Page 78 of Stray Cat

They shared a trepidatious look. “We’ll deal with that when we have to,” Lindsay whispered.

Before Xav could answer, Eric approached, the usually laid-back man smiling broadly.

“Ready, you two?”

Lindsay turned to Xav, her mate, her other self, the man she’d loved since the moment she’d first seen him. Her Shifter cat had known it, even if Lindsay’s human side had taken a long time to catch up.

Her lynx let out a purr. “You bet I am,” she told Eric.

Xav gave Eric a decided nod. “Let’s do this.”

Eric beckoned to Iona, who left Cassidy’s side to join her mate. Both faced Xav and Lindsay, Iona’s face alight with gladness.

Eric put his large hands on Xav’s and Lindsay’s clasped ones. Iona’s joined his, and Eric raised their collective hands high. “Under the light of the full moon, the Mother Goddess, I proclaim you mates!”

A riotous cheer followed. Music blared and the sedate circle dance segued into a wild frenzy, clothes tearing as animals threw them off and began to howl and roar.

“I love you, Xav,” Lindsay yelled at him over the noise.

“I love you, Lindsay. Mymate.”

Xav lifted her against him and spun around with her, then took her mouth in a scorching kiss. The shouting and joyful screaming faded as Lindsay became absorbed in Xav, embracing the savage happiness inside her.

“Maybe we should sneak off to our house now,” Xav said into her ear when the kiss ended.

Lindsay could only nod, her mating frenzy ramping so high it robbed her of speech.

Xav grabbed her hand, and together they fled through the celebrating Shifters, who didn’t bother to impede their escape.

A gust of wind tore the crown from Lindsay’s head and sent it into the night. Moonlight caught on the chain of flowers, symbols of her unwavering love for Xav and the powerful strength of the mate bond.

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