She hadn’t been thinking. For once, she’d just been caught up in the moment. In wanting him. In wanting everything to be final somewhere deep in her heart.
She hadn’t meant to mate him, but she couldn’t regret it either, not when it had felt so right.
But the fact remained that she didn’t know what it all meant.
She was ready to let go of the past, of wanting him to rescue her back then. Of blaming him. She could accept that he’d done his best to survive, and she had as well.
But she was still not a wolf anymore. And only a wolf could be made for him.
When he was dressed, he sat back on the blanket, leaning on his hands as he looked at the sea. “Do you hate me for not stopping us?” he asked as if he couldn’t face her.
She shook her head. “I hate myself for not being the type you can mate.”
“No,” he said fiercely, looking over at her. His beauty was shaded in sharp lines by the moon. “You’re the type I can mate, or else I wouldn’t be mated to you. And I am. I can feel it in my heart.”
She put her head in her hands nervously, trying to think what she should do next.
He came forward to wrap his arms around her, pulling her into his lap. She let him, despite feeling disgusted for what she was.
How could they ever have children? How could—
“I don’t want you to think I would change anything about you,” he said. “I know that some things will be different, but I meant what I said before. I’m just glad you survived. And who knows? Maybe one day you’ll be glad for what you are.”
She shook her head. “It’s too monstrous.”
He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. “You could never be monstrous. Monstrously sexy, maybe. Monstrously hot and fun. Never just monstrous.”
She rested her head against his chest. When he spoke like that, she could almost believe him.
She should have known how this would go. She’d fallen into his arms from the first time she’d tried to kill him. She’d come back again and fallen into his bed.
And this time, when she’d come to stay with him, telling herself it was just an excuse to get close to him, she’d mated him.
She supposed there really was something to fate.
But how did all of that apply now?
“We’ll work it out together,” Felix said. “All that matters is you’re mine. We’ll face the rest together, okay?”
She wrapped her arms around him, pressing even closer. “Okay.”
And for a few moments as they sat there listening to the pounding of their hearts and the ocean, they weren’t just an assassin and a wyvern.
They were two people who were always meant to be together finally in each other’s arms.
Diana wished they could stay there forever.
Chapter 21
Felix was heavily aware they weren’t headed for clear sailing, and he had to remind himself of that whenever he wanted to shout to the sky that he’d finally found his mate.
After driving back to his apartment, enjoying the music and each other, they had fallen into each other’s arms and slept deeply.
And when the sun had risen, waking him up, he hadn’t known how to contain himself when he saw her sleeping next to him.
Finally his.
Except not totally because there would be people looking for her. People who thought they owned her like the Tribunal had thought they owned him.
Felix’s mouth pulled down in a snarl as he thought of all the things he could do to anyone who tried to take her from him.
He wished he could see her with her wings again but knew it might hurt her to even ask. But he couldn’t help being curious. She was the woman he loved no matter what, and the wyvern transformation hadn’t seemed to affect her personality as it had with some wolves.
So what exactly had it done to her? How much was she changed?
He needed to know, and then he needed to talk to some people just to reassure her that she could be his mate. That she would be safe.
Mainly, he needed her not to run as she had every other time they’d met up.
At least her stuff was there now.
She stirred, running a hand through her hair and groaning before slowly opening her eyes. When she looked over at him, her eyes widened in shock for a moment, then softened in resignation as a small smile curved her lips. “I guess we’ve done it now, huh?”
He scooted over to curl around her, pulling her in tight against his side, tucked under his arm. “I guess so.”
“So what next?” She shook her head. “I can’t go back there. Not until your scent is gone.”
He grimaced. “No, you can’t go back there at all. They want to kill me. If you’re not of the same opinion, they’ll want to kill you. These people aren’t right in the head.”
She pushed away from him, sitting up. “How would you know?”
He sat up as well, letting the sheet fall down, baring his chest. “If they’re anything like the other crazies trying to kill me, then I know them pretty well.”
“That’s right. People are already trying to kill you.” She sighed. “It’s not going to be easy, is it?”
He stretched his hands in front of him, cracking his knuckles. “I mean, I think it’ll be easy. Bringing you back from the dead was the hard part. Now we just have to fight. Something both of us are good at. You might be even better now that you’re—”
She slanted him a glance, and he cut himself off.
“Anyway, I can fight anyone who comes for us,” he said.
She swallowed. “What about your friends? It’ll just be more danger for them.” She looked at the sheets. “Besides, you don’t know anything about the compound. About who is running it.”
“Then tell me,” he said eagerly.
Her dark eyes were tortured as she looked up at him. “I can’t. Pack promise.”
“Ah.” He sat back. “So that’s why they trusted you.”
She nodded.
“You know you should never make a pack promise with someone who isn’t a wolf,” he said. “They don’t understand it.”
“They understand that I can’t go against it. I won’t.”
“But you aren’t a wolf anymore, so…”
Her eyes narrowed. “Despite what you think, I will always be a wolf.” She touched her chest. “It’s still inside me, even if I can’t bring it out.”
“I know,” Felix said. “And I wouldn’t ask you to break a pack promise, except that our lives may be at stake.”
She shook her head. “No. We’ll have to think of another way.” She got off the bed and went in search of clothing. “I can’t tell you more about the compound.”
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in exasperation. “What can you tell me?”
She paused on her way to the bathroom, clearly headed for the shower. “I can tell you that we should probably find out if wyverns are able to be mated. Maybe one of your friends could help with that.”
“I agree,” Felix said. “Already on it.”
She bit her lower lip and then ran her tongue along it. “I can also tell you that in about thirty seconds, I’m going to be naked in that shower and you’re invited.”
Felix stood abruptly, following her into the bathroom so quickly that she was caged against the door.
As he kissed her, he moved them both into the bathroom and shut the door behind him.
Calling Lock and Benny would have to wait.
* * *
Lock stared at Felix as if he’d grown a third eye on the side of his head.
“So you just mated her?”
“It just happened,” Felix said. “I guess you might know something about that.” He folded his arms, glaring at the other alpha wolf.
Lock sighed, pushing dark-cherry hair off his forehead as he pulled his phone out. “I guess I’d better find out what I can about wyverns. I’ll need to talk to some dragons.”
Felix nodded. “Whatever you have to do.
I would look into it, but—”
“You don’t want anyone to get suspicious of her or why you’re asking. I get it. People already know I’m mated to a wolf. Asking about mating a wyvern won’t make them get ideas about me.”
Felix exhaled in relief, sitting back in his chair. “You get it. Perfect.”
“Listen,” Lock said, pausing with his text screen still open. “What are you going to do if I find out it won’t work out right? What do you want me to do if I find out it’s all bad news?”
“Like what? Like she’s going to kill me?”
Lock nodded. “I mean, I’m happy for the two of you, and I doubt she wants to kill you anymore since she did mate you. I think her coming to kill you was always just an excuse to be by your side. But I’ve never met a good wyvern, Fifi. I haven’t even heard of one.” He shook his head. “I don’t see how this can end well.”
Felix’s jaw tightened. “It’ll work well because it has to. Because she deserves happiness after all she has gone through.”
“It just doesn’t make sense,” Lock said. “Why they even went for her. I didn’t know they turned wyverns against their own will.”
“She said it was just her, at least at her lab. It was Winslow.”
Lock’s amber eyes narrowed. “I remember that bastard. Never liked him.” He studied Felix carefully. “He’s dead now, right?”
“Turns out she killed him,” Felix said. “It’s how she escaped. She’s been going from group to group, anyone who would accept her, since then.”
“Gotta be hard,” Lock said. “Not everyone can detect a wyvern, especially since she’s not a regular one. But most people do sense something is off.”
“Did you?” Felix asked.
Lock frowned. “No. But I’m different than most people. I like being around the ones that are weird.”
“Thanks,” Felix said flatly.
“You know what I mean.”
“And you know that I can’t possibly give up on her, no matter what you tell me,” Felix retorted, kicking his legs up on the chair next to him. “So any info you bring just tells me whether I should leave Club Crimson or not. I don’t want to bring trouble to anyone here or your mates.”
“We don’t want to lose you,” Lock said. “Tasha still wants a relationship, and—”
“No offense,” Felix said softly. “But I already gave up a lot for her happiness. It’s time for me to find mine.”
Lock winced slightly, straightening. “Right. Right, of course. I just meant that I think it could be good for both of you. Besides, you already feel like family to the rest of us. If something is wrong, we would want to share in your fight.”
Felix warmed at the sentiment but knew he wouldn’t do anything that hurt them. “It’s good to know.”
Lock unlocked his phone again, biting his lower lip as he thought about his response. “I’m going to send out a few requests for information. Can’t promise I will get anything back soon.”
“I understand,” Felix said.
“In the meantime, you should probably be careful in public. If there are spies from her compound here, we don’t want them to catch you slipping up.”
“She said they knew she was staying with me. She told them that as a way to get away from the compound. Tasha really had an effect on her.”
Lock raised an eyebrow. “And you’re sure she isn’t going to betray you? It seems like she has suffered for your sake.”
Felix’s gaze darkened. “She suffered because of the Tribunal. And yes, because I couldn’t help her. But it seems like she is ready to let the past go now. I am as well.”
Lock appraised Felix for a moment and then nodded. “Then I’m here to help out. Just keep your guard up like I said. And try not to make things too obvious in the club. Even though she thinks they are trusting her, I doubt they won’t be checking up.”
“Right,” Felix said. “I’ll discuss it with her. It sucks, though, to not be able to do whatever I want. I just want everyone to know she’s mine.”
“Patience,” Lock said, standing and putting a hand on Felix’s shoulder. “It’s what you would tell anyone in your position. Because of you, I have everything. You saved the person who means most to me. Because of that and our prior friendship, I want to be there for you. But you have to at least take some of my advice.”
“I’ll be subtle,” Felix said. “Though, you know what a hardship that is for me.”
“I know,” Lock said. “I still want to put up neon signs announcing to the world that Tasha is mine. But as much as we want to pretend the past didn’t happen, that Diana isn’t a wyvern, she is. And we need to be careful while dealing with everything.”
“I know,” Felix said soberly. “I’ll take it into account.”
Lock sent a few texts and then looked over at Felix, who was still sitting at the table sullenly. “But you know it will be a few days until I figure this out. And you won’t always be at the club.”
Felix slowly met Lock’s eyes, grinning wolfishly. “Oh yeah. Copy that.”
For the next few days, Diana was all his, and he meant to enjoy it.
He’d just have to try not to think about what might happen after that.
Chapter 22
As Diana stirred her coffee and looked over at Tasha, who was chatting happily, she wondered how long her good luck could last.
She’d been living with Felix for three days, and so far, it had been full of love, laughter, and the hottest sex of her life.
Plus friendship.
She smiled as Tasha flagged down the waiter for a refill, noting how much her eyes looked like Felix’s.
“Anyway, I’m just really glad you took my advice and came out of that awful place,” Tasha said. “Now just don’t ever go back.”
Diana’s stomach tightened reflexively. She was doing her best to forget that staying with Felix forever without informing the compound just wasn’t possible.
At some point, she would have to go back and figure out everything with Byron.
There was a small part of her that hoped he would just let her go.
Everything was different since that night on the beach when they’d mated.
She’d forgiven whatever had happened in the past with him. She’d forgiven herself for not being able to prevent it. She’d forgiven herself for all of her anger.
But sometimes… she couldn’t forgive herself for being a wyvern.
When Felix held her, whispering sweet nothings long into the night, she could almost believe things were normal. That he loved her just as he had before.
That nothing had changed, despite all the years between them.
But then she would look out at forests in the distance, far beyond the city, and think about how nice it would be to go for a run in wolf form again.
If only she could run alongside Felix.
She remembered his wolf form. White. Magnificent. Powerful.
If she shifted to be alongside him… how would she even look? Like the leathery-skinned creatures from her nightmares?
Yes, if her wings were any indication.
She tried not to let it bother her, but when she was next to the most beautiful person in the world, it hurt her to know she was now something ugly.
“Hello? Earth to Di?” Tasha waved a hand in front of her. “I was asking when you’re going to make things official with my brother. I want a new sis.”
Diana smiled. “Isn’t it a little fast since I was just trying to kill him a week ago?”
Tasha shook her head. “Life is too short to fall in love according to anyone else’s rules or to spend time without the person you love just because someone else says so.”
“You’re right,” Diana said, taking a sip of her coffee as she glanced out the window at the street. Felix was out shopping for something with Lock, and Diana already couldn’t wait to see him again. “I do just want to be happy. I’m just surprised how everything turned out.”
“Well, I think you two are
perfect together, and someday, I hope you’ll tell me everything that happened with you two in the past.”
Diana didn’t really think Tasha would want to know her own role in Diana and Felix’s breakup, so she simply smiled.
She’d been doing it so much after doing it so little that her face ached sometimes.
Which only made her smile once again.
“I always knew there had to be someone for Felix,” Tasha said, resting her cheek on her hand. “He’s just such an… interesting person. I mean, I know he acts one way, but he’s really not like that when you get to know him.”
“True,” Diana said, glancing out the window again as hair prickled slightly on her neck. Why did she keep looking out there?
She stretched her neck side to side and let out a deep breath, hoping to let go of some tension.
“Is everything okay?” Tasha asked.
“Yeah.” Diana rubbed her neck. “I just… Something feels funny. Maybe I just haven’t been sleeping well.”
Or maybe there were more important things than sleep, as she and Felix seemed to stay up late and wake up early together.
Even at night after he’d gone to sleep, she found herself staying awake just to look over at him.
His face wasn’t exactly the same as it had been when they were younger, but it was close. And because it was the face of the Felix she could finally be with, she would always love it.
She still hadn’t shared her feelings with him. Hadn’t told him she thought she wanted to settle down and stay by his side.
He’d been patient the whole time, taking every moment they had together with enjoyment, never asking her to give him more.
They were mated, yet he didn’t know if she wanted to stay with him. That had to be hard sometimes.
Tasha sighed. “I swear sometimes I can tell you are really troubled, but you’re not any easy person to get to open up.”
“I know,” Diana said. “I’m sorry for being distracted.”
“What is it you can’t tell me?”
That I’m a wyvern. That your brother shouldn’t be with me. That I was living with people who want me to kill him, and they aren’t going to let me go easily.
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