Page 112 of Between Imminent Fates

After Derikles claimed her lips in a chaste kiss, he pulled back to confirm she was healthy. Beside them, Jaeda and Kaien reached forward—both intent on verifying the same.

“The bond to our clan steadied her,” Jaeda announced, “but we’ve work to do yet.”

Kaien nodded. “We need to cut her from Nina’s clan or reintroduce her to yours, Zeke.”

Zeke’s weary gaze cloudy with regret. “Celeste—I’m sorry.”

She loosened her hold on Derikles before standing and striding over to her sovereign. Celeste locked her arms around her sovereign’s neck, letting him apologize to her on repeat.

“I volunteered, Zeke. This isn’t your fault. None of it is.”

Beside Derikles, Jaeda cinched an arm around his shoulders and hugged him. “I’m happy for you, Derikles. You’re deserving of happiness.”

All five of them slowly made their way back to the other lieutenants. Though it would’ve been obvious to Derikles’ clan, he announced it for the sake of the others present.

“Our mating bond has finalized.”

A round of congratulations was the response, and before long, they were swarmed by a host of immortals offering their support. Remmus, one of Celeste’s close friends, approached them.

His seafoam green eyes were suspicious and protective, as if he was seeing Derikles in a new light. “Congratulations on your mating.”

“Thank you,” Derikles said. “I’m afraid I’ve gotten the better end of the deal.”

A wicked grin that promised pain spread Remmus’ lips. “As I’ve told Celeste, if you hurt her, I’ll eviscerate you.”

“Duly noted.”

“I look forward to getting to know you better, and in the meantime,” Remmus pressed a kiss into Celeste’s forehead, “this one will tell me all about you, I’m certain. Celeste here can never resist good gossip.”

Of that, Derikles had no doubt.

With Celeste on his arm, he closed the distance between him and Zeke. The weariness the other sovereign wore only seemed to have magnified.

“My intent was never to begin war between us, Zeke,” he said.

“You were worried for your mate—and rightly so.”

“In any case, I apologize from intruding on your clan lands without permission.” Derikles offered him a tight smile. “I’m new to this role.”

“It’s not one to take lightly.” Zeke shifted his attention to his audience. “We need to call a meeting of the other delegates. With this effort ending in failure, I’m uncertain how long the dual networks will remain viable.”

Despite the heaviness of the statement, the other sovereign offered them genuine congratulations in the next breath. After they’d been paraded among their peers and given the obligatory congratulations speeches, Celeste and Derikles retired to his home in Utah. Dead tired from the day’s trying events, neither felt particularly inclined to do anything but sleep.

Celeste was notably worn out. “Can I borrow one of your shirts for the night? I don’t even want to try to teleport one of my shirts over here. I’m sure it’d be disastrous.”

“Of course.”

Derikles retrieved one from his dresser, holding it out to her with a sly grin, but the woman gave him a mock reprimanding look before disappearing into the bathroom.

Chuckling to himself, he tossed his shirt into the laundry and sprawled out on the bed, his eyes closing. Only when he heard Celeste re-enter the room did he open them.

He gaped.

Her long, lean legs disappeared beneath the hem which hung to her mid-thigh, and her shock of dark pink hair curled around her shoulders and hung nearly to her waist. Celeste was perfect. And more importantly, she washis.

***

Derikles and Celeste woke early after a restorative sleep. He clasped hands with his mate as they strode toward Isaiah’s home, trying to block the fact that he’d nearly lost her the previous day.

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