ELRETH

Elreth was ecstatic to finally have Aaryn alone. So happy and excited that she urged him to run so they could get to the cave sooner. But the truth was, as they ran down the trail and she was forced to raise her skirts so she could keep up, she had wanted to let go of his hand because she was also trembling. And not from tiredness or the smoke—her head began to clear the moment they left the circle, and Aaryn's as well as far as she could tell. But that just meant more room in her head for the screams about how she was about to mate for the first time and she didn't have a clue what she was doing.

The last time she hadn't been scared at all because she hadn't known it was coming. Not really. Things had just progressed naturally and felt like they were meant to be. But now? Now she knew it was coming. Now she knew she might do something he didn't like. Or he might do something she didn't enjoy.

Or course, it would probably also be awesome, she reminded herself.

A shiver trickled down her spine. They weren't touching, yet Aaryn turned to look at her over his shoulder—had he smelled something on her? But she put on a burst of speed, flashing him a grin as she passed him on the trail and he growled and darted after her.

They made it to the cave in minutes and Elreth sprinted inside, dropping her skirts and laughing only slightly hysterically as Aaryn turned on his heel and slammed the cave door shut, lifting the large bar and dropping it into place across the door, then turning to face her, his chest rising and falling with his heavier breath.

They stared at each other for a moment, then Aaryn smiled. "Mate," he said, his voice a low gravel.

"My mate," she said with a grin.

"My mate," he repeated and started toward her, stalking, chin down, eyes locked on hers.

"Mine," she whispered as he stopped right in front of her.

Her breath ratcheted even higher, her skin prickling because he was right there. They weren't touching, neither of them reached out. Aaryn searched her eyes back and forth, his face awed.

"Mine," he rasped.

They stared at each other a moment longer, then Aaryn lifted a hand to her face. "We did it, Elreth. We fucking did it. And we never have to be apart again."

"I love you, Aaryn," she whispered. "And I'm so glad it's you."

He groaned and opened his mouth on hers. Elreth fell into his chest and sucked in a breath when they finally, finally kissed.

*****

AARYN

The first touch of her lips was electric and his entire skin lit up like tiny comets chased themselves up and down his spine. He pulled her into his chest and deepened the kiss immediately, and she came willingly. But he could feel the tension in her.

No surprise there. There had been so much anticipation of this moment. She likely wasn't relaxed yet from all the fighting in the Rite.

So he slid his fingers into her hair at the nape of her neck and pulled them through until she shivered. Then he did it again. Elreth whimpered and he almost took her on the spot.

Her hands slid up his stomach, his chest, to his shoulders. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down, tilting her head to deepen the kiss further. Holding her at the small of her back, he started walking her backwards, deeper into the cave, without breaking the kiss. He couldn't bear the idea of not being joined with her in even that small way.

He never wanted to stop touching her, worshiping her body, being closer to her than any person had ever been.

Then they reached the spot where the Great room gave way to the dining and kitchen, and the wall of the cave curved.

Shaking with the restraint of still being clothed, not yet plunging into her, he pulled her to the side, pressed her into the wall and, groaning, pressed his hips into hers.

Elreth's head fell back against the wall and she clung to him so hard her fingers dug into his shoulders.

He trailed a hand down from her jaw, down the long cord of her neck, to the spot where the dress gathered on the tie over her collarbones. Some of the paint had flaked off and he stroked the spot. "The Lioness with a mane," he chuckled. Then he met her eyes and froze, his smile dying. "El, what's wrong?"

Her eyes widened. "Nothing!" she said in a voice far to high and thin.

Aaryn snorted. "Babe, you are a terrible liar. Tell me. It's okay. Whatever it is, we'll face it together. That's how we're going to do everything, now."

Her face crumpled and as she dropped her face into her hands and Aaryn was truly alarmed for the first time, her scent tumbled through love, into heat, then confusion, then... ah... fear.

She was frightened. Of course. He was a thick-headed male for not thinking this through, just leaping on her and pawing her the moment they got in the door.

He growled at himself, then stepped back, taking one of her hands and pulling it from her face, forcing her to look at him. "El, look at me."

Her cheeks were pink, but she made herself look up at him through her lashes and blinked when she found him smiling.

Then he pulled her forward, away from the wall and into his arms, as if he would dance with her. But instead they stood and he kept her eyes, speaking quietly, stroking her back gently.

"Nothing is going to happen tonight—or any night in our lives—that you do not choose."

"I know," she said, shaking her head and looking away. But he took her chin and turned her to look at him again

"Hear me, El. You are precious to me. You are the most precious thing in my life. I will never knowingly do anything to you, or with you, that you do not choose."

"That's not what I'm worried about," she grumbled, and her cheeks bloomed hotter.

"Then what concerns you?"

She swallowed and dropped her eyes, but kept them on her own hand on his chest, so he allowed it. "I'm worried I'll be bad at it and you won't like it."

Aaryn just about swallowed his own tongue.

*** There will be FORTY-FIVE unreleased chapters available in September through privilege! ***

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