Page 189 of Unforgivable

My canines sink into her right shoulder. Everything slows down. Relief. Paradise. It's all good now.

Lyri purrs, eyes blinking. Her body sags in my arms. I turn her head so that her teeth line up with my right shoulder. She bites, lightly at first, as if she's falling asleep. Then, harder, when she realizes what she's sinking her canines into.

My knees buckle. I grab her closer to keep us both upright.

"I love you, my love."

"Love you, Sunshine," she says quietly.

Someone takes her from me. I can dimly hear her crying softly. I try to stay awake for her. I can hear Thjis howling softly, hurting. Panic strums through my body.

"It's alright, pup. Breath. Soon it's over." I swear that's the Battleax. I'm in trouble if she's being nice to me.

I hear Rhet start speaking.

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Rhet

I say the words slowly, holding her face in both palms, trying to keep her eyes on me. "I swear, under the Moon, to cherish you as my mate."

Ted slices my palm for me, worry evident in his eyes. This is hard on his daughter. Receiving and giving three Marks all at once is going to push her to her very limit.

But I know she can do it.

"Lyri, angel," I say softly to her. My blood is coating her face where I'm cupping her cheek. Soft, hazel eyes blink at me. "Repeat this, OK?"

She nods.

"I swear,"

"I... swear,"

"Under the Moon,"

"Under the... the..."

"Moon."

"...Moon," she whispers.

"To cherish,"

"Cherish."

"You"

"Y-you," she yawns, blinking. Her eyes don't open again.

"as my mate,"

Nothing. I kiss her mouth softly. "Pretty angel, look at me." Her eyes open again. "Say, 'as my mate.'"

"As my mate," she parrots perfectly.

I smile, relief flooding me. Now comes the hard part. I let Ted slice his daughter's palm and clasp her hand in mine. Then, I very carefully tip her head all the way back. The slim column on her throat is revealed, so vulnerable. It's the kill spot. It's going to be my spot.

My canines sink in. Blood wells. I feel my wolf, eyes narrow, his concentration as serious as mine. My bond with my Sara, my truemate, is fluttering away; the strands are gone. It's a bittersweet hurt, but Sara is part of the past, and I have my here and now, my future, in my arms.

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