Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“This is what was written in the books for us,” Magdalena’s voice resonated through the entire room, sounding stronger than it ever had before. “And now I give you what you need to be whole.” There was a pop of light, and my ears rang hard enough I had to cover them and ground my molars in discomfort.
Then the light flared one last time before everything went pitch-dark. For long seconds, I just stood breathing in and out rapidly. The lights flickered back on, but the witch was gone. The only thing left in her place were the robes she’d been wearing.
My focus was on Aisling, but I still could not move. This pressure surrounded me. I tried to get to her, used all my strength, and when I was seconds away from shifting, my mate breathed in deep, gasping, and then her eyes fluttered open.
And I swore, the world started again.
The pressure holding me prisoner was released, and I sucked in a breath. I was at my mate’s side seconds later. “Aisling,” I whispered and cupped either side of her face, staring into her blue eyes. “Gods, are ye okay?”
For a second, she stayed silent, looking into my eyes before she nodded and glanced down at her side. The gouges were completely healed with not even redness left in their wake. “I–I think I am.” She looked up at me, but I was already pulling her into my arms and holding her like the lifeline she was.
My wolf had never felt such relief and contentment before.
“What happened?” she whispered against my chest, and I closed my eyes, my body shuddering.
“So much, sweetheart,” was all I could say as I held her even tighter. “I’ll explain everything, baby.”
I was whole, and I’d kill anyone before I let anything touch her again.
29
LENNOX
I’d taken Aisling to our room when I was confident she was well enough. But she was fully healed. No scratches. Not even a bruise marred her perfect body.
Then I’d checked on my family, the vampires, the mates, and everyone’s children. After that, I got food for my mate, needing her fed and sated and content.
I’d explained everything that had happened with the elder witch to her. I’d assured her that the females and children were okay and that her family was safe. After all of that, she’d cried, and I held her for as long as she needed.
Now, I watched as she finished her meal, my thoughts on Magdalena and her sacrifice hanging heavily in the air.
I sat with Aisling on the edge of our bed, the fire in the hearth throwing long shadows across the walls, just staring at Aisling and knowing she was alive and safe made my chest ache.
She was whole. Healed. Mine.
I felt relief, but there was also a hollow place inside me where gratitude and grief were tangled up so tightly I couldn’t separate them.
Aisling’s hand was warm and soft in mine, and she smoothed her thumb along the ridge of my knuckles. “Are ye okay?” she murmured, her voice timid with worry.
“I’m okay, lass,” I said, but my mate knew me well enough to sense my lie.
“She sacrificed herself to save ye, and I’ll forever be grateful.” I brought my mate’s hand to my mouth and kissed her softly. “I canna stop thinking about what she gave. About how I’ll never be able tae repay it.” I placed her hand over my heart. “It beats for ye, lass. And Magdalena is the reason my wolf came back. And now she’s the reason ye’re still here.” My jaw clenched.
Her fingers tightened around mine. “Maybe she didn’t see them as acts that needed tae be repaid. Maybe they were gifts.”
I looked at her then, and the truth of it settled in my bones. The witch had known—she’d said it herself. This was always meant to happen. Me. Her. Aisling. This moment. But there was still something out there that neither of us could see or fight yet.
I brushed my thumb over her cheekbone. “Ye scared the hell out of me tonight, sweetheart.”
“I was terrified but, strangely, no’ for myself. I was afraid for everyone else,” she admitted. “I knew I’d die, but I dinna care as long as I protected everyone.” She gave a small, almost sad, smile. “But when ye came through that door, Lennox... I knew.”
“Knew what, baby?”
“That I was safe. That ye’d burn the world down before ye let anything take me.”
My chest and heart seized. “And that’ll always be the truth.” I bent my head until my forehead rested against hers. “I love ye, Aisling.”
I felt her smile. “And I love ye, Lennox.”
We stayed like that for a long moment, just breathing the same air, my mate letting me hold her, not because only I needed it but because we both did.