Page 117 of Shrine of Fire

It didn’t take a genius to see how winded Kalahar was, or how he grimaced as he moved.

I sat next to Hashir, opposite the phoenix. “I can do something.”

“You are not tethered enough—”

“Then bond me.” I looked at Hashir. “I love Nova. I love this pack. If Nova wanted the moon, I would bring it back to her in a silver gilt box.”

Hashir looked amused, pushing some hair out of Nova’s face. She was so, so pale. “I don’t think you’d have to go that far.”

“I wanted Nova to be ready,” I said. “I did.”

“She’s ready.” Stefan squeezed Nova’s hand. He was pale, his bandages making a lump against his robes. “When I told her I wanted to be bonded, she was relieved.”

Nova loved me. It was time for me to start showing her how much I loved her.

Stefan took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Better be quick then.”

Hashir’s face reddened. “Umm, I’m not sure we have time for sex right now and I’ve never bonded someone…”

“Oh mortals.” Kalahar laughed and looked at Hashir. “Sexual acts are easier because you’re melding your body with theirs, but any act of deeply sharing your soul with your alpha will allow a bondmark.”

“We can do this.” I took Hashir’s hands. “I trust you. You’re brave and smart and I would be honored to be in this pack.”

“Me too.” Aki sat next to me. “I’m an idiot for not doing it sooner.”

“You are,” Hashir told the delta, without ire. “You’re not any more broken than the rest of us.”

“I don’t want to be a burden.” His face was solemn, his shoulders stiff.

“Not a burden,” Hashir said, caressing the man’s face affectionately. “Never that, my friend. I couldn’t imagine doing this without you.”

With that, my chest opened with the same expansive, weightless feeling I had when I stood in the middle of the highlands.

“Think about the Silver Lakes,” Kalahar said, looking at me. “Think about the line between water and sky.”

I let out my breath. “Yes.”

Hashir leaned forward, touching my forehead with his. “You are a brave man, leaving your homeland for love. You have stood by our side ever since.”

I smiled, tears prickling the corners of my eyes.

“I see you, Cuanciardha A’Cuiric.”

Stefan took my hand. “Thank you for showing me how great it is to be a beta. It was so much easier to tell Nova after watching her with you.”

I smiled at Stefan. “Any time.”

Aki put his hand on my shoulder.

I shivered at the delta’s touch again. “We will make time for the bonding sex after we save our girl, right?”

“Yes, yes,” Aki rolled his eyes. “Focus, shaman.”

I focused on the gentle energy surrounding me.

Hashir pulled me into a kiss, searing his mouth against mine. I tried to feel the shift and tug of the world around me, like I had when I’d stared into the night sky. There was Hashir’s alpha energy, there was the crackle of Aki’s delta designation, and the smooth flow from Stefan and Kalahar.

We were a pack, bonded or not. Nova sat in the middle of us, connecting us with her love.

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