by Quinn Loftis
“Should you purposefully hurt Cyn in such a way that will cause her significant problems, whether physically or mentally, you will suffer my full wrath. You will kneel before me, Perizada, high fae, ambassador to the wolves and protector and teacher of the gypsy healers, and be held accountable for your actions. Do you understand this decree as it has been explained to you?”
“I do and I shall accept the consequences should such an atrocity ever occur.”
“Well, good.” Peri breathed out. “That was fun.”
“Really?” Thalion frowned. “If that is your idea of fun, I’d hate to know what your idea of a bad time is.”
Peri’s lips turned up in a grin. “I don’t really have bad times. Being able to turn annoying people into handbags, rugs, and turds pretty much prevents it.” She gave him a wave before flashing, leaving him with those lovely images.
“You never told me why Peri so rudely snatched you from our bed, Mina,” Vasile said as he ran his fingertips up and down her arm.
Alina leaned into him, resting her head on his chest. “You distracted me, if you recall.”
She felt his chest bounce as laughter rumbled out of him. “And what a good distraction it was.”
“I’m glad you are proud of yourself, love,” Alina said, smiling at his smugness.
“Are you going to tell me what she wanted?”
“She took me to see Cyn.”
Vasile stilled. “Is she alright?”
Alina knew that her mate felt some responsibility toward the fae because Cyn had helped them so much. He was that way with all who assisted in the cause to fight evil, and it was one of the many things that made her love him.
“She’s having a hard time deciding what to do about Thalion,” Alina explained. “She loves him but can’t seem to reconcile where he fits in her life. At least that’s what I gathered.”
“And Peri felt you might be able to help her wade through the emotions?” His fingertips resumed their caressing, and Alina and her wolf took pleasure in their mate’s attention.
“I don’t know if I helped, honestly. Their ways of finding a mate are different from ours, but at the same time, their paths kept meeting and it seems clear that they are meant for each other. I encouraged her to surrender to it.”
“There was a time when you did not want to surrender to me,” he reminded her.
She pushed back and looked up at him. “I would have been a fool to have continued down that path. But, if you recall, you wandered as well.”
“I did. It was one of the darkest times in my life. I learned during that time that I could never, nor would I ever want to, live without you.”
“It is a good thing, then, that we both realized the error of our ways.”
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “That it is, beloved. That it is.”
Peri stared out into the dark night, her presence cloaked by the forest around her. The fae’s eyes were narrowed as she gazed toward the Romanian pack mansion. Her mate was within those walls, and after all of her brave words to Cyn, she still could not bring herself to go to him.
She knew he would fill the void inside of her. He would be the balm to the wound that was left in his absence, an absence that was of her own making. Peri knew she couldn’t run forever. In fact, she was pretty sure her running days were numbered. Be that as it may, her stubborn nature would not permit her feet to move from the spot where she found herself rooted.
Would it be so bad to be mated to a wolf? Her mind screamed yes because it was programed to be irritated with the stubborn wolves. In the same way that breathing was natural, so was threatening to turn the wolves into rugs. But her heart was saying something different. Her heart was telling her that Lucian would be good for her. He was strong, not only physically but mentally. He’d proven that by coming out of the dark forest still sane after all that time in isolation. Being mated to Lucian would finally give her someone to help bear the weight of her myriad of responsibilities. But she’d also have a weakness, because she knew if she gave her heart to him, she would be unable to ever let him go.
Peri wasn’t prone to being overly emotional, but when she decided to bestow her emotions upon a person, she gave them freely and with great abundance. Such a thing was so very scary to do, and yet it was exactly what she wanted to do with Lucian.
Peri found a fallen tree trunk upon which to sit and lowered herself to the rough surface. Her soul would not let her wander far from its other half and the need to protect him. Lucian didn’t need anyone to watch over him, of course. He was so very strong. She felt him reaching out to her through the bond, but she kept it tightly shut, unwilling to experience such intimacy, at least not yet. Peri was ancient, though she only looked to be in her twenties. Her mind was a vast pool of experiences and memories, both good and bad. She wasn’t prepared to share those. She wasn’t ready for him to see that deep into her soul.
I will be waiting until you are ready, my mate.
Peri gasped at the sound of his voice in her mind. He was strong. To be able to get past her mental shields, even if only for a minute, proved how powerful he was. He was gone just as quickly as he’d entered. In his wake, he left feelings of peace, hope, and love welling up inside of her, tempting her all the more to run to him. “Stupid wolf,” she grumbled. One day she would give in to that need to cast all of her worries aside and grab onto her own fate with both hands. One day she would no longer be alone.
Chapter 13
“I’m running to you. Will you receive me with open arms? I’m running to you and to the future with so much promise. I’m running to you with all my fears and worries in tow. Will you accept me as I am?” ~ Cyn
Cyn stood just outside the veil that would lead her to Othea, the elven realm. Her palms were sweaty, which was a new experience for her. She couldn’t think of a time in her existence that she’d ever had reason to have sweaty palms. Apparently, facing the man with whom she was hopelessly in love was worthy of sweaty palms.
Cyn hadn’t seen or talked to Thalion in a week. That wasn’t a long time for them to be apart, since there was a time in their relationship that she avoided him at all cost, sometimes for decades. But now that they’d established they were indeed in love with one another, being apart was so much more difficult. Cyn found herself wanting to tell him about ridiculous things Peri had said or share with him how cute Jennifer and Decebel’s little girl was. She wanted to hear about his day and the things he was dealing with, and she wanted to be the one he desired to tell those things to.
She hadn’t realized just how much she’d been missing by not having a mate until Thalion. Just knowing there was someone who missed her and hoped she was safe brought peace to her warring heart. Cyn wasn’t a fool. She knew it couldn’t just be a warm body waiting on her. It had to be the one who held her heart, mind, body, and soul. Thalion was that person.
There was still a tiny part of her that worried that if she gave herself to Thalion as his mate, she might one day be matched as a true mate to a wolf. But the bigger part of her wasn’t going to let a ‘what if’ decide her present. After her long discussion with Peri and Alina, and then time to herself thinking about what she needed and wanted, Cyn had come to the decision that she couldn’t walk away from Thalion. She loved him too much.
She was just about to flash when she felt the warmth behind her. Cyn turned and immediately knelt, bowing her head.
“Luna,” Cyn said reverently, keeping her eyes cast onto the ground. The serenity and calm that accompanied the goddess surrounded Cyn, and she had to fight the desire to lay down and bask in the feeling.
“Child.” The Great Luna spoke and everything around them was silenced. It was as if all of creation was waiting with baited breath for what she would say. Cyn almost forgot to breathe as she too waited. “You have lived through many cycles of the earth,” the goddess said, her voice laced with affection. “You have stood before kings, been brought to your knees more than once in the face
of your enemy, faced certain death, and yet triumphed through all. You, Cyn of the fae, were born into the life of a warrior. No one gave you a choice in your future. The steps were ordained by someone else. Yet you did not rebel. You have done your duty with humility, perseverance, strength, and honor. Few others would have behaved so nobly.”
Cyn felt a hand on her head and warmth flooded her body. The weight of everything she’d been carrying was suddenly gone.
“I come to you now in your time of need.” The goddess continued. “I have heard the cry of your heart and the confusion of your mind, and I say to you, peace, be still. You need not fret. All you have to do is ask me for what it is your heart desires most.”
Cyn took a steadying breath as she considered the Great Luna’s words. What her heart desired most was knowledge. Not just any knowledge, but the knowledge of circumstances. “Great Luna,” she spoke, her voice soft yet steady. “Does a true mate wait for me among your wolves? Should I be worried that I will one day have to leave Thalion?” She asked the question and almost immediately wished she could snatch it back. Cyn needed the answer, but her fear of the answer matched her need. Sometimes not knowing was the lesser of the two evils.
“You are a treasure, Cyn.” The Great Luna answered. “You have so much love inside of you. And you would be an incredible asset to my wolves. However, I have not paired you with one of them. Your fate lies elsewhere. The road you are taking will not be easy. But it will be worth all of its hard work and trials.”
“Why did you not come to me until now?” Cyn asked.
“The decision had to be yours. You had to be the one to choose him without any influence. Your heart and mind are united in the choice, and so I stepped in to affirm your decision.”
“What if I had made the wrong decision?”
The Great Luna chuckled. “The great thing about wrong decisions is that it usually doesn’t take long to figure out your mistake. You wouldn’t have needed a goddess to tell you that. Yet I would have come to you even still and helped you in your time of need. Thankfully, there isn’t only one road from point A to point B, though there is one that is the fastest and smoothest. But there are plenty of others that emerge when the main road has been abandoned, regardless of the reason. You are still on the main road, Cyn. Thalion, as king of his people, with you by his side as queen, will do great things.”
Cyn shook her head. “I cannot be queen. I am not of his people.”
She felt the Great Luna’s hand touch her chin and tilt her head up. “That, Cyn of the fae, is yet to be seen. But know this. No training, no discipline will prepare you for the task. The wisdom that it would take to be queen of the elves must come from in here.” Though the goddess did not move, Cyn felt a warmth in her chest over her heart. “I believe I’m not the first to give you such advice.”
Awestruck, Cyn could not speak for several moments, as the warmth in her chest slowly faded.
“Can I ask you one last question?” she finally said.
“Of course,” the goddess responded, as patient as ever.
“Why must the elves choose their mate, while the wolves are given a mate bond? Such a bond seems so powerful. Shouldn’t the elves be given such a gift?”
“And who says that choosing one’s mate is any less powerful or binding than the mate bond? When two beings who are flawed come together by choice, and look past those flaws, choosing to love even when their partner is being very unlovable … well … that seems to me a very powerful and beautiful thing. The world would be a boring place, Cyn, if everyone were created the same. Should every race have the same traits, the same choices, the same consequences? It is the diversity of it all, in each species, that makes this thing we call living such a wonderful journey to embark upon. Do not think what you have with the prince is any less than the bond that true mates have. You would be cheating yourself of the joy and sheer wonder that choosing a mate brings.”
Then she was gone as quickly as she had appeared. Cyn stood on shaky legs as the Great Luna’s words buried themselves into her mind and heart. She didn’t understand what the goddess had meant and probably wasn’t meant to understand at this point. And for that reason, she wasn’t going to mention it to Thalion. There was no point in him worrying about it when she would do enough worrying for the both of them.
She turned back to the veil and considered walking through it, but it had been too long since she’d seen her prince and flashing there would be much faster. She appeared at the door of his study. It was one of the few rooms in the palace that suited him. Regal though he may be, ostentatious he was not. Thalion preferred simple elegance, but it was apparent that whoever had fashioned the elven palace had been more keen on lavish things. From the golden banisters to the jewel-framed mirrors, they had spared no expense. When Thalion had taken over, instead of redoing the whole palace, he chose a few rooms and had them altered to his liking.
The study was her favorite. Worn leather chairs, soft thick rugs, and rows upon rows of books were just a few of the things that she loved about it.
After several deep breaths, Cyn finally knocked.
“Enter.” Thalion’s deep voice reached beyond the closed doors.
The sound of his words was the sweetest music to her ears. It had been too long since she’d heard it. A week now seemed like decades upon decades, and she was thirsty for any part of him.
Cyn pushed the door open and stepped inside. It was silent in the room, and the click of the latch settling back into place as the door closed sounded deafening. Her eyes found his immediately, and any doubt she had that he might not want her anymore vanished.
Thalion was looking at her like she was the last woman on earth. Lust and greed mingled with love and adoration as his gaze roamed over her. She’d never had any trouble talking to him, but in that moment, she found her brain was completely devoid of anything intelligent to say. So instead, she simply waited.
Thalion couldn’t take his eyes off of her. A long, emotional week had passed since he’d seen her, and her mere presence had already filled him with a peace he’d been missing. It had been too long. Too long without her scent. Too long without her voice. Too incredibly long without her touch. Never again. He straightened up from where he’d been leaning over his desk. He felt his heart pounding painfully in his chest, and his lungs refused to take in any air. Part of him was afraid she was just a figment of his imagination—a way for his mind and heart to deal with her absence. But the other part of him, the more rational part, knew it was her. He could smell her sweet scent and hear her breathing, which seemed to be as strained as his own. She was there, with him, finally.
“Beautiful,” he said, finally breaking the silence. “You take my breath away.” Thalion took slow steps toward her. He was afraid the slightest movement could scare her away. But when she took a single step in his direction, his control was lost.
Thalion swooped in on her with speed that any fae would be envious of and wrapped her in his arms. Her body immediately molded to his, perfectly, just as she was meant to. He’d known, without the Fates telling him, that Cyn was his. He’d never doubt it, and he hoped she would allow him the opportunity to prove it to her.
His arms tightened around her, and he buried his face against her neck. Thalion took long, deep breaths and reveled in her smell. She smelled like home. He felt her fingers twining in his long hair and nearly groaned at how good it felt. She was finally touching him.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he murmured against her neck.
“I’ve missed you as well.” Cyn’s sweet voice caused heat to surge through his body.
They held onto one another, refusing to let go and yet saying nothing. It was as though they both needed reassurance that the other was not going to vanish at any moment. After ten minutes of nothing but hugging, Thalion pulled back and took her small face in his hands. She was beautiful, his Cyn. Her eyes were heated with her own passion, and his desire for her clawed at his insides. Thalion pushed a
way those thoughts and remembered why they’d been apart in the first place.
“How have you been?” he asked.
“Not good. Bad, actually. It's been bad.”
Leave it to his female to just tell it like it was. “Were you able to think about things?” About us was the unspoken sentiment.
Cyn nodded. A small smile graced her beautiful lips as she looked up at him. “I took a trip down memory lane. I shared our story with Peri and Alina.”
“Our story?” Thalion’s brow drew together.
She nodded. “How we met and how you kept trying to hit on me and I kept shooting you down.” Cyn laughed when Thalion dropped one hand to poke her in the side.
“It’s not nice to tell lies.” Thalion huffed.
“It was good to remember, to have all of those feelings being stirred up inside of me.” She tilted her head as her lips pursed. “It helped me see how we’ve always been meant for each other.”
Thalion felt his heart drop to his feet. His stomach rolled and his lungs closed. Had he heard her right? Was she saying what he thought she was saying?
“I might need you to spell it out for me, beautiful,” Thalion told her.
She smiled at him, and the adoration that was reflected in her eyes nearly drove him to his knees.
“I’m ready to give you all of me,” Cyn said, her voice tight with emotion. Her chin dropped, her eyes drifting to the ground.
Thalion placed his finger under her chin and lifted her head. “Don’t be embarrassed. Never be embarrassed to show me how you feel. I will not cease to show you how I feel about you.”
“How do you feel about me?” she asked him.
Thalion stepped closer to her, if that was even possible. His eyes held hers, and he hoped that she could see the sincerity that he felt. “You are my breath, Cyn…the food that nourishes me. You are the light that keeps the darkness at bay, the water that quenches my thirst. Without you, I am a withered husk, deteriorating under the heat of the sun. Cyn, beloved of mine, you have my heart, mind, body, and soul. They are yours and will be until the end of time.”