Page 68 of Broken Rejected Mate

And so I do, biting into his neck, savoring the feeling, feeling the way our bodies are already changing. My skin lights with new sensation, each nerve ending more receptive to him, and him alone.

When it’s finished, Emin stands from the bed, picks me up, and carries me into the bathroom. He turns on the water, steps into the shower still with me wrapped around him.

He soaps us, rinses us, then when we step out, he cleans my wound. I tend to his, feeling the weight of the tradition. Mark one another, then care for the wounds.

Once we’re scrubbed and tended to, Emin picks me back up again—apparently believing I can’t walk for myself—and carries me to the bed.

The hands that were rough and needy just an hour ago are gentle, soothing. He tucks me under the blankets, situates his body beside mine, pulls me onto his chest and holds me there.

“I love you,” I murmur, my lips against his bare chest.

He squeezes me. “I love you, too, Veva.”

I start to drift off, but I can tell that he’s still awake.

“Emin?” I ask, clearing my throat, trying to keep my eyes open. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” he says, leaning over and pressing a kiss to my forehead.

A moment later, maybe when he thinks I’ve fallen asleep, he whispers, “I never thought I would be this content.”

Sleep washes over me, but not before I smile into his chest, realizing that after everything, we made it through to the happy ending.

Epilogue - Emin

“This way!” Aidan calls, directing a group of shifters to the right, his arm out. “If you’d like to camp, come this way!”

Beside me, Veva is green with nerves, shifting her weight back and forth again and again. She looks lovely today, wearing a pair of long gray overalls, her hair pushed back from her face.

It’s a bright spring day, the scent of lilacs thick in the air. It’s crisp, but not cold, and the flower garden across the street blooms with tulips in planter boxes, shades ranging from ruby red to a deep, cobalt blue.

I’ve just come from a council meeting, in which we ultimately decided that we would use Oren Blacklock to help kill his father—all while keeping a very close eye on him. We’ve had several casters—including Veva—test him and come out with the results that he was telling the truth.

“Hey.” I reach over now, pulling my mate into my side. I breathe in her scent and relish the way she melts into me, letting me comfort her. “Everything is going to work out just fine, okay, love?”

Sarina goes traipsing by, holding a single lamp in her hand, distracting Veva from me.

Today, she’s wearing a little romper from Kira. It’s a soft purple, with a matching hair ribbon. Sarina’s eyes shine brightly, and I think of her pride this morning when she caught her first rabbit, during our first father-daughter hunt.

“Sarina,” Veva says, forgetting my comfort and stepping forward, stopping our daughter in her tracks. “I thought you were going to help Willow move her things?”

“I am!” Sarina insists, holding up the single lamp as her response. “See!”

Dorian has granted all the inhabitants of the Grayhide pack a spot among Ambersky shifters, should they want it. Some of them prefer to camp, so we’ve allotted a space for them just outside of town, while others are overjoyed at the idea of getting their own townhouse or apartment.

“I think you can carry more than a lamp,” Veva frowns, but Willow comes by, holding a single pillow, grinning at us.

“Don’t you worry,” Willow says, “we’re the brains, not the brawns.”

A moment later, a couch comes hovering along the sidewalk, carried by nobody, and Willow and Sarina break out into laughter.

Veva sighs, shaking her head, “Itoldher to be careful with her magic.”

“Maybe this is her being careful,” I say, trying not to show that I’m impressed. Veva has told me, on multiple occasions, that I shouldn’t look impressed when Sarina messes around with magic, because it only encourages her more.

It’s been six months since her disappearing act, and she hasn’t been able to replant again, despite Beth and Claire working with her and trying to harness the ability. They say that, with time, and as she grows, it will come to her more naturally.

Winter came and went, and after all these months, Veva was able to convince the people and shifters in the encampment to come to Ambersky. She assured them they would be treated better, and Dorian was convinced by the list of skills—including casting, carpentry, welding, and defense—that the various camp members boasted.

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