Page 54 of The Highseer's Mate

And we could lose the one in front of us too.

The sadness is overwhelming but I can’t run from it. It’s mine to bear—more than anyone else’s.

The only way through it is forward. But at least now, we’re together. We can face it alongside each other and try to make the best of our new life with the Vruts.

But even as I think it, the pain in my chest radiates and throbs.

I need Varek. I’m terrified of what’s going to happen to him–to us. If this is my new life, I don’t want to live it without him by my side.

So I’ll fight.

Whatever it takes to be with him, to prove that this is my fault, I’ll do it.

Chapter 21

Paige

It took two days before I found my way down into the mines.

Kylor was nowhere to be found and I didn’t feel comfortable asking anyone else on the council for help. Draxel kept his distance which I assumed was for Ryan’s benefit, but that left me with no one to trust.

No one who would take me to Varek no matter how much I begged.

Finally, I convinced a young male to lead me underground deeper than I thought possible.

Lyzar, as he told me his name was, points down a tunnel that darkens the farther I look. The shining gemstones of luminite are few and far between and this far down, no skylight illuminated the way.

“It’s just past the hook down there. Once you can’t see, call out his name.”

A sense of dread presses down on my chest. It’s intense, but not as painful as the loneliness I can’t shake. I miss him. I’m worried about him.

“Thank you,” I say to Lyzar as I move forward. I squint as I go deeper, the light slowly fizzling out until I can just barely make out the outline of my feet on the rocky ground.

The place smells thick and musty—no airflow—and every now and then, a drip-drop sound trickles along the right wall. My senses are dulled as I reach out and drag my fingers along the wall for support, slowly patting the ground before each step.

I keep walking until my eyes are wide open and I can’t see my hand in front of my face.

I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my throat.

“Varek?”

A sharp intake of breath and light beams out in the distance.

“Paige?”

All the worry fades away and I take off, running straight for the awkwardly low hole in the wall that is glowing. I know he’s in there. The soft green light leads the way.

When I get there, I duck into the chamber and he’s there, sitting against the rough wall with his chest shining bright.

I throw myself on him, and he catches me like I weigh nothing. Varek pulls me to his chest and sets me between his thighs, tangling our legs together. He breathes in deep, moving his big, rough hands all over my body as if checking for injuries. My heart aches as I melt into him, my body releasing tension I hadn’t even realized was there.

I can finally breathe. I can finally be strong again.

“God, I missed you,” I whimper against his chest. I press a flutter of kisses all over his gray skin, memorizing it and loving the scent of him. Even being down here for days, he smells like fresh rain and heat. Sweet with a spice that I can’t get enough of.

He grunts as I kiss his neck and straddle his legs, desperate to feel his body flush with mine.

“My Paige,” he murmurs into the crook of my neck. His lips drag lazily over my sensitive skin. With a guiding hand on the back of my neck, he holds me close. “You came.”

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