Page 40 of Kiss My Sass

“Ohmygods, that was so,” she whimpered, both of them a tangled, sticky mess on top of the sheets.

“Yeah, it was,” he agreed, kissing her head.

He held her until her breathing steadied, then Thor grabbed a pair of sweats and headed out to the living room. He was not exactly sure how this would work for him, but he took the ancient box and removed the murky ink, shaking it until it started to swirl and glitter with magic. He laid out the bamboo pens side by side as one at a time his Pack mates joined him in the living room.

Of course they would. He’d been pulling on their Pack bonds ever since he felt the urgency to do this now. There were whispers and sniffles, one of the babies cooed, another cried. These were the sounds of life, a good life, and Thor was truly grateful to be a part of it. He worked in silence, allowing those good spirits to fill him, chasing away the shadows that had darkened his sight for too long.

Thor knew the second she walked into the room. Her love was like a beacon in the night, and she shone brightly even from the other world where his spirit currently roamed.

“Thor?” she whispered, as the others parted so she could make way for him.

He smiled then, handing her the first bamboo pen.

“What am I supposed to do?” she whispered, panicked.

Let me in, he whispered into her mind.Let me in, and I will guide you, show you how to draw the story of us onto my back, mate.

I don’t want to hurt you,she replied, using their telepathic bond. Her love pulsed strongly, and he thanked the gods and the Fates for bringing this woman into his life.

You won’t. Just follow my lead, angel.

He was already on his knees, but Thor turned so his back faced Nica. She inhaled a shaky breath, but he was with her all the way. From inside that metaphysical plane where their animals waited together until called, Thor talked Nica through every step of this ancient and most sacred process.

Tears fell from her eyes, and he smiled, knowing they were tears of love and joy as he reached in through their bonds, guiding her hands stroke after stroke as she used magicked ink and one bamboo pen after another to create an image of them on his skin. It took hours, but he was surrounded by his Pack, and they lent him strength, which he shared with his sweet, brave mate.

There was nothing she couldn’t do. Oh, she was still finding her feet, but lucky sonofabitch that he was, Thor was ecstatic he was going to be there to see it all. Every step of the way. He couldn’t wait.

“It’s done,” Nica said with a shaky breath, and Thor released the tension he was holding in his back.

She took a damp rag someone handed her and gently blotted his skin, meeting his eyes in the big mirror someone else had placed in front of them. Congratulations were whispered, and the Pack came forward offering gentle hugs and shoulder pats as they welcomed them as a couple for the first time.

“Don’t you wanna see it?” Nica asked, and he felt her curiosity.

He’d already seen it in his mind, but she was so sweet, so excited. He wanted her to tell it to him. To see it through her eyes.

Bright, brave, beautiful mate. Strong woman. Good girl.

“Describe it to me,” Thor said, after everyone backed off and he was putting away the ink and pens.

“Okay,” she whispered, getting behind him. Her hands gently touched the periphery of the image and he growled softly, loving the feel of her hands on his body.

“It’s our forest, our trail, and there are dozens of leaves falling from the oak tree where we first shifted together,” she spoke softly, reverently.

“Demon is sitting on his haunches, big and beautiful, bold as ever. He’s looking up at the sky, and I’m in my feathers, flying overhead. Oh my gods, there are two young Ravens with me, Thor,” she said, and her voice grew shaky on that part.

Thor turned around and held her in his arms. She was sobbing now, tears of joy he knew cause he felt them too. Thor kissed her head, her temple, her cheeks, her lips, everywhere he could touch, She’d described their future, and it was more than he had ever dreamed.

“Do you want that with me, angel?”

“A family? A future? Yes, oh yes,” she replied, kissing him back harder.

“Good. Let’s start now.”

“Now?”

“Right now, angel.”

Thor stood up, taking her with him, and she sighed, wrapping her legs around his waist. It was going to be a long road, but they had each other. They were the best of each other, and they’d been together through the worst already.

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