Page 178 of The Delta's Rogue
Over and over, he eggs me on with his bursts of speed until the back deck of Peter and Imogen’s is in sight. I throw everything I have into my run, and we both leap over the railing at the same time, rolling into our landing and crashing into each other.
I shriek in surprise, and Sebastian catches me. His arms wrap around me, and he flips onto his back, taking the brunt of our impact. He rolls until we’re both on our sides again and smiles down at me as I continue to laugh.
“I’ve got you.”
“¿Para siempre?”I ask.
“Si.Forever,mi reina,” he confirms.
I beam up at him as he calls me his queen and reach for his lips with mine. His kiss eases the tangled emotions writhing within me. I relax into him, letting his touch and his love cool the frustrations from a roiling boil to a low simmer.
I may not like it, but I can’t blame Micah for making the choice he did. It can’t have been easy, and being a leader means making those tough decisions and bearing the burden of them—something Sebastian and I will experience every day when we take over from my dad.
Maddie gags. “You two are gross. I’m embarrassed for you. And you two.”
I peek over Sebastian’s shoulder as Maddie gestures at Nolan, who has Cassandra wrapped in his arms as well, his dark fingers combing through her long ponytail as he tucks her under his chin.
Behind them, Taryn and Reid sit on the couch, his hands massaging her lower back to ease the tension from her pregnant belly. Reid smiles mischievously and leans forward, placing tiny kisses across Taryn’s shoulder blades, much to Maddie’s annoyance.
She sighs, covers her face with one hand, and rolls her eyes towards the sky. “I’m surrounded by saps.”
“Just wait.” Nolan chuckles. “You’ll be just as sappy once you find your mate.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Maddie shakes her head so adamantly that her hair whips her in the face.
“Wanna bet?” Sebastian taunts as he stands and helps me to my feet.
“Where’s Savvy?” she asks Taryn, ignoring the three laughing males hellbent on teasing her.
Taryn points behind her. “She’s in the living room. Dominic’s watching her play with Cav.”
Maddie takes off inside without so much as a farewell to any of us.
“How was training?” Reid asks as the door shuts.
“Good,” I quip with a smile, tucking myself into Sebastian’s side and under his arm. “I took Maddie out more times than she took me out.”
“And your lycan?” Taryn twists her body to face me.
I shake my head, and my smile disappears. “No sign of her.”
Sebastian squeezes my shoulder, and his fingers trace the scars on my neck. “Your strength is close to normal already. You’re barely winded from the sparring and our run to the clearing and back. I’m sure she’s making sure your body is fully ready for her before she returns.”
Reid angles his head to the side. “Can’t your dad alpha king command her to come back?”
“He can’t command other royals,” Sebastian reminds him.
Cassandra clears her throat. “Maybe I can wake her up.”
I straighten and stare at her expectantly.
“My ability is hiding or manipulating auras,” she explains. “I’ve been thinking that maybe it can work in your favor. Maybe I can sort of… I don’t know… Draw your aura out and your lycan along with it.”
“I could help.” Taryn stands and makes her way to Cassandra, with Reid right behind her. “If you’re almost at full strength, maybe you both just need a little boost.”
I shake my head at her. “I can’t ask you to do that while pregnant.”
She waves away my concern. “I’m marked, so I can use Reid’s strength if I need to. It’s perfectly safe.”
