Page 96 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
“It was more than worth it,” I say, tightening my grip around my chosen mate. I can’t wait to claim her as mine fully. I know we have a lot of issues to deal with; there are dangers lurking at every corner and I don’t want to pressure her by going too fast.
Azadeh’s hand glides to my back and brushes upwards to my neck, playing with my hair there. Her touch is gentle but with intent. Oh Goddess, how am I going to stay away from this beauty in my arms?
Maybe we don’t have to, Caspian says, sounding overjoyed.She is claiming us too… in her way!
He is right. Aza seems to know what she wants. I will just let her take the lead.
thirty-two
I Could be Your Chosen
*ALANA*
Something doesn’t feel right. It’s a constant chill I feel, like a cold hand that grips my heart. All the way to the neighbor pack, through our talk with the Alpha and his chosen mate, I couldn’t shake it off.
I don’t know what it is… this is just a normal research mission. There is no danger lingering around. Werebears might be involved, but just like Ita, I am starting to believe that they are part of something bigger… the bears are easy victims. Most shifters hate them because they are rough and violent, but not all of them are bad. Someone might be using them, manipulating them maybe.
But this is not why I feel off. It’s something else, like a foreboding feeling of something bad approaching. I try to stay focused and shake the feeling off, but I’m beyond relieved when we reach the pack and can take a break.
The young Alpha Blaine and Luna Caitlin invite us to have dinner. After seeing them together, I have no doubts anymore that what they share is real. It might not be a mate bond, but the way he gently holds her hand and how she looks at him is proof enough. They help each other heal, and I’m sure my father will happily approve of this new alliance.
Dinner is pleasant enough, but I’m glad when we can finally retreat to our rooms. Alpha Blaine has prepared guestrooms for us and while they are small, they are comfortable. I feel a bit more at ease once I’m inside and can freshen up. I try to tame my locks slightly. While I carry my hair rather short, it’s shoulder length now, its structure is hard to tame.
“Alana?” a knock and a well-known voice pull me out of my thoughts.
“Come in.”
Ita steps in. “Not asleep yet?”
I put my brush aside and shake my head.
Ita smiles. “Firehair,” she says.
“Sorry?”
“You have hair like fire. I always found it fascinating.”
I feel a bit flustered at her words. Flinn and I have our mother’s hair color, and we are both proud of it. But to have Ita comment on it and praise me for it is different.
She closes the door behind her and sits down on my bed. “You were quiet the whole day.”
“I had a lot on my mind,” I admit.
“Like what?”
I sit down next to her with a sigh. “It’s just… a feeling.”
Ita brushes some strands of hair from my face and tucks it behind my ear. “You said you felt you’ve already been here.”
“Yes, but not only that… there is more to it,” I rest my hand on my chest. “Something feels terribly off.”
“How about,” Ita angles for something in her pocket and brings out two little bottles of rum. “A little drink to distract you.”
I laugh. “You are the best!”
Being with Ita indeed raises my spirits, as usual. She has been my best friend for so many years and we share so much. She is my safety net, my comfort. We grab a few blankets and decide to sit on the balcony, snuggling up to each other to protect us from the cold. The rum helps to further warm us up, and soon we giggle as we talk about everything going on around us.
“Who thought Tynan would be finding his mate so soon?” Ita says. “And a male human on top of that.”
