Desire Untamed (Feral Warriors #1)(84)

Kara nodded. "You missed a lot."

Paenther moved into the circle, pants now covering his lower half, two extra pairs in his hands. He tossed one each to Jag and Lyon, then pressed his fist to Tighe's shoulder.

"Welcome back."

"Did you find Vhyper?" Lyon asked.

"He's gone, along with his car."

"Hell."

Tighe shook his head, still staring at Lyon. "I saw you die."

Lyon released her as Tighe closed the distance between the two men and flung his arms around Lyon in a hard, warrior's embrace. He pulled back, thrust his hand out, and when Lyon grasped his arm, gripped Lyon's shoulder with his free hand. A grin slowly swallowed his face.

"Damn I'm glad to see you. How… ?"

Lyon looked down at Kara with a suspicious sheen of moisture in his eyes. "Our Radiant might just be the most stubborn woman who ever lived."

"You should have seen her, Stripes," Jag drawled, pulling on his pants. "Kara demanded the witch's head. And took it."

Paenther turned to her, the hard intensity of his eyes softened by gratitude. And maybe respect. To her surprise, he dropped to one knee in front of her and slammed his fist to his heart.

"I pledge my life to the defense of you and yours, Radiant. Not out of duty, though I would have for that alone, but because you've proven yourself worthy in every way. Courageous, devoted, selfless. May we be as worthy of you."

Jag dropped to one knee beside Paenther without hesitation. Tighe released Lyon and joined them. The other Ferals stared at the three, then dropped more slowly.

Lyon knelt with his men. "For those who weren't in on the battle, our Radiant has proven herself a true warrior today, risking her safety and her life over and over to advance our purpose and to fight beside us. It was thanks to her courage and sacrifice that we're all still here. And that we prevailed."

The four new arrivals stared at her with curiosity and confusion, then one by one, bowed their heads to her. Behind the men, Pink stood watching her and, like the men, dropped her head in acknowledgment and gratitude.

"I'm honored," Kara said softly, her cheeks growing warm. "And completely overwhelmed."

"We've still got the Daemon blade, right?" Tighe asked.

Paenther and Jag exchanged looks. As one, they leaped to their feet and ran from the room.

"The Daemon blade's gone," Jag said grimly, joining the group in the hallway outside the ritual room a short time later.

Paenther followed close behind him. "Vhyper's car isn't the only one missing. Tighe's Land Rover's gone, and there's no sign of his clone."

"Hell," Lyon said, his men gathered around him after the unfruitful search. Kara stood beside him, her hand tight in his. And damned if his muscles weren't shaking.

They had serious trouble, still. But he could handle it. He could handle the whole world as long as Kara remained by his side.

He didn't want to do another Pairing. He'd already decided it didn't matter who the goddess chose for her. She was his.

But he needed to know. If for no other reason than to know the face of the son of a bitch who would try to steal her away.

If it wasn't him.

Please, Goddess, let it be me.

"We're doing a Pairing," Lyon announced. "Now."

Paenther nodded. "I'll start getting things ready."

"I thought we already did the Pairing," Wulfe said. He looked at Hawke, shaking his head. "I feel like I stumbled into the Twilight Zone."

"Join the club," Hawke muttered.

Ten minutes later, the men stood once more in a circle around the Radiant's pedestal, the ritual fires lit, the blood drawn. Kara was still locked against his side.

Mine, his beast roared.

"It's time," Kougar said.

Kara slipped out of his hold, meeting his gaze with eyes alight with love and promise. A promise he could read clear as day, for it echoed that in his own. No ritual was keeping them apart.

She stepped onto the pedestal without help, proud and confident, so different from the scared, confused woman he'd lifted onto that platform just two days ago. Her gaze met his, held his as Kougar intoned the incantation.

All eyes turned to him.

Kara held out her hand, and he went to her and took her hands, linking her fingers with his.

"You're mine," he said, staking his claim for all to hear.

Tears shimmered in her eyes. "As you're mine. No matter what happens, Lyon. You're my heart and my breath. My soul. And I will love you until the day I die."

Her words echoed the declaration in his heart. "Why are we doing this?" he growled. She was already ascended.

For a terrifying moment, he wondered what he'd do if he wasn't the one chosen to be her mate. Because despite her words, he'd lose her. Sooner or later she'd fall in love with the man who was meant for her. The Pairing never failed.

She lifted their joint hands and pressed them against her lips one after the other. "We're doing this because you need to know. Because if we don't, you'll always doubt that my love for you is for always." She released his hands and slid her palm against his cheek. "Kiss me, my warrior."

With shaking hands, Lyon slid his fingers into her hair and prayed, prayed, she was right because he would never love another.