CHAPTER 31
K aelyn inhaled, and Saar’s pepper and lime scent eased into her lungs. His arm, tucked around her waist, was warm and protective. A sense of well-being expanded deep inside, and she snuggled tighter, pressing into his chest. A soft sigh escaped his lips, but he didn’t wake.
She opened her eyes. Still warm from the day’s fire, a few stray embers glowed in the hearth. One twinkled brighter for a moment, then disappeared, its fire extinguished. Through the slits in the curtains, an orange brilliance lit up the sky—sunset.
Their day of peace was over.
She closed her eyes, inhaling his scent and nuzzling into him once again. Not ready for reality, she held on to the memory of their day together, but time, the ever proceeding soldier, was relentless.
What would they do now? Hunted by both sides of the war, there was no place they could go where they would be safe. All along, she’d known the time they’d spent here in the cabin was temporary.
A vision floated across her mind’s eye. Mauree’s gleaming eyes as she thrust her dagger into Theron’s gut. Kaelyn’s pulse rose. Anger, hot and fast, slid along her nerves.
She couldn’t, no wouldn’t, let Mauree get away with murder. There had to be a way around Zedron’s protective barrier, a way to kill that malevolent bitch.
She had to return. Alone.
Saar would try to stop her, or worse yet, try to protect her. She’d lost enough males in her life, she wouldn’t lose him, too.
“Little bear, you’re tense. What’s wrong?” Saar’s deep voice rumbled in his chest. Concern laced his tone, sending a dagger into her heart.
“The sun is setting.” She rolled away from him and onto the cold wooden floor.
His hand trailed over her bare back, his touch tender and caring, but he didn’t stop her. She refused to look at him, afraid she wouldn’t be able to complete her task. With a quick push, she rose to her feet. The loss of his warmth left her cold. Goosebumps formed along her arms, but couldn’t match the ice freezing her heart.
She crossed the small room to her clothes and dressed in silence.
Behind her, the ferns rustled. Clothing swished as he put on his pants and boots. “Craya…”
Saar’s heavy footsteps echoed as he approached. He placed his hands on her arms, rubbing her skin.
She swallowed, willing herself to be strong. The urge to turn and wrap herself in his embrace was almost more than she could bear.
“What is it? How can I help—”
Steeling her courage, she turned to face him. His beautiful blue eyes reflected his strength, his determination, his caring. She couldn’t maintain eye contact, and as her gaze drew downward, her attention riveted to his neck. Around his smooth skin two dark bands, like tattoos, encircled his throat. Those hadn’t been there last night.
She gasped. “Your neck…”
A flinch crossed his features. “How many bands are there?”
Quick as liquid, a sudden chill raced down her spine. “What’s wrong? Are you ill? What can I—”
“How many?” The tenseness in his words took her breath away.
“Two,” she whispered.
His shoulders eased, and he cupped her chin in his palm. With tender care, he drew his thumb across her cheek. “Thank the gods.”
“What are they?”
A tentative smile curled his lips. “Bonding bands. Two signify a strong relationship. It’s part of the bonding process.”
“Bonding process?” Her mind whirled. “What does that mean, exactly?”
Saar’s smile widened. “This happened when I asked you if you would bond with me.”
Thoughts freezing, she couldn’t process his words. “H…how?”
“As with all males of my kind, I have a bonding sac under my tongue. When you agreed to bond with me, I broke the pouch, and my bonding ink flowed from me to you—”
“So that’s what it was. I remember a sudden strong taste in my mouth.”
He trailed a finger over her shoulder. “You have a mark, too.”
A sudden tightness squeezed her chest. “I do?”
“I wish we had a mirror so I could show you, but you have three dark marks across your shoulder blade that match mine.” The look of pure reverence in his eyes melted her on the spot. “I never realized how close in resemblance they were to a bear’s claw until I met you.”
Her heart soared at the knowledge they were tied together forever. Yet, she had to get away from him.
She glanced to the windows. Through the panes, the sun’s brilliant, final rays cast long shadows between the trees. “We can’t stay here. You know as well as I that both my kind and yours will pursue us.”
“Where you go, I go, little bear.” Conviction tightened his mouth.
No. Determination to complete her goal coiled in her gut. She didn’t want to hurt him, but the sooner she got this over with, the better for them both.
He grazed his finger down the side of her face.
With more force than she’d intended, she brushed away his touch. “I think it’s best if we go our separate ways.”
A flinch crossed his face, and his brow furrowed. “I don’t understand. After today,” he shook his head as he studied her, his eyes flitting back and forth, pain etched inside, “I thought you understood how I…” …feel about you. He didn’t need to finish his sentence.
He loved her. Hell, he’d bonded with her, disobeyed his king, given up his home, everything…for her. Without a doubt, he’d die trying to protect her, and she would not allow that.
I’m such a bitch.
Putting on the best performance of her life, she raised her chin and hit him where it would hurt the most. “You claim to be loyal, but you betrayed Noeh, your king. You gave up centuries of service to him so quickly, all for me. How could I ever trust that you wouldn’t betray me the same way?”
He recoiled, taking a step back. His mouth fell open, and a low growl emerged from his lips. A tic started in his jaw. His features hardened, the scar pulling tightly against his skin. The formidable warrior she’d first met had returned. “You are my mate. Do you really think so little of me? So little of us?”
Her chest squeezed around her lungs. She couldn’t breathe. Several long seconds ticked by, the air between them thick with tension. A quick glance through the window and into the sunset gave her the courage to finish this conversation and set him free. “There’s no future between us. There never was. Leave before I pick up my mace and we return to where we met—at war.”
His eyes narrowed, but sadness radiated from him in waves.
“Little bear,” his attention drew to her braiding scarf wrapped around his wrist then back to her eyes, “your words are at odds with your actions. Why are you doing this? Why are you pushing me away?”
The back of her throat ached. I’m afraid to lose you. In her mind, she screamed the words at him, wanting him to hear her so desperately. Instead, she turned her back on him.
He wrapped her in his embrace, tugging her back against his chest. “You don’t have to be tough with me, little bear. I won’t leave you, not now, not ever—”
“No!” She wrenched herself from his arms and turned to face him once again. Tension flared the pain in her jaw. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep!”
He flinched then his features softened. Love, compassion, and understanding reflected in his beautiful blue eyes. “The tough female that’s not afraid to battle her enemy at a cliff’s edge…is afraid to love.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t breathe, her chest wound too tight.
Before he could stop her, she grabbed her mace and raced for the front door. He followed in hot pursuit. As she yanked the door open, the setting sun’s last ray burst into the room.
Saar’s scream echoed through the cabin. The distinct smell of burning flesh filled the air.
Kaelyn ran into the forest and didn’t look back.