Page 136 of Primal Bonds

Adric spoke a few more words, and then nodded to Jace. The alpha might introduce and bless a mating, but the words were spoken by the couple themselves.

Jace took Evie’s hands. Her dimple flashed at him, and he stared back unsmiling, emotion clogging his throat. He cleared it and said, “I take you, Evie Morningstar, as my mate. My light. My heart. You bring out the best in me, and I will love you for all of my days.”

They’d chosen a bracelet to mark their mate-day. He slipped it on her. The jeweler had created a striking design of silver vines entwined around a translucent green chalcedony quartz.

Evie bit her lower lip. She firmed her chin and then met his eyes. “I take you, Jace Jones, as my mate. My lover. My panther. My soul. I wasn’t looking for you, but somehow you found me, and I will always be grateful. I love you.”

Jace removed his quartz pendant and undid the clasp, and she slipped a tiny rose quartz in the shape of a heart onto the cord. The heart had belonged to his mom, an anniversary gift from his dad. It settled next to Jace’s quartz with a click, and he could’ve sworn he felt a jolt of love.

Adric spoke the words of blessing and then formally welcomed Evie and Kyler into the clan. He finished by pulling Evie into a big hug. “Thanks for taking him on.” He gave her a smacking kiss on the mouth.

Evie grinned as Jace retrieved her and tucked her firmly up against his side. “He doesn’t scare me.” She nipped Jace’s neck, and then let out a chuckle that ended in a gasp as he bent her backward over his arm for a kiss.

He took his time, exploring her mouth, mate-claiming her in front of his entire clan. When he released her, her eyes were smoky, and he’d almost forgotten their audience. “Later,” he murmured with a slow wink as behind them, his pumped-up clan hooted and clapped.

The street had been blocked off for the evening. Sam and Horace, both almost completely recovered, were supervising two huge barbecue grills, and Zuri had cracked open a keg of beer and was handing out mugs as fast as he could fill them.

Jace wrapped an arm around Evie and turned to face the crowd. “Who wants to party?”

Epilogue

“No,” Marjani growled. “He’s trying to get you to follow him. It’s a trap.”

Adric put his fork down. They were in the kitchen eating scrambled eggs and ham. Marjani had surprised him by having breakfast ready when he’d walked in the door that morning—and then she’d told him Corban had sent a message.

See you in Reykjavik.

It was a fucking dare.

“Do you really think Corban’s stronger than me?” he asked. It had been six weeks since his cousin had disappeared. Adric had alerted the other earth alphas about Corban’s treachery, but it was as if his cousin had dropped off the face of the earth. But if he was in Iceland, that explained why they couldn’t find him; King Sindre didn’t allow any fada clans that close to home.

Marjani blew out a breath. “Of course not. But he’s not working alone. Maybe Tyrus is dead, but that doesn’t mean Corban’s not working with another night fae. And then there’s the ice fae, too.”

Adric took a gulp of coffee. Hot as Hades and liberally dosed with cream, it washed away the bitter taste that filled his mouth every time he recalled that Leron had invited the night fae into Baltimore, and then stood by while they manipulated things to get darker and darker, just so they could fucking feed. Like there wasn’t enough darkness in the world for them to draw on already.

Holy mother, if Adric ever grew that power-hungry, he hoped his lieutenants would put him down like a rabid dog.

“I need to find out who in the ice fae is helping him—and why. Is it that ice fae woman I sent him to capture last year? Or the king himself? And how does Nika fit into this?”

“Not the ice fae woman. If it was her, Corban wouldn’t try to get you to Reykjavik. That’s the heart of Sindre’s territory.”

He shook his head. “Whoever’s working with him, I have to go. He’s my responsibility.” He’d promised the other alphas that he’d take care of Corban, once and for all.

“No—I’ll go. The clan needs you right now.”

He scraped a hand over his hair. His sister was the one with a Gift for strategy. When she spoke, a wise alpha listened. And she was right—people were still reeling from the recent attacks by Tyrus and Corban, and Kane’s death hadn’t helped. There were whispers that Adric intended to wipe out that entire branch of the Savonett family, even though Nash himself said that Corban was the one at fault.

The clan was seething. Mistrust. Fear. Anger. Everything Adric had worked so hard to put behind them.

And then there was Prince Langdon. The night fae ruler had been seen in Baltimore twice in the last six weeks, when he normally came to the city only once every five years, if that much.

But damn it, sending Marjani to Iceland wasn’t an option. “Absolutely not,” he told her. “You’re too—” He halted as her shoulders hunched.

“Weak,” she finished for him.

His stomach hollowed. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I don’t really think that. But I—”

She lifted her chin. “Maybe you’re right. But I need to know, and that’s never going to happen if I stay here in Baltimore. Everyone treats me like I’m made of frigging eggshells.”

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