Page 29 of Exiled Mate

Terra’s smile widens. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“But the only way to do that…”

“I know, Rylan.” She grimaces. “I know. The only way to catch him is to go back to the fights.”

“And collect evidence, which isn’t going to go well there.”

“What do you mean?”

I sigh. “They’re not legal fighting rings, Terra. It’s not like we can waltz in there and just record Chet placing a bet.”

“So we need Thorne there.”

I shake my head. “There’s no way that he’ll just walk in there. He’s a respected alpha.”

“An alpha who would risk a lot to protect a member of his pack, right?”

My eyes widen. “Terra, no.”

“What?”

“You can’t put yourself in that position. The mages, the people in there… they’d destroy you.”

She smiles again. “Oh, definitely. But there’s someone who is stronger than they are. Someone they’ll never see coming.”

“Who?”

Terra smirks. “I think it’s time you met my best friend, Ember.”

“Is she… You know what, never mind,” I say.

“We’ll figure it out. I have a plan, though, love,” she whispers.

I shake my head. “You’re too wonderful, you know that?”

“I think you could probably show me how wonderful you think I am,” she says with a smile. She tugs on my hand and places it on her bare thigh.

Slowly, I slide my fingers up, moving them toward her center.

Terra’s breath hitches. Her hands twine through my hair, and she leans in for a kiss. Against my lips, she pauses. I feel like I swallow the words.

“I just found you, Ry. I don’t want to lose you again.”

I nip her lips, tugging the sweatshirt up. “I swear, I’ll never leave you again, Terra.”

It’s a promise. It’s something that anchors me to her, and to the future.

But I mean every syllable.

Terra’s it for me.

I was an idiot to leave her the first time. This time?

I’m going to be brave enough to stay.

Chapter 9

Terra

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