Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Sylvan gave him a sympathetic look.
“You love her, don’t you?” he asked softly.
“Love her?” Bear looked up at him. “Yes, I love her! She brought me back to life—I was dead inside after I lost Zelia. I thought my heart was buried. But Aleena…she healed me. She fucking resurrected me! And look how I repaid her.” He shook his head. “But what else could I do? I can’t break my vow!”
“I made a similar vow, you know,” Sylvan said quietly. “After I was rejected by the one I was meant to Join with on Tranq Prime, I swore before the Goddess that I would never call a bride. I almost let that vow keep me from loving again. Until my sweet Sophia came into my life, I didn’t think I could love again.”
“But you and Sophia have been Joined for years now—how did you get out of your vow?” Bear asked blankly.
“I begged to be released from it and my prayer was heard and answered,” Sylvan told him. “The Goddess is merciful, Bearick. She wants her children to be happy. I’d go so far as to say she probably brought Aleena into your life to give you a second chance at love.”
“And I fucked it up!” Bear groaned. He lifted his face, looking up at the blank white ceiling. “Goddess—I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
With no warning the air was suddenly thick with a presence. It settled on Bear like a heavy, almost suffocating coat. He felt as though he was suddenly miles under the sea with the incredible weight and pressure of thousands of gallons of water surrounding him and pressing down on him.
“Warrior,” a stern, feminine voice said. “I have heard your cry. You are right to beg forgiveness—the betrayal you committed was grave indeed.”
“Goddess?” Bear could hardly believe it. He struggled to lift his head and look around in the crushing pressure that surrounded him, but it was an effort that took nearly all his strength and besides, there was nothing to see. The Goddess was invisible—though most definitely there with them. He could feel her displeasure.
“I sent you a new bride—a second chance for love and happiness—but you never took it seriously. You planned to thrust the woman I sent you aside right from the start.” The Goddess’s voice was harsh and accusing.
“But the vow I took in the Sacred Grove—I swore to never Bond another woman to me!” Bear protested.
“Do not fool yourself, Warrior. You did not take that vow out of reverence to me or even to the memory of your first wife. You took it to keep yourself from ever getting hurt or feeling the pain of lost love again,” the Goddess told him. “You swore to never love again to protect your heart.”
Bear knew it was true.
“Yes,” he admitted brokenly. “Yes, Goddess—you’re right. I see that now. Forgive me—I’m sorry. I was a fool!”
“Because you are truly contrite, I will give you another chance,” she said. “Whether your bride will give you another chance, however, I do not know. Her fear of being disavowed runs deep and finding out that you planned to betray her may have locked her heart against you for good.”
Bear felt sick, but he couldn’t waste time feeling sorry for himself. Right now he needed to find Aleena!
“I will beg her forgiveness on my knees if you’ll only tell me where to find her!” he said. “Please, Goddess—I’m worried about her! She left the party wearing a king’s ransom in jewels. I’m afraid it might make her a target.”
He couldn’t help thinking of the last time he’d had a bad feeling and had found her being attacked in a dark alley. What if something like that was happening right now but this time he wasn’t there to stop it and protect her?
“Your instincts are correct—she is in danger,” the Goddess said.
Bear felt like his blood had turned to ice water.
“Please—tell me where she is! I’ll give my life to save her if I have to!” he begged.
“She is being held in the home of her father. You must hurry if you wish to rescue her before permanent damage is done,” the Goddess told him. “Now go and do not waste this second chance I have given you!”
The crushing pressure of her presence was abruptly gone. Bear gasped in a breath. He felt light-headed from the intense encounter—like a diver coming up from the depths after almost drowning.
Sylvan was still standing in the doorway, his eyes wide. He hadn’t spoken the whole time but it was clear he had observed and understood the entire encounter.
“Do you know where Aleena’s father’s house is?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Bear nodded.
“I had to go there once during our negotiations to get some paperwork. I know exactly where it is—come on!”
He was on his feet and running for the door with Sylvan right behind him. He didn’t know what kind of danger Aleena might be in—she ought to be safe in her father’s house. But he didn’t dare disbelieve the Goddess or ignore her warning. Indeed, everything inside him was urging him to hurry…hurry…hurry!