Page 84 of Heat of the Everflame

“Hunting mortals.” He said it so happily, so eagerly. I would have shivered, if my skin wasn’t currently imitating the sun’s surface. “A family friend was hurt in the attack on Coeurîle. We heard the Guardians responsible might be there, and we wanted to find ‘em and make ‘em pay.”

“And did you?”

Taran bounced on his toes, his elbow prodding me again. “Let’s just say the guy won’t beclappingthe next time he sees us.”

Movement caught my eye. One of the guards had come up behind me. Their gloved hand reached for my hood.

Luther’s arm curled around my waist and yanked me close to his chest. “Keep your hands off my mate,” he snarled.

The sound of blades sliding from their sheaths rang out, followed by the hiss of fire. Warmth bloomed through me and set my mind reeling. At first I thought I’d been hit by the Ignios magic, but Luther’s heartbeat was steady, his body still.

Perhaps it was the press of him against me—or the words he’d just spoken.

“You don’t tell us what to do,foreigner,” the guard behind me spat.

“We’re not here to cause any trouble,” Alixe soothed. “Our friend meant no harm by it. They’re newly mated and still adjusting to the bond.”

“You think that was bad, try sharing a camp with them,” Taran joked. “None of us are getting any sleep.”

One of the other guards chuckled.

“They’re relentless, those two. All night long. Like rabbits.”

More laughter.

“I tried to join in last night and he stabbed me right in the balls. Me, his own flesh and blood! It’s still healing, wanna see the wound? Here, let me just take off—”

“Keep your pants on,” the guard behind me muttered. “You can continue to the border, but stay near the water. No wandering into the dunes.”

“We’ll head straight out,” Alixe agreed.

We immediately hurried past. Luther remained at my side, his arm locked around my waist.

I dared a glance forward, relieved to see an abrupt wall of black on the horizon—Umbros was finally within sight.

We might make it through this after all.

Once we were out of the guards’ earshot, Luther ordered Alixe and Taran to fall back, giving us a small window of privacy.

“Are you alright?” he asked. “I can feel the heat through your cloak.”

“I’m fine,” I said tightly.

I was not fine. My heart was racing, my blood pounding, my skin broiling. My hair was stuck to my face with sweat, my clothing soaked in it. The adrenaline brought on by the confrontation with the guards wasn’t fading—it wasbuilding, as if preparing for some greater fight.

“What I said back there, about you being my...” He cleared his throat. “I was only trying to scare the guard off. If it made you uncomfortable—”

“It didn’t,” I rushed out. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”

That was also notfine.

Even though I knew it was an act, hearing the word “mate” from his mouth, hearing him claim me in that profound, irrevocable way was...

Confusing, maybe. Surprising, definitely.

Breath-stealing. Heart-whirling. World-shifting.

I was never a woman who had dreamed of commitment. I’d always met any attempt to contain me with a stubborn resolve to push back harder. Henri’s marriage proposal had sent me running, and even when I’d eventually accepted, it had been with the grim awareness that his mortal life was short, and eventually I would be on my own again.

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