation is rolling off him in waves. The guards are avoiding him at all costs.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, trying to get him to stop pacing.
Scur is closer than we thought. He will be here in a few days. His army advances at a rapid speed.
“How did he recover so quickly? Ari took out a lot of his soldiers during my rescue.”
I do not know. This frightens me. How many are in his army? Who are they working with? You must speak to the kings to see if there is something I do not know. Ari and I will go scouting. I shall be back before the battle. Prepare yourself.
He bumps into my stomach. I wrap my arms around him, inhaling his tyger scent and letting all my love pour into him. He’s a part of my soul now, my soul-bonded.
Watching him go puts a lump in my throat, but Torque is there pulling me against him.
“Ari explained,” he says. I look to the sky, finding her flying close by. From down here, she’s like any other bird, but I know better. With talons the size of my hands and a wingspan the size of an RV, she’s dangerous. Her screech can cause a sonic boom, exploding her prey from the inside. I’m glad she’s an ally.
“Let’s not waste time then. I’ll find Nox and Uriel. You find Umbra and her mates. We’ll meet in their war room in twenty minutes.”
Before I can run off, he draws me in for a quick kiss. “Be careful.”
I roll my eyes before punching his arm. “That is one reason I didn’t want a mate,” I call over my shoulder.
I find Nox and Uriel in an outside courtyard on the other side of the courtyard. They appear to be in a heated discussion, but there isn’t time for me to be cautious. We only have
