Page 76 of Fated In Forever
Maybe for me to punch Nikolai in the nose, who knew.
“Just relax. Close your eyes. Focus on where I’m touching you.”
Oh, I focused, cracking one eye to make sure Blake wasn’t hurling himself across the room in a red eyed rage, and slightly bemused when I found…he wasn’t.
“Bonds between mates run deep, some deeper than others,” Nikolai explained. “And by that, I mean, I don’t attach any more meaning to one kind than the other. Some are different, in how they link two people together. Bonds developed over longer periods of time, for example, instead of instantaneously, through biology. Souls and hearts andblood, Maker bonds, and those forged through friendship. All are important, and none take precedence over another.”
The place where he touched me was heating up, just below my collarbone, where my pulse hammered wildly at the base of my throat. I sank down into myself, past the ever-present fear of Ravok returning, past the fear that we were about to all get swallowed up in a giant rift—a definite reoccurring nightmare—and something shifted inside me.
“There,” Nikolai murmured. “Did you feel that?”
“Mmmm.” The change wasn’t so much a shift as aloosening, like my pants were too tight after a big meal, and I was finally home on my couch and could unbutton them. Everything inside me relaxed, moved back into place, back to where it wassupposedto be.
That place in my chest that had been empty and cold for three full days began to fill back up. Filled up in the most delightful, familiar way. So delightful, I gripped Nikolai’s wrist and flattened his palm tighter against my chest which earned mea lookfrom Blake I knew we’d be discussing later.
Ad nauseum. Forhours.
“I think they’re back, the bonds—” I looked over at a definitely unimpressed Blake. “The mating bond is back.” I gave it a tug, just to check, and he lurched toward me, his eyes widening.
So was my bond with Malachi, although that one was painfully tight, as if it was stretched to the limit. That connection squeezed and pinched, hard enough I could barely breathe, and I pressed my hand to my belly.
It hurts because you are separated by realms.Nikolai explained. This is what Draven was trying to protect you from. Crossing over didn’t erase your bond, Malachi placed a blocking spell on your end of the connection, so you wouldn’t suffer, once you came back.
That lying…
“Now.” Nikolai said aloud. “We will begin again. The source is in a different realm, but now you have a means of finding it by following the bond to where it ends. Find the source, then you shall be able to control your magic.”
“Sure. Easy peasy.” I muttered, but I concentrated, following his directions, and there...far off, like looking down a long, dark tunnel, something shifted deep inside of me, and the magic took notice.
“Now,” Nikolai clasped his hands behind his back, that stern look back on his face. “We’ll begin with the simple task of locking the darkness down, so you don’t destroy my castle, every time your emotions shift.”
34
EVANGELINE
Istopped dead in the doorway of my bedroom—transformed back to museum quality condition—heart racing as I took in the table set with fine crystal and overflowing dishes, Riordan tipped back in a chair, his handsome face framed by tousled hair and lit up by an indecent grin.
“Go ahead in, he’s not going to bite,” Blake nudged me forward, then closed the door and locked it behind him. “We’ve missed you, mate, and thought some alone time was what we all needed. But first, you have to eat.”
“Bold of you to assume I’m not in a biting mood tonight, my friend.” Riordan offered me a glass of wine and a gleaming white smile. “But Blake is right. You must eat, Evangeline, you are far too pale for my liking.”
I clenched my hands into fists, eyeing the wine glass, the two chairs at the table.
“I’m not safe to be around. You both know that.”
Blake shouldered past, took the glass from Riordan and stopped in front of me, his expression as serious as I’d ever seen. “From everything I’ve seen today, you’re safe enough for us. You locked down your power, Evie, I’ve touched you plenty, and look,” he spread his arms wide. “I didn’t even turn to stone. Now stop worrying, and enjoy the dinner Riordan made for us.”
I carefully lifted the glass from Blake’s hand, wincing when my fingers brushed over his, even though wehadtouched—several times—in the past few hours.
“You cooked us dinner?” I peered at the table, steam wafting up from the beautifully prepared steak and potatoes and green beans. “You?”
“I might be king, but I’m not fucking helpless,” he grumbled. “Idopossess certain skills.”
“Riordan loves to cook, actually.” Blake reached around me and tossed a bean up in the air, deftly catching it in his mouth. “he’s practically domesticated andeverything.”
“Haha.” I muttered, but I went warm and gooey at the thought of him cooking for me—for us—slaving over those steaks until everything was perfect. Something inside of me relaxed. Despite the fact we were at war, despite everything, Rohr had gone to great lengths to make sure this dinnerwasperfect, each plate arranged like a work of art, and the food smelled amazing.
“Sit down and dig in, because I’m starving and it’s not polite to start until you do.” My mate said impatiently, herding me to the table and pulling out a chair. “There’s chocolate cake for dessert, so save room,” he whispered, leaning close as he spread the napkin across my lap. “And after, if you’re still hungry, we have another surprise.”
