Page 55 of The Elven Healer's Apprentice

I wanted to turn away, hide my face, but I also knew that if I did, he would see the truth.

“I do.”

“Then marry me. We will figure out the rest from there.” His mouth quirked. “I can be patient.”

I laughed. “Really?”

“Truly.” His brows rose. “You don’t think I can?”

“I have worked with you for months,” I pointed out. “You are hardly the most patient elf.”

“Trust me, I can be patient.” Reaching out, he caressed my cheek and ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “May I kiss you?”

I answered by kissing him first.

Three months later—two months after our wedding day—the morning of our bonding day dawned bright and clear.

I woke as I had every morning of our married life, encircled by my husband. His long torso pressed against my back, warming me and our bed. I burrowed deeper into his embrace. With one arm beneath my head and the other wrapped snuggly around my ribs, he wrapped my whole body in peace and safety.

“Morning, wife.” His sleep-roughened voice caressed my ear.

I hummed in the back of my throat and snuggled closer.

“Ready for today?”

Closing my eyes, I tried to savor the pleasant awareness of my husband’s powerful magic as it completely encompassed the two of us. Once the exchange of vows happened and we spoke the words of the spell, everything would change, yet stay thesame—a good different. In fact, Veta assured me repeatedly that it would be superior in every way.

Not that I didn’t believe her, but I had fallen in love with the way things were. Daily working alongside my prickly but affectionate husband, helping people, healing patients, and learning more every day about the world and culture I had married into.

I had family now. Not just Merlon, but all of his cousins, their wives and children, and more.

“Adela.” The muscular arm around my middle tightened as Merlon nuzzled my ear. “You forgot to answer me.”

“I didn’t forget,” I protested. “I am just mulling.”

Merlon’s groan vibrated through his chest so that it rumbled against my spine. “No more mulling, wife.” He rolled me onto my back and distracted me with kisses, reminding me once again why I decided to go through with the coming ceremony to join our lifeforces.

After years of struggling to hope, I had finally found someone I could trust to that degree—Merlon.

I wanted this—his affection, his laughter,him—for as long as I could enjoy him. Joining life forces would give us that time.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t nervous. I just had to keep reminding myself that sometimes change can be good.

“Merlon?” I caught his attention by running a hand over his chest.

“Yes?” He paused in rolling out of bed to fall back into my embrace.

I hugged him to me. “I love you.”

He covered my hand with his own and pressed it firmly against his chest. “I know.”

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