Page 53 of Reigning
“That’s good, because I’m not getting any younger,” Agatha calls out.
My neighbor lingers at the road, her own mate watching us intently at her side. Behind her, my mother and father stand. My mother’s deep-blue eyes shine with tears. She’s always crying when I see her.
But this time it’s not from sadness.
My father brings her closer to his chest, and the four of them watch in an odd but calming silence when I take a step back and look fully at the jar Sinister is holding out to me.
I consider the little container with its odd herbs for several seconds.
“How does it work?”
“It’s a sort of shifter magic. It’s an ancient tradition.” Rime’s voice is that of a true story teller, and I hang on his every word. “When a dragon shifter finds a mate who he loves, someone he’d give his life for, the shifter has to find a rare plant called amarely. It’s said to be a plant of love. The shifter gathers the plant, gathers the mate.” He pauses long enough to enjoy my glare before continuing. “Then the two share a promise. A secret promise that they’ll never share with another living soul. And then…something magical happens.”
A promise that we’ll never tell another living soul. That’s intimidating.
What if I freeze up and say something stupid?
That does sound slightly like something that could happen to me.
“Ready?” Chaos asks, a gleam of excitement shining in his two-tone eyes.
I shift, peering back at the little crowd before looking around at the waiting men in front of me. I nod slowly.
What if I do it wrong? What if I screw up this ancient tradition? Will my men ask for a refund? What’s the protocol on damaged mates?
Because I’m it. I’m the discounted stock, boys. But I guess they’ll never see me that way.
“You’ll be fine,” Chaos whispers.
The herbs in the jar shift along the glass as Chaos grabs it in one hand and then takes my wrist in the other and leads me toward the door. We’re a few feet away from the others, and the three men watch us closely.
I feel even more nervous now.
Chaos holds the container with both hands, but his attention never leaves my big eyes.
He leans in, bringing the glass close to his lips before he speaks so quietly I barely hear him. “I promise to always take care of you, to know what you need. Even if you never do.”
The smile he gives me makes warmth flare through my soul.
With steady hands, I skim my fingertips over his, holding the container with him and letting my lips come just as close as his to speak into the glass. “I promise to love every pure part of you exactly the way you’ve always deserved to be loved, Chaos.” I can’t take it anymore. I kiss him from over the jar, his beard scraping my skin before his soft lips press tenderly to mine.
Heat burns across my neck. I pull back hard, and when I look down, a tiny ember of fire dances within the dry herbs.
Magic.
I part my lips, but no words come out.
“That ember of fire will burn within this glass for as long as we both shall live.” The bright firelight shimmers in his gaze.
I hate that it’s so hard for me to breathe, to form any kind of words to say to this beautiful man right now.
“I love you, Low.” Then he kisses me all over again.
Our hands linger, the heat warming my skin as the sun sets on us. I want to remember him just like this forever.
“Okay, Prince Charming.” Rime slips his hand below ours, taking the jar and glancing slowly from me to Chaos.
Chaos’ fingers brush along Rimes and then he quietly slips away.
