Page 20 of Fae Divided
“Are you planning on saying goodbye this time?”
“Yes,” he said past the ache in his throat, frozen in the act of unwinding her glorious hair. He changed course, twisting the length more firmly in his hand. Tilting her face, he lowered until their foreheads touched. “I promise never to leave you again without saying goodbye. I swear it, Sarah.”
“Can you explain why you left? Why you’re planning on leaving me again? I know it had nothing to do with the queen’s politics or the fight with Samuel.”
Her voice was steady, the bond exuding nothing but love and…acceptance?
“You’re right,” he said, squeezing his eyes shut. Beyond grateful to have such an amazing female as his mate. He didn’t deserve her. “I never wanted to be Alpha.”
“You’re working undercover again after all these years.” Sarah lifted onto her elbows, digging them into his stomach. “Why now? And for whom? Not Samuel.”
“No, not Samuel.” Unlike James, and the prince who seemed to care for no one but the queen, his Alpha would never purposely cause his sister pain. Disgust roiled in his gut, making him nauseous.
Sarah shifted forward, her nose delving beneath his jaw. She brushed the top of her head against his chin, her hair catching in the bristles. Comforting him.
“James, I know you wouldn’t have broken your promise to me if you thought there was another choice to make. I just wish—”
“What, baby?”
“I wish you would have confided in me, even if you couldn’t disclose the details of the mission. I would have supported your decision. I would have trusted you.”
James heard the hurt. Smelled the telling scent of decaying leaves. Felt his mate’s sadness and disappointment. It tore at his insides.
“I know,” he said, holding her close, her long tresses still balled in his fist. “I was afraid—”
“I’d insist on going with you?” Sarah pushed up. James released her reluctantly, and she rolled away with a watery laugh. “Or worse, follow you?”
“You’re saying you wouldn’t have?” He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. Slim arms encased his waist from behind, a warm cheek rested on his spine. When she refused to admit the truth, he added, “Noah would have come after us.”
“The assignment is that dangerous?” She locked her hands, her front flattened against his back, caging him in.
“Yes.” He wouldn’t sugarcoat it, but he wouldn’t worry her needlessly either. “I’m only there to gather information. I won’t risk our family, Sarah. If it gets too dicey, I’ll bail.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.” After a long moment, she squeezed him one last time and let go. James stood, gathered his clothes, and dressed quickly. Afraid if he didn’t leave soon, he never would.
“Don’t close the mating bond again,” she said in soft demand, kneeling tall on the edge of the bed, sheet clutched between her beautiful bare breasts. The supple curve of her hip and the inner thigh he’d bitten when taking her for the last time earlier were exposed; the placement of secondary Mating Mark was more stable than the first. The intimate location of the bite was less likely to be seen and wouldn’t fade as quickly. And he refused to deny Sarah—or himself—the reaffirmation of his claiming.
“Be at the Hampton Inn off Highway 7 and 78 in two weeks. I’ll be there at midnight.”
“Isn’t that risky?”
“I’ve been a shitty mate, Sarah. It ends now. We will meet every two weeks until this is over.”
“James, I can wait—”
“End of discussion.” He was done compromising her health. “The room will be registered under P. William.” Paul William Bryant, better known as Bear Bryant, coached college football at Alabama almost forty years ago and had become a legend in the South.
“I thought you were a wolf, not a bear,” Sarah said, a reticent smile appearing at the recognition of his chosen alias.
He strode to the bed, cupped her chin, and mouthed, “Roll Tide” against her lips before sinking into a heated kiss. It ended too soon.
“I have to go.”
“I know,” she said, giving him a gentle push. “I love you. Be careful.”
“I love you too. I will.”
