Semua Bab The Bride Wore Blood: Bab 21 - Bab 30

The soft whimper escapes me as I watch him. My arms are wrapped around his shoulders, my legs around his waist, the warm waters lap around my body. I’m caught up in him, held in his strong grip as his hands slide over my skin, as though he wants to explore me all over again. I know the feeling. I want to run my hands over every part of him. The cave walls shimmer with the reflected light, propped up by our belongings. The sound of crashing water echoes, filling my senses as I study his face. The hard angle of his cheekbones and the curls of his beard. His dark hair is wild, ruffled and messy as he bows his head against mine again. His chest rising in ragged gasps.‘Otherworld,’ he hisses, so soon after telling me he’s going to take me. I’m ready, body tense as I prepare. I’ve always been told it will hurt, but it’s a pain I’ll endure for Thade. My breathing is ragged and I shiver, still coming down from my own undoing. He’s driven me beyond the brink of lust and I want the same for h

I stand at the entrance to the chamber, the water pouring behind me. Alert to the sense of another Wolf approaching. My awareness brushes his, in a way that makes Kalik bristle and snarl. I expect him to walk away, to sense me hear and leave. But he persists. He appears as a shadow in the long tunnel that leads to the world outside. A shadow that grows as he advances. He’s taller than me, but I’m heavier. His human body is wirey, lean where mine is corded with muscles. I train harder than another other Wolves I know, I’m a Knight Commander, there are times when I can’t let Kalik take form. Not without destroying our secrets.‘Name yourself,’ my voice is a low growl that echoes down the hall. He doesn’t hesitate at the sound of my voice, and now both me and Kalik are really pissed off. ‘NAME!’ It’s a snarled order as he steps into the faint light of the magelight. He’s younger than I am, somewhere in his twenties. Blonde, with his hair cut short along both sides above his ears. Usually

Lana’s POVI’m caught in time. Frozen in the moment that Delia Thorne and her partner entered the cave. I was relieved to see her, but couldn’t understand why she would need to abandon her family for love. It’s clear she loves that blonde man and is dedicated to being with him, surely her parents might eventually forgive a scandal? But faking her own death?I’ve barely time to think it through when the blonde man snarls that at least Delia knew what she was choosing. Thade was on in him in a blur. A huge, black blur of fur. It was two wolves that tumbled into the water. Delia shifted into a wolf, her body stretching out and shimmering with blinding blue power. I shield my eyes with my arm with a scream. I can hear screaming, and it’s mine. Shocked as adrenaline floods my body.What do I do. Thade is a wolf. Delia is a wolf. People can turn into Wolves? They all act as though this is normal but Thade is in the water and the cave is filled with splashing and snarls. Do I go towards them

I stare at him, heart pounding as he watches me across the small distance. He’s serious. Like Delia and Ronin are going to run to the border of Boren, Thade wants to run. My legs feel like jelly, there’s been so much over the last few days that is hard to comprehend. ‘I can’t just run away with you,’ I whisper back, but my heart demands why. Why can’t we just slip away together. Because we don’t have to, because we can make this work. I try and logic my way forward, this is new. Whatever this bond is, it’s new and it’s terrifying.‘Lana…’ He reaches for me once more, touching his hand to my arm. Hopeful before he lets his fingers fall back to his side. He looks down, shoulders dropped, defeated before he nods to himself.‘Thade, we can make this - whatever this is work.’ I can see Rune through the trees, standing up in the stirrups as she waves. Nudging her horse into a trot towards us.‘You’re right,’ he agrees softly, ‘I’ll find a way.’‘There you are!’ Rune, Timian and Moira close

I shiver beneath his touch, knees weak as I push against his grip once more. There’s something primal in him that calls to my heart. My aching, broken heart that he shattered so completely. His lips ease against my skin and I turn my face away, refusing to engage with his actions. But he follows the line of my jaw with light kisses, teasing and merciless. He knows exactly what he’s doing as his lips dance once over mine.I wriggle again, and he smirks as he relents and steps back, releasing me. His eyes cold as he looks me over. ‘We have a wedding to attend.’‘I’d rather die,’ I retort, honest. I want nothing to do with Thade. If I can’t kill him right now, then I don’t want to add legitimacy to his reign as king.‘No, no, no Lana,’ he tuts as he shakes his head, ‘I was quite certain in my promise. You’ll behave yourself, like a good noble daughter. You’ll play the part of my Queen, or I have Rune killed.’‘I’d like to see you try,’ I snap back. Rune’s a good Knight, and she’s clever