Page 101 of Between Soul and Vessel
And this time, when I fired it, I did not miss.
After the battle was over, Vatara landed in front of Von.
Horns receding, he returned to normal size, which by mortal standards meant he was still a goliath. A muscular, tall, tattooed, dripping with unbridled masculinity, positively sinful,definitelygoing to ruin me later goliath.
Above all that?
He wasmine.
I leapt down from Vatara, my legs picking up speed as I rushed toward him and he to me. Blood evacuated my veins, replaced by urgency—urgency to get to him. It lit every fiber within my body on fire.
Conquering the distance between us, I leapt from the ground and threw myself into him. My arms wrapped around his neck, my legs around his waist. His grip turned crushing, his arms like shackles as they banded around me, holding me tightly to him.
We were two desperate souls, finally returned to one another.
Together.
The place where we both belonged.
“Never again,” he pledged, his heated breath drifting across my skin.
“Never again,” I promised, nuzzling into his neck and inhaling his scent. There was once a time when the smell of burning birch reminded me of home, but now, that had changed. Now, home smelled of amber, sandalwood, and leather.
Unfurling my arms, I took his face in my hands and kissed him with such intensity I realized I was starving forhim. It was a hunger like no other. It wasn’t just sexual—no, it ran much deeper than that. It was a need, like how the rain needed to fall, how a seed needed to sprout, like the stars needed to glow.
It was a need to live. Like blood in my veins. Air to my lungs. I needed him as if my body had been poisoned and he was the antidote, the only thing that could save me.
Ineededhim.
So, I kissed him. Until the world fell silent, until it was just us.
Until I swore I heard the moon whisper to the wind—
They’ve found each other at last.
Von
Sage and Harper had their arms looped around one another, conversing and giggling as we all made our way through the forest, traveling on foot. Lyra’s hand was in Harper’s, an excited bounce in her step. She, too, was happy to see Sage.
We all were.
I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off her since the battle had ended a couple hours ago. In truth, a very large part of me wanted to grab her and fly her away somewhere private so I could hoard her to myself. But when I saw how happy she was to be reunited with the others, I refrained just so I could see that smile of hers a little bit longer.
Sage and I had much to talk about, and some things were not going to be easy. Right now, all that mattered was that she was alive. Safe. Happy. We’d get to the rest after.
Artemesia led the group, her gryphon walking with her, Kaleb beside them. After them came Fallon and Ryker,separated by Soren, who had spent the last two hours reliving his heroic efforts in the battle—most of which we all took turns calling bullshit on.
Apart from a few bumps, cuts, and bruises, we’d all fared rather well.
Well, everyone but Folkoln, who had been as quiet as a temple mouse ever since the fight ended. Quiet and Folkoln—it was an oxymoron.
My brows raised slightly as I glanced his way. “What’s going on with you?” I asked, voice low.
No reply came at first.
Then, “She’s my mate,” he whispered, eyes fixed ahead.
I traced his gaze, landing on Artemesia. “How do you know?”
