INICIAR SESIÓNZahra's POV
He smiles kindly again. Even though I probably wouldn’t have minded being touched by a fae.
I like him.
“So, when is the celebration?” Alistair asks again.
Tobias looks down at me.
“There are a few things we need to sort through first, but hopefully soon.”
Zarha's POVTobias hands me the letter from Angelica out of the safe.“Here you go, Angel. I’m going to make sure our things are all packed up, so we’re ready to go whenever you are. Take your time. No one will disturb you here.”He leans down and kisses me softly.“Thank you,” I breathe against him. “I love you.”I feel the flutter of emotion down the bond. His love... but then his worry and guilt. The guilt feels stronger than it did yesterday.I have no idea what’s going on with him, but I’m determined to speak to him about it on the drive home.I wait until the door closes behind him before taking a seat in the armchair beside the window and sliding my finger into the back of the envelope.My fingers are shaking slightly.Zanthe snores quietly in the back of my mind, exhausted after her night’s antics with Thor. I smile to myself. She was so happy to finally be marked by all her mates.I wish I could feel that same sense of completion.Even though three marks are all I’m going to
Thor's POVSkin feels itchy, body wound tight. I pace.Stupid T won’t get to the forest fast enough. Too many diversions. Too many distractions.I nearly took over just now, but Mate calmed me down.Now I pace.They walk through the castle. Puny human legs. Too slow.My mate’s jasmine scent is making my mouth water. I want her. I need her. It’s been too long.‘Hurry,’ I demand.He doesn’t speed up.I try taking over his legs to make them move faster, but he’s blocked me.Stupid human.The scent of the fresh air outside the open front doors nearly has me howling. It’s so good to be home.I feel a shiver run through me, my body coiled tight. I need to get out of here. The space in T’s mind is so small compared to before. It’s no longer that cavernous place where I could get lost.The scent of pine nearly overwhelms Mate’s jasmine as we walk into the forest.‘Here is far enough,’ I demand, making T stop.He talks to Zahra, and she laughs. The sound makes my heart soar.I love making her
Zahra's POVI stare down at the letter in my hands. I can hear the others continuing their conversation around me, but it’s like my eyes are glued to it, the spidery handwriting on the front unfamiliar and scratchy.I absolutely do not want to open it now. Not in front of everyone. Not when I have no idea what it might contain.So I fold it in half and slide it into my pocket, where it feels like it’s burning a hole through Lotty’s dress.“Zahra, my darling, I’m so glad I can finally call you my daughter,” Sophie gushes as she pulls me into another hug, and I feel Tobias’s hand leave my hip as his mother inserts herself between us.He sends a pulse of love and warmth down the bond as he’s dragged away to speak to his dad and Baxter. Even from across the room, I can feel him checking in through the bond.Kayla approaches and hugs me as well.“I’m so happy for you,” she says quietly, pulling back to smile at me.“Thank you,” I say, my voice coming out far quieter than I’d planned.“I ca
Tobias's POVWe wave goodbye to Daemon and Chloe as they head off down the drive towards the airfield. Simeon and Alistair left about twenty minutes ago, but the bears lingered a little longer. Chloe and Zahra have really hit it off, and we couldn’t pull them apart.I smile down at Zahra as she’s tucked beneath my arm. We need to head off as well, but my parents insisted we see them before we leave. I glance at my watch.It’s already eight o’clock.Lunch overran, then the meeting went long as well, and we ended up staying for drinks afterwards. Before I knew it, the whole day had disappeared.It’s been so nice being home and having Zahra here as my mate. I’m not sure I’m ready to rush back to Shadow, but I know she needs to see the others while the bond is still fresh. Being away from a newly bonded mate in those first few weeks can be painful.We head back up the steps.“My parents want to see us in the orangery, then we can head back.”She glances up at me.“I thought Thor wanted to
Zahra's POVHe smiles kindly again. Even though I probably wouldn’t have minded being touched by a fae.I like him.“So, when is the celebration?” Alistair asks again.Tobias looks down at me.“There are a few things we need to sort through first, but hopefully soon.”“What is there to sort through?” Marcus asks, Emily tucked beneath his arm.Tobias glances at me and raises an eyebrow in question. I frown. Surely he doesn’t want to tell the Vampire Crown Prince and the King of the Fae before he tells his own family?‘They’re some of my closest friends. I trust them all,’he says in my mind.
Zahra's POVI swirl my hair up into what I hope is a classy bun at the back of my head. It’s still wet from our impromptu shower, and I have no time to blow-dry it before lunch.Tobias has already gone ahead to appease his mother, who started trying to link him while we were washing up. He looked delectable in his suit, his shirt left undone at the top. I had to practically shove him out of the room before my arousal prevented us from making it to the meeting at all.Something is still bothering him, though. As he was washing me, I could feel his worry returning and, for some reason, guilt. I can’t for the life of me imagine what he has to feel guilty about. His smiles seem more strained today as well. I have to make sure we have time to talk later. Maybe on the way home.I smooth my hands down the light blue sundress Lotty has lent me. It’s pretty. Not
Xander's POVNone of us sleep a wink. We stay huddled in the great room. I’ve not slept since Monday, and Sunday night was restless because I was so excited to see her. But now I’m empty. I can barely keep my eyes open, but I can’t sleep. Something deep inside me is telling me something is very, ve
Zahra's POVI hear another burst of laughter through the wall and smile to myself. I think they’ve all moved in now. I’ve been listening to the hustle and bustle through my dorm room wall all afternoon.The cars started arriving this morning, disgorging student after student, all laden down with bo
Xander's POVWe don’t say much as we walk her back. Max keeps his arm around her shoulders, guiding her gently like he’s afraid she might fall apart if he lets go. As we move through the trees toward camp, some of the tension slowly drains out of her. The harsh edge of her sobbing is gone; what’s l
Zahra's POVDinner last night was weird. I felt like I was under a microscope the whole time. But the strangest part wasn’t everyone staring, it was the way Tobias standing up for me made me feel. After everything, after the way he stormed into the pool party trying to have me pulled off the course







