Page 53 of Whisker me Away
"I want that too,” she finally admitted before fear locked up her mouth. "I've been so focused on duty and responsibility that I forgot to think about what I actually want for my life."
"And what do you want?"
Freya looked into his eyes and felt the last of her walls crumble like autumn leaves. "You. Us. A partnership where we face everything together instead of me trying to protect you from the hard parts."
"Even the claiming? Even knowing it means surrendering complete independence?"
"Especially that." She stepped closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating from his body. "Maizy was right. I've been so scared of losing myself in someone else that I forgot how much stronger we could be together."
Relief flooded Kieran's expression like sunrise after a long night. "Thank god. Because I was starting to worry you'd only go through with this out of obligation."
"Never obligation." Freya reached up to trace the scar that bisected his eyebrow, marveling at how perfectly he fit into her life. "Love. Choice. The kind of certainty that makes everything else secondary."
"Good." Kieran caught her hand. "Because once we do this, there's no going back. You'll be stuck with me forever."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They moved to the living room where Freya. Candles cast warm light across the space, and protective charms hung from the ceiling like blessings. The cottage felt charged with potential, ready to witness something that would change their lives forever.
"Tell me about the future you see," Freya said as they settled onto the couch together. "When this is all over, when Hollow Oak is safe and we're properly mated. What does that look like?"
Kieran's expression grew thoughtful. "Mornings where I wake up with you in my arms. Evenings spent working in the garden, you teaching me about botanical magic while I handle the heavy lifting. Quiet Sunday afternoons reading in front of the fire."
"That sounds perfect."
"What about you? What do you want our life to look like?"
"Adventure," she said without hesitation. "I want us to travel to other communities that need help with magical problems. I want to learn new techniques, discover ancient spells, maybe even write down everything we learn for future generations. I realized that never leaving here, it’s stunted me in a sense.”
"So like a traveling magical consultant team?"
"Something like that." Freya grinned at the possibility. "We could be the couple people call when supernatural crises get out of hand. Use our combined abilities to help others the way we're hoping to help Hollow Oak."
"I like it." Kieran's thumb traced across her knuckles. "Professional partners and life partners, taking on the world together."
"Think we're crazy for planning a future when we might not survive tomorrow night's ritual?"
"Probably. But I'd rather die having something wonderful to fight for than live safely with nothing worth protecting."
"So," Freya said, her voice growing husky with anticipation. "Ready to make this permanent?"
"I've been ready since the night I kissed you beside the lake." Kieran's eyes flashed with gold as his tiger stirred beneath the surface. "The question is, are you ready to be claimed?"
The possessive certainty in his voice made heat pool in her stomach and her magic respond with recognition. This was her mate, the man fate had chosen for her, and she was done fighting the inevitable.
"Claim me," she whispered. "Make me yours completely."
Kieran's answering smile was pure predator, beautiful and dangerous and absolutely perfect for the woman brave enough to love him.
"With pleasure."
28
FREYA
The firelight painted Kieran’s skin in molten gold, shadows flexing across the hard lines of his chest as he rose from the couch, naked need in his amber eyes.
