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“You can’t just say that because I let you win an argument,” he says. That lighthearted, arrogant Aro is back for a moment. I realize how much I missed that part of him since the world fell apart.
“I do—I love you. Thank you for giving me some time to figure out the mate thing. I needed a little time to sort that out. I did some research.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Aro says with a smile.
“And I want you to know that if there were anyone in the entire universe I would want to be my mate, it would be you. You are everything. You are loyal, and kind, and funny, and you are always thinking of how you can solve everyone else’s problems. You listen and you make me feel seen. You are always saying how incredible I am, but you need to know how incredible you are.” I watch a smile stretch across his face.
“It’s about time. I’ve been waiting for you to finally realize it. I’m glad you’re catching up,” he says. He scoops me up into a hug and spins us around.
“Be quiet and kiss me, you arrogant ass.”
54
Aro
“Where the fuck is she?” I bellow at Bri from across the mess hall. Every head in the room whips toward me. She’s sitting alone holding a coffee cup and slowly stands and starts walking towards me.
I need to find my mate, right now.
“I don’t know,” she says. She tamps down her hands and looks around the room to see who’s watching. Everyone else has gone back to what they were doing, to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.
Elowen wasn’t in our room when I went to get her for dinner and she’s not with Bri.
“You tell me right now if she left the base.” My throat constricts.
“I don’t know where she is. I was also looking for her a while ago.” I can’t tell if Bri sounds concerned because of my reaction or for Elowen’s safety.
“Is she with Kiera?” I ask.
“How would I know?”
I level her with a look. If Elowen was planning something, Bri would definitely know about it.
“I haven’t seen either of them,” she says.
I stomp away before I say something I’ll regret later. My feet carry me to transpo and an empty charging deck. All I know is blood pounding in my ears and rage.
My surroundings blur. I hear a distant roar and feel a burn in my throat.
Metal buckles under my fists and I’m running through the field outside the base. I toss a porter aside like a child’s toy as I gain speed.It sails through the air and smashes into a tree, sending broken glass and splintered wood into the air.
Brush scrapes against my legs and snags on my ripped clothes. Sturdy branches bend and snap as I rush through them with unwavering focus. A sick satisfaction courses through my veins at the sight of the destruction in my wake.
I smash through trees and rocks trying to find her. I am so angry that they went through with this plan, after I specifically said no.
I stop in my tracks and take in a deep hard breath, searching for Elowen’s familiar smell. Real panic hits my veins when I don’t pick up her scent. I look for signs of Atorum instead. This can’t be happening. She has to be here somewhere.
1807 Incoming message from Elowen Carson
Elowen: I’m okay. Come back to the barracks when you’re ready.
Anger and relief slowly spread across me. I look down at my unfamiliar hands. My shredded clothes hang loose from my body. My breathing is loud and hoarse. I turn back to the base and retrace my path of destruction. My oversized footprints deep in the dirt. A crew is already repairing the gate I burst through in my rage to find my mate. My nostrils flare when I pick up her scent.
She’s waiting for me in our room.
“Aro, just listen for a minute, please,” she says pacing back and forth.
Even though I shifted back, I can still feel the thrum of power through my body. “Explain,” I say and clench my jaw.
