Page 24 of Lion Conquers All
Aarav took a step closer, breathing in the light floral scent he adored so much. Thesoulglow from her face was breathtaking. Her skin seemed to shimmer in the bright sun like an iridescent pearl.
She moved the back she was carrying to her front and clutched it tightly to her stomach.
He slipped an arm around her back and beneath her legs, lifting her easily from the ground. He curled her tight to his chest, refusing to be denied the chance to hold her close.
Keep her safe.
This was where she belonged.
One step forward put one leg in the water.
This was where he wanted her to be. Every day.
Another step put both legs in the water.
Her heart beat rapidly and so fast. Her breathing was quick and shallow.
His cat purred, so distressed by the fear their mate was displaying. The rumble was soft, but more than enough for her to hear it. Certainly feel it.
She was pressed to his chest.
There was no way she couldn’t hear him. It wasn’t loud enough for the others to notice. It was just for her. All for her.
Her entire body trembled. She looked up at him. Her eyes wide and nostrils flared.
He’d give anything in his possession to erase the fear from her expression.
Another step forward. He was halfway across now.
“Are you…is that?” She looked at his chest, as if she might be able to find some other reason for the sound.
“Yes,shuarra.He doesn’t like how fearful you are. He’s trying to calm you.” His words were soft and quiet, spoken only for her ears.
Aarav took two more steps. The water receded from his knees, back to mid-calf.
“It pains us both that you suffer.”
Another step and he’d have to let her go. The feel of her. The closeness. He’d gotten to hold her, breathe in her scent. Feel her heartbeat against his chest. Eight months and this was the closest he’d ever been to her.
He took the last step onto the bank. His boot crunched in the gravel.
“Tell him thank you for being so aware.” She pushed against his hold and he released, setting her gently to her feet. “But please don’t call me that word. I’m not that for you. I can’t.”
“You just told him. And I can’t help myself, Connie. You are what the magick says you are.”
“You’re the only one that sees that. The only one that feels that way.”
He expertly masked the hurt he felt from her statement, keeping his expression unchanged. He knew she couldn’t see thesoul call. But she felt something for him. He knew. There had been moments where they’d had short connections. Even this one. There was chemistry between them if she’d only give it a chance. The magick of thesoul callaffected her too, she was just skilled at fighting it.
He knew she’d been fighting connections to people for years. It was the only way she’d been able to remain so distant. But it didn’t matter. Today was a win for him. Today he’d held his beloved in his arms. Today she’d been closer to him than ever before.
Today was a day he would remember when months from now she was still aloof. Still scared. Still hiding from the one thing that had the potential to heal all her wounds.
But he was a patient man.
His beast, not so much. But his beast would wait whether he liked it or not.
He couldn’t afford to spook this target. He wouldn’t move before she was ready. He wouldn’t lose her, no matter how long it took.
