Page 149 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

“Yes,” I assured him wholeheartedly once our mouths had parted, and he released an exhale of relief, resting his forehead against mine for a moment.

“We have to go,” he admitted reluctantly. “Rian needs us to help move Aes Mirr soon.”

I huffed but nodded in understanding and allowed him to pull me back down into the water. He gave me one last kiss, this one sweeter and more tender before he took my hand to guide me back to the edge of the pool.

It felt strange to be putting our clothing on. I did not think I’d ever had an encounter like this with a male who had not followed it through to conclusion. It was almost like leaving something very unfinished, and I knew that males hated to be left unsatisfied after such an interaction. So I couldn’t help glancing worriedly over at Sage while we were getting dressed, but he didn’t seem discontented in the least. He was looking back at me, not with any hint of resentment for denying him, but in admiration of both me and the marks he left upon my body.

“Are you not going to be uncomfortable?” I asked him, unable to help watching while he adjusted his cock in his riding pants once he pulled them up.

“Immensely, but I will live,” he assured me with a grin and a wink that set me immediately at ease.

Gods, he was gorgeous. I’d known it from the moment I first laid eyes on him when he removed his mask while Rian relinquished Aodhan’s essence back to the Tithriall. He’d become a haven of safety for me, and now I sensed he was about to become something new again.

“So Rian is not the only one who prefers relationships that your father might call… unusual,” I mused while we walked back to the entrance of the hot springs.

“Oh, Summer, please do not mention my father now,” Sage begged, and I laughed.

“That is why you are not nearly as concerned as he is about your cousin’s involvement with the witch.”

“Do not pretend that I am the only one,” Sage teased right back. “I believe you called it sexy.”

He stopped at the opening of the tunnel and turned to raise his eyebrows at me with a smug grin that made a flustered heat rise into my cheeks.

“And I stand by what I said!” I retorted in aggravation with myself. The gods knew I was no simpering youth, and yet this male had me all tied up in knots with little more than a cocky smile.

“You really feel that way?” he verified, sobering as he cocked his head in genuine curiosity.

“Not with Rian,obviously, but I could see the appeal. Sometimes life is overwhelming and feeling safe enough to relinquish control might feel good,” I admitted.

Sage grunted with interest, still eying me in curiosity. “It is surprising to me that you would consider willingly conceding control to someone.”

“Not just anyone, Sage. You andonlyyou.”

We stared at one another a moment before he stepped back toward me. I tipped my head up so he could give me a kiss that filled me with a strange kind of satisfaction. Something warm and comfortable.

“Would you… take control if I asked?”

“Of course. After a proper discussion of boundaries,” he added significantly, making me roll my eyes playfully. “I am willing totry just about anything,” he assured me before he turned away to begin climbing up the tunnel.

Leaving me gaping after him as my mind, naturally, began hurtling scenarios at me.

“Anything?” I called after him, but he merely laughed and continued to climb.

Once he was clear of the passageway above, I began my ascent. I wasn’t wearing his armour anymore so I soon felt the cold from above, but thankfully, Sage already had a portal waiting to take us all back to the camp.

I emerged into the drier, saltier heat of his tent in the seaside camp and sighed in instant relief. I wasted no time shedding my heavier outer layer of clothing. My cotton shirt was still damp from the heat of the hot springs while a fine dusting of ice and snow clung to my leather pants. But nothing felt better than finally removing my boots and putting my bare feet back on the earth to reconnect more fully with the Tithriall again.

“Where is your father?” I asked, glancing around the tent in concern when I did not see the aes sídhe male.

“He’s with Rian. Are you well enough to heal Nuala?” Sage asked tentatively. “Only if you are sure,” he added when I glanced back at him in surprise.

My first impulse was to agree, to please him and Rian, but I forced myself to do as Sage insisted and paused to genuinely examine my magic. My reserves had gradually been replenishing since the day before, and while my power was by no means fully restored, I had some energy to spare. Especially for another female who had evidently undergone torture.

“I can at least manage to make her more comfortable,” I reassured him. “But I will not overdo it,” I added when he tilted his head sternly at me.

Seeming satisfied, Sage nodded and then removed his cloak and strode toward the entrance of the tent.

“We will get food on the way to Rian. Stay and rest,” he added to the vargr, although they had already curled up together on Serafin’s bed.

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