Page 55 of All for the Beast

The warm rays from the Siborim twin suns danced across Katy’s skin. A kaleidoscope of yellows and oranges burst into shades of peach and lavender, where they met with the pink sea. The gentle gate of the ship coaxed her mind into consciousness as she peeled her eyes open, turning her face toward Vharlk's warmth. She studied his sleeping face, never wanting to allow her mind to forget a single detail.

He was a sculpture. His smooth, high cheekbones and wide angular jaw kept their sharpness even in his sleep. His short dark hair stuck out in a way that made Katy's fingers greedy for their fill of him. She looked down at his exposed torso, the hard, beaten skin a reminder of what had happened the day before.

Katy shuddered. She could still hear the defining growls and crunching of bones as the two powerful shifters collided. Each beast relentlessly challenged the other in a mass of blood and fur. Her hand moved to his chest, the need to feel it swell with life as critical as breathing.

The merging warmth of their joined flesh settled the anxiety threatening to rise. She didn’t understand how she could have ever thought leaving him was an option. Lightly tracing her fingers over the healing wounds, she wondered if they should postpone the wedding.

The grand opening of the cruise ship was exciting enough after what had just happened. To add a wedding on top of it was close to madness.

Vharlk stirred, turning from one side to the other, before swinging an arm over and pulling her into him. His full mouth begged to be kissed.

“Why are you wasting time staring at me?” he murmured, bringing his lips down to her neck.

Katy’s breath hitched as his molten tongue lapped at her bond mark. Electricity flared, the anticipation of his touch causing shivers down her spine. Katy threw her head back, sinking into his supporting form.

Vharlk’s rough hands trailed up her body, hungrily cupping her breasts.

“Fuck …” he groaned. “I’ll never have enough of you.”

“You're feeling better," she said, her voice battling a tremble.

“Exponentially,” he whispered, tracing kisses along her jaw.

She gritted her teeth, losing the war that urged her to give in to Vharlk's seductions. They could just spend the rest of the afternoon losing themselves in each other. Vharlk's coarse fingertips took her tender nipples, rolling them between his grip. Her mind went blank, ready to submit to his call. Her sense of duty slammed into her like a storm, clearing the fog her mate had caused and reminding her of just how important today really was, not only for her but for the Siborim pack.

“V,” she tried. “Are you sure you feel okay? We could always reschedule the wedding …”

“Absolutely not,” he said, his body going still.

Katy mourned the loss of his hands as they aborted their current mission and instead made her face him. Pain edged at the corners of his slate eyes. He searched for something, holding her as if it were his lifeline.

“Are you having second thoughts?” he asked, his tone flat.

Katy felt a wave of pain rolling off of him. Thick and suffocating, it was as if he was waiting for her to slip from his grasp. The silent plea made her wrap her arms around him, pulling his head into her chest as she lazily drifted her fingers through his short, dense locks.

"Of course not," she started. "How could you even think that? I'm just worried about you after … well … everything. I know how much the success of this ship means to our pack and to you. So, I just want you to know that I'm fine with just focusing on that for now and saving the wedding for another time. Just being mated to you is enough for me."

“Our pack,” he repeated.

There was a pause, and Katy felt her cheeks warming. Defenseless against the impact this moment would have on her, she waited for his response. Vharlk straightened, pulling out of Katy’s embrace.

"You're perfect," he said, cupping her cheeks.

The love he poured into his gaze cradled her, an impenetrable fortress of devotion.

“Ourpack expects a wedding,” he said, pride lacing his voice. “And even if they didn’t, there isn’t a shifter in all of Siborim that could keep me from making you my wife today.”

Six hours later, Katy was inside one of the master suites staring at the disaster that was reflected in her mirror. She could hear the party ensuing on the upper decks. For the last five hours, she had been in manager mode, making sure the entire staff was ready to wow the people of Siborim.

Thankfully, Gerri appeared out of nowhere, as per usual. Like an authoritarian balm, the tiny woman began to make the world right again.

In seconds, the chaos of the crew, staff, and entertainment was settled, leaving a hive of well-organized worker bees in its place. Gerri turned to Katy with a wink and shooed her away, ensuring everything would be taken care of and allowing her a couple of hours of privacy before the ceremony.

She cleared her throat, hoping it would clear her mind as the time for her wedding approached. Marrying the king’s son wasn't only a commitment to the person. It was a promise to the pack. She would be bound. The thought clenched her throat as it cradled her heart.

She thought of Vharlk and Siborim and how at peace she was when she was here. The most interesting adventure yet was being mated to the love of her life.

Since Vharlk’s victory and his public announcement of mating, the people of Siborim had rallied behind him as king. Those whose only discontent was the lack of lineage he would bring were satisfied and thus held no objections to his title.

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