Page 266 of Primal Bonds

Their errands done, they headed back to the cozy saltbox house and stole another night and day just for themselves. Adric would just have to understand.

To her surprise, Fane had a down-to-earth side. He pitched in with the cooking, chopped wood, took her on long hikes along the cliffs. When she mentioned it, he shot her an affronted look from where he was lighting a fire in the big fieldstone fireplace.

“I spent twenty years as a fisherman,” he growled. “And working for the king wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.”

She bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry—I didn’t think. You had to be pretty fucking tough to survive as his envoy.”

He wrapped a long arm around her waist and pulled her close. “I’m not weak, Jani. Don’t make the same mistake that my grandfather makes about me and my dad. Just because we’re easygoing doesn’t mean you can push us around.”

She slid her fingers into his hair and pulled him close. “I know,” she said against his mouth. “I was there when you gave up your Gift for me, remember?”

“And I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he said—fiercely, as if she were arguing.

She traced the tip of her tongue over the seam of his lips. “I know.”

“I love you.” He didn’t wait for her to reply, just wrapped his other arm around her and gave her a kiss that she felt clear to her toes. And after that, they stopped talking and just loved each other in front of the fire.

The second day, he rented a sailboat and took her out on the Atlantic, showing her a hidden cove. They made love on the deck, with the sun shining down on them and a cold breeze biting into their skin.

“This is fun?” She rubbed the goose pimples that had popped up on her naked body.

“You’ll warm up,” he assured her, and then proceeded to show her exactly how hot he could make her.

On the way back to the village, she couldn’t stop smiling.

Fane would’ve liked to stay longer, but he understood that she needed to get home. And it turned out that during that night in the maze, another ten days had passed in the human world. It was nearly mid-September.

So two mornings after they arrived in Canada, they caught a flight to Toronto and then back to Baltimore.

Chapter 38

Marjani’s brother was bloody scary.

A few inches shorter than Fane and cat-lean, with Marjani’s warm brown skin and black hair dyed blond at the tips, Adric Savonett was younger than Fane had expected and good-looking, with a cocky smile. But his eyes were an opaque bronze that sized Fane up, looking for a weakness, like he was prey and not his sister’s mate.

They’d landed in Baltimore around dinnertime. Marjani had taken Fane straight to her brother’s den.

“You’re back!” Adric met them at the outside door and dragged Marjani into a hug. “You’re okay?” He held her a little away and scrutinized her face.

“Yeah.” She slanted a smile at Fane. “Better than okay.”

“Good. That’s good.” Adric gave her another hug and then turned to Fane. “This is him?”

“Yep.” Marjani slid an arm around Fane’s waist. “Fane Morningstar.”

“Evie’s dad.” Predatory bronze eyes narrowed on him.

Fane decided it was time to speak. The fada respected strength. “Yes.” He stuck out a hand. “Peace, and good to meet you.”

“Peace.” Adric gripped his hand firmly. His nostrils flared, and then his irises blazed a spooky blue like the flaring of a corona. “Fuck.” He scowled at his sister. “Tell me you’re not mated.”

“Cut the crap,” Marjani snapped back. “You know I am. We are.”

“oath breaker.”

Fane’s jaw tightened. “I’m not proud of that. But if you’ve heard that much, then you know I broke the geas to save your sister. And in the end, the king officially released me from my bargain with him anyway.”

“That’s right.” Marjani’s chin jutted. “And you know what? I don’t need your permission to mate with him.”

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