Page 72 of The Highseer's Mate

“You’re mine, Mate,” he murmurs against my lips, the words a promise, a vow. “And nothing will tear apart our family.”

I smile, my fingers tracing the strong line of his jaw. “And you’re mine.”

There’s no more fear, no more uncertainty. Just us—wrapped in the furs, the world outside forgotten.

Chapter 28

Paige

Varek and I spent a week enjoying each other.

A week, splayed out in the furs, loving and kissing and whispering and planning.

Because we have a lifetime together ahead of us and there was a time when I thought a future together was impossible.

After the council’s decree, Varek’s drive to start a family with me has been insatiable. He took Kylor’s words very seriously and he intends to keep me healthy and pregnant at his side for as long as it makes me happy.

I’m not sure I’ll ever get tired of the practice.

My cheeks burn even as I think about it.

I walk through the glowhollows, on my way to check in on my friends who I’ve been unintentionally ignoring for a few days. Varek’s attention hasn’t left much time for others, but I put a stop to his morning wandering hands and kicked him out of the chamber.

After Varek tore my leathers to pieces, he worked to fashion me my own new wardrobe detailed with carvings and oil staining that mirrors the glowing markings on his chest. It is an adjustment from the previous tunic, learning how tight to tie theties around the top piece that covers my breasts and extends to just above my belly button. The bottom skirt hangs across my hips and down almost to my knees.

Varek likes me bare underneath.

I swallow thickly as warmth spreads through my body just thinking about him.

Dammit, how does he have such a hold on me? Physically, mentally—I’m obsessed.

I suck in a deep breath and focus on anything else but my mate as I near my friends’ chamber. I slide the hanging leathers aside and my eyes widen.

Nicole is perched next to a very awake Melina.

“Melina?” I gasp.

Melina’s soft voice fills the air. “Hi, Paige.”

A rush of adrenaline floods me and I leap forward, amazed at what I’m seeing.

“Oh my God,” I laugh, unable to stop the emotions flowing out of me. I sit by her side and hug her, deciding not to focus on how frail she feels, or how thin she’s gotten. “It’s so good to hear your voice!”

Melina hugs me back, her arms giving me a soft squeeze. “Nicole was just telling me everything that’s happened since the crash.”

She beams back at me, a sparkle already returning to her eyes. She’s still pale, her dirty blonde hair dull and pulled back in a knot on top of her head. But she’s alive. She’s talking. She’s our Melina again.

“I can’t believe it,” I whisper. “Selvara is a miracle worker.”

Nicole nods, her lips pressing into a proud smile. “She really is.”

“You will be too,” I assure her.

From day one, Nicole jumped right in to take care of all of us and I don’t think we will ever find a way to repay her either. She was calm and controlled while Ryan and Lara were devolving into yelling matches and I was too focused on how to get us off this damn planet to slow down and take stock of how we truly were. Nicole was our rock.

But Melina is a survivor.

“How do you feel?” I ask Melina.

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