Page 38 of Saved By a Barbarian

I nodded rapidly, too choked up to form words. Yes. I wanted that. I wanted a real family.

She pinched my cheeks, smirking when I grimaced and leaned into her hands anyway. I’d take the rough treatment because she did it with love. And I didn’t hate it.

“Well, then, good. I will introduce you to your brothers tomorrow. I have sent for them already. Tonight, you will spend time with your bondmate.”

“B-brothers?” I spluttered. Instead of explaining, she just cackled, patting my cheek as she walked away. I gaped at her receding back, turning to face Verus when he snorted.

“She was waiting to do that,” he chuckled, rolling his eyes affectionately.

Orthorr smirked and nodded in agreement. “I wouldn’t doubt it. Now, Patrick, there is a ceremony to be adopted into a family, and another for bonding. Yamileth is already planning them both, so you need not worry about them. I agree that you should rest tonight. Yamileth’s other sons are… rambunctious. You will need your energy to meet them.”

I was too stunned to do anything but nod, letting Verus pull me to my feet and hand me my cane. He dipped his head at Orthorr, his expression unusually serious.

“Thank you, clan leader. It means a lot.”

Orthorr gave him a soft smile in return. “I knew what he meant to you, Verus. I would have found some way to ensure your bonding. Now go. I’ve got no doubt that Yamileth will have all the elders in my tent soon to plan the ceremonies. I want to sneak some ale before they arrive.”

Verus snickered, bowing with his fist against his chest before tugging me back outside. The cold rain was shocking, and my breath stuttered as we stepped out.

“Cold?” Verus asked, tugging me against his side.

“Yes. I didn’t realize how warm I got when I was in there,” I told him, snuggling against him.

He scooped me off my feet with a grin, smacking a kiss to my lips when I raised my eyebrows at him. “What? Did you think just because you can walk without crutches that I would let you walk around on your own? You are my ravsol. You deserve pampering.”

Twenty-Six

After discussing the possibility of a curse with my brothers, I honestly hadn’t thought things would work out so well once I got back. That Orthorr found a solution and got Patrick invited into the clan meant the world to me. I wanted to shout to the entire clan that this beautiful man was mine, but I realized while walking back to my tent that I hadn’t asked him yet. Him being happy in the clan didn’t mean he accepted me as his bondmate. I still had to ask.

Patrick was chilled from the rain when we ducked into my tent, so I stripped us both and dragged him under the furs to keep him warm. He immediately snuggled against me, and I marveled at how it felt for us to be wrapped around each other without him stuck on his back because of the splint.

“I missed you,” he murmured, his voice muffled with his face pressed against my chest.

A smile stretched across my lips, and I hugged him tighter to me. “I missed you too, kolrav.”

He made a questioning sound, wriggling to look up at me. “What does that word mean? And the other one, ravsol? I asked Finn, but he said he didn't know.”

I hummed, thinking about it. It was hard to describe words I knew all my life. “Ravsol is used when the sun is setting. It is a term of endearment. I called you ravsol because of your hair.”

Running my fingers through the copper strands, I smiled at his blush that highlighted the spots on his cheeks. Spots that covered his entire body. I found myself tracing them after each intimate moment. They were like stars scattered across his skin.

“And the other one?”

This one I knew because Rath told me the translation for it. He had to ask before he bonded with Finn, so he could better explain it to him.

“Kolrav is only used once, to the person we wish to bond with. In your language, it means ‘my love’.” Cupping his cheek, I rested my forehead against his. “In the clans, it is not the protector who chooses but the one he is protecting. It is your choice what we become. But should you wish it, I would ask that you bond with me. You are my other half, Patrick. I do not wish for us to part.”

His eyes filled with tears and his chin trembled, but before I could worry about his reaction, he smiled so brightly, it warmed my soul.

“Yes! I choose you! I only want you! Really?”

Laughing, I nodded. “Yes, really. You are my Patrick. I would have followed you to your next destination if you’d asked it of me.”

He shook his head, tears still streaming down his cheeks as he peppered me with kisses. “No. We’ll stay here. I’m happy here. Unbelievably happy as long as I’m with you.”

Capturing his lips, I kissed him roughly, too emotional to say more. I had everything I wanted, and I felt as though the joy was almost too much, that I would drown in it happily. It could not get better than this.

“Verus…” Patrick said between kisses, his fingers gripping my hair tightly.

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