Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 242728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1214(@200wpm)___ 971(@250wpm)___ 809(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 242728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1214(@200wpm)___ 971(@250wpm)___ 809(@300wpm)
In his hold, I no longer felt the discomfort Aktor did. All my other wounds and maladies faded beneath the homecoming and righteousness of being with him again.
I trembled as he gathered me close, enveloping me in his arms with such a tender, possessive embrace. Tears trickled down my cheeks as I buried my face into his chest and inhaled the night sky and starshine that always seemed to infuse his scent.
I was home.
Life made sense again.
I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
Solin suddenly tripped into the lupic, his eyes wide and braid swinging. “Darro...let her go.”
Darro didn’t turn to look at the Fire Reader.
Whispering in our shared forbidden language, his voice sounded as dark as his shadows. “I’m so sorry...for everything.”
“You have nothing to apologise for,” I whispered back.
“Darro...I really must insist.” Solin cleared his throat. “Release her.”
With the quietest, menacing growl, Darro loosened his arms and slowly pulled away. His palms landed on my hips as his mouth captured mine, delivering the sweetest kiss, eradicating Aktor’s lips, reclaiming me as his own.
I moaned and opened for him.
Solin made a disapproving noise.
Aktor grunted behind his shadow-gag.
But I didn’t care.
I wanted to turn the innocent kiss into something far more salacious.
Right there.
With Solin and Aktor watching, I wanted Darro to prove to them that nothing but true love could bind me.
Adding a burst of worshipping pressure to my lips, Darro ended the kiss and dropped his hands from my hips. Capturing my fingers, he held me carefully, so attentive and aware of the still-healing bee scribed into my palm.
Turning to face Solin, he bowed his head. Smoke-dark strands of hair danced over his forehead. “We’re leaving. With or without your permission.”
Solin sighed heavily, his eyes weighted with worry. “I told you last night, and you saw for yourself...Runa can’t leave. She’ll—”
“I’m aware of what will happen,” Darro bit out. “I won’t take her far, and I won’t keep her long. I accept the blood bind cannot be undone.”
Solin frowned. “If you accept it, then why—”
“Runa will always be mine. Regardless that you’ve taken her away from me.” His fingers clenched around mine, causing a quick wash of pain. “You destroyed any chance of happiness we might have found together, Fire Reader. The least you can do is give us the chance to say goodbye.”
My stomach flipped.
My heart squeezed.
“We’re not saying goodbye,” I breathed. “Never. I don’t care what’s happened. I choose you, Darro—”
“Not here,” he muttered, not looking at me but squeezing my fingers again in warning.
I pressed my lips together, studying Solin as he watched us warily.
My skin no longer glowed, and Darro’s eyes had returned to their usual smoky depths, but his power crackled in the small space. His effortless strength stoked the darkness until it sculked in the corners and hovered in the sunlight, just waiting for his command to manifest, gather, and strike.
Solin clasped his hands together, throwing a look at Aktor. “Release him.”
“I’m not hurting him,” Darro murmured coolly. “Am I, Runa?”
I shook my head. “Aktor isn’t in pain, Solin. Or at least...no new pain.”
Solin groaned and shook his head. “Runa, you know you can’t do this. I told you why—”
“And I told you I won’t obey such laws and restrictions.”
“If you go with him. If you share pleasures—”
Darro bared his teeth. “Is that how low you think of me? That I’m taking her away to bed her?”
“Aren’t you?” Solin crossed his arms, raising his chin. “You’re doing a pretty blatant job of staking your claim on her. Kissing her in front of her betrothed. Binding him while you hold her.”
“He isn’t her betrothed by choice.”
“No, he isn’t, but that doesn’t change the fact that she isn’t yours to touch.”
“She isn’t mine to love either, yet that won’t stop me.” Stepping into Solin, Darro pulled me beside him. “We’re leaving. We need to talk. You will not try to stop us, Spirit Master. I don’t want to hurt you or any of your clan, but I will.”
Zetas stalked into the lupic as if she sensed Darro was near. Shaking her silvery bulk and yipping with relief at finding him, she slotted to his side and raised her horned head with pride.
Solin eyed the wolf warily.
Aktor squirmed in his shadow shackles.
And Darro just waited.
Patient and powerful, serene and silent. Whatever he felt or suffered was hidden beneath a mask of unreadability.
Finally, Solin’s shoulders sagged, and he stepped to the side, leaving the path to outside free. “Don’t go far.”
Darro didn’t reply.
With shadowy stealth, he pulled me forward. Zetas padded on his other side, and the sunshine welcomed us just as Aktor’s shout chased us as the shade-ropes and gag dissolved from around him.
Solin’s snapped command to let us go leashed Aktor from following us, leaving us to walk unmolested through the Nhil camp.
Tral and Tiptu watched us, Niya and Hyath looked up from playing with Syn and Natim, and so many different coloured eyes from so many clan members tracked our progress as Darro led me to the outskirts of the grasslands.