Before I Let Go (Skyland #1)(59)

This wasn’t about saving anyone. This was me choosing every part of him.

I pulled back from him and stared at my mate. His face was flushed and his gaze lazy, and I could no longer see worry rolling off him as I had before.

“Are you okay?” His voice was tired as he ran his fingers over my neck where he had just bitten.

I nodded and ran my fingers down his arms. My magic still trickled from my fingers, but it was softer now, more controlled.

“I want you in my bed tonight.”

My gaze flew up to his. “What?”

He pushed my hair out of my face and searched for something I was unsure of. “You are my mate, and now you are my betrothed. You will be in my bed from now on.”

“That isn’t very proper.”

Evren snorted, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“I don’t think the way you just took me was very proper either, princess.” He leaned forward and ran his nose along my collarbone. “Nothing I wish to do to you is very proper.”

I swallowed hard, and my thighs tightened around him.

“You like that, princess? You like thinking about all the ways your mate dreams of defiling you?”

I didn’t say a word as he looked back up at me and pulled my bottom lip in between his teeth. They scraped over the sensitive skin, and another small wave of pleasure coursed through me.

Evren chuckled before pressing a small kiss to the side of my mouth. “Gods, you’re going to destroy me.”





CHAPTER 18





I awoke to the sound of knocking at the door, and I had barely managed to peek an eye open when Evren called for whomever it was to come in.

Thalia pushed through the door with a worried look on her face and a small parchment in her hand.

I pressed my hand to Evren’s chest as I sat up and pulled his sheet to my chest.

“There’s news.” She held the parchment in his direction before her gaze slid to me.

“What is it?” Evren leaned forward and took the parchment from her hand.

“It’s reported that three dozen fae soldiers ride toward our border.”

“What?” Evren pushed his hair out of his face before quickly opening the parchment. His chest was bare and the sheet fell to his hips. Every bit of the worry that had disappeared from his face last night was back full force, and I tightened my hand in the sheet as I watched him.

“They say that Gavril rides with them.”

Evren’s gaze darted from the parchment to look up at our friend. “That’s impossible.”

I could see it then, the tense posture in Thalia’s shoulders, the way her jaw clenched almost unnoticeably. She was strong, stronger than almost anyone I had ever met, but she was rightfully fearful of the man who had used her. I was fearful of him too.

“What does this mean?”

Evren looked at me as he worked his lip between his teeth. He didn’t say a word. He just looked back down at the parchment in his hand as his other slid over to mine.

He gripped my fingers in his as he read the words that were inked on the parchment, and I could feel his anger rising with each passing second.

“It would appear that my brother would like to find a compromise.” His fingers tightened around the parchment. “He is coming to offer me something in exchange for you.”

“What?” I looked back and forth between him and Thalia, and she could barely meet my gaze. “What could he possibly have to trade?”

“I don’t know.” Evren shook his head before letting go of my hand and climbing out of bed. He pulled his trousers on quickly before pulling a shirt over his head. “But we need to figure it out. We need to prepare for anything with his arrival.”

“He’s a threat.” It wasn’t a question.

“My brother will always be a threat, princess, and the fact that he’s coming here himself is dangerous. I don’t like not knowing what to expect.”

He pulled on a boot before sitting down and quickly tugging the other up his leg.

“Are you all right, Thalia?”

Her gaze slammed into mine, and her eyes widened at my question. She looked like she had been so deep in her own mind that she had forgotten either of us were in the room.

“Yes.” She nodded once. “Of course.”

But she wasn’t. There was no way that she could be. She hadn’t seen Gavril since she escaped from the fae kingdom, but I was sure that she thought of him. I was positive that she dreamed of him and his horror in a way that I couldn’t fathom.

“Get everyone in the throne room, including my mother.” Evren nodded toward her. “We need to prepare before they arrive.”

“Of course.” Thalia turned quickly and left the room without another word.

Evren stood and tucked his shirt into his trousers before rolling up his sleeves. He grabbed something from his desk, tucking it in his pocket, and my worry spiked as I watched him.

“Evren,” I called his name softly, but he didn’t stop. He was pacing his room, gathering his dagger before strapping it to his side. “Evren.”

I was firmer this time, and he finally stopped to look at me.

“You should get dressed.” His gaze fell to my naked body, that was only shielded by his sheet. “We’ll need you, too.”