Hunger Untamed (Feral Warriors #5)(63)

To her amazement, a small smile lifted one corner of Kougar's mouth. "Nice?"

She threw her head back and laughed. How long had it been since she'd laughed? "No. Not nice. Unbelievable. Splendid." She met his gaze, still grinning. "Magnificent."

He smiled and pushed inside her on one hard, perfect stroke, filling her as only Kougar ever had, their gazes locked, laughter and heat and wonder in his eyes. Exactly what she knew he must see in her own.

Laughter. Smiles. Their lovemaking had been like this once. She remembered that, too, now, and not just from seeing it in the dream. Like now, she'd felt as if her heart and lungs and chest would simply burst from the affection she felt.

No. Not affection.

Love.

He drove her hard toward yet another glorious climax. When they were once more still, their hearts pounding, their bodies slick with sweat, she heard the music drifting up from below. The celebration had begun without them.

A smile lifted her mouth. No, the celebration had begun right here--with them.

Kougar lifted his head slowly, his soft beard brushing her cheek a moment before his lips. Then he pushed off her, his gaze liquid with tenderness as he offered her a hand.

For a long moment, time stood still as they gazed into one another's eyes, remembering. Then he pulled her up, and the moment was over.

As they dressed to the sound of music and gaiety, Kougar rubbed at his chest, just over his heart, and she knew the poison was eating away at him, slowly killing him. The fullness of her heart tumbled into confusion.

She wanted so much, with a need that was almost painful. The safety of Kougar and her maidens, the defeat of Hookeye. The poison gone, her life returned.

And Kougar back in that life.

Side by side, they walked to the open window and the railing that overlooked the garden below. Her maidens looked up, waving to her as they danced in their bright silk celebration gowns, twirling around one another in time with the vibrant music. Ariana felt a bittersweet smile form on her lips.

Kougar leaned on the railing, his gaze turning to her. "I want to see you dance. Here. For me."

"Will you dance with me?"

A smile lit his eyes. "If you'll wear a gown."

A smile played at her mouth. "Wait here."

They were traveling a knife's edge over a pit of disaster, yet she felt almost happy, as she hadn't in centuries. An inappropriate emotion when the man she loved was dying, and so many other lives were at stake. And yet, why not live while they had the chance?

Why not feel joy?

He accompanied her to the queen's chamber, one she rarely visited anymore, and watched her strip off her jeans and tee and pull on the deep blue satin gown that was the queen's color alone. The gown was simply made, a wisp of silk that just covered her shoulders then fell to midcalf, lightly clinging to her curves.

As custom dictated, she brushed out her hair, letting it fall freely, and left her feet bare. She turned to find him watching her with eyes of silver, a smile at his mouth.

"Beautiful."

And she believed him. He'd always made her feel beautiful and desired.

Taking his hand, she led him back to the observatory. The moment they were through the doors, she dropped his hand and twirled away, dancing for him, all the desperate joy and love that filled her chest flowing into the music.

He watched her, his gaze a caress that she didn't think she could live without again. In the few short days since he'd stalked back into her life, she'd felt more alive than in the thousand years she'd spent without him.

Any sacrifice would be worth it. Even if she feared she would never truly have his heart.

Wulfe sat on the floor of Natalie's cage in his man form, watching her stir, both glad and not that she was starting to wake. Because it was finally time to send her home.

Her eyes fluttered lightly, her gaze catching on him. "Hi."

"It's time. We were able to get Christy's memories. I can take yours now and get you home."

Her soft movements turned quick with excitement as she sat up. But as she glanced around her cell, she frowned.

"Where's Xavier?"

"Helping out in the kitchen."

She gave a jerk of surprise. "Really?"

Wulfe dreaded this part but couldn't put it off. "He's going to stay here."

"What? No. Why?" She scrambled to her feet as if she meant to dart out the open door.

He rose, ready to stop her if she tried. "We can't clear his mind of what he's learned of us. That's only accomplished through the eyes."

Understanding dawned ugly in her own. "And his don't work."

"We're not going to hurt him, Natalie. He'll be well treated here."

"Let me see him."

Her agitation tore at him, and he pulled out his cell phone and called Kara. Less than a minute later, Kara led Xavier into the cellblock.

"Xave!" Natalie rushed past Wulfe, out of her cage.

He let her go to her brother, who enfolded her in a bear hug. "I'm going to be okay, Nat. I don't mind staying. Do you know what they're doing here?"

"Xavier," Wulfe said with a low growl.

"Okay, I can't really say 'cause I'm not supposed to know, but I hear more than I should, and it's big, Nat. Save-the-world kind of big. Really cool shit goes on here."