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“I would never put that expectation on you. This magick, this bargain, it’s as much my responsibility as yours, and it’s so much larger and more complex than either of us. I did not expect that one night with you in my bed would turn things around entirely.”

“Maybe two?” I ask, trying for a bit of humor.

Eren’s laugh is more tiredness than amusement. “Perhaps.”

Still, the worries don’t leave his eyes, and the longer I look the more I can see the other tells that let me know just how exhausted he is. There are smudges of shadows beneath his eyes, his dark hair is mussed like he’s run his hand through it a few too many times, and the sides of his mouth are bracketed with tension.

The rest of my jittery energy slides away. It’s replaced by a soft tenderness, a painful sort of kinship with him and the knowledge that whatever we’re going through, we’re at least going through it together.

Surrounded by my petals and light, remembering how tenderly he washed and soothed me here last night, I step back and take one of his hands in mine.

“Come on,” I say. “Let me take care of you tonight.”

Chapter 23

Eren

“Come on. Let me take care of you tonight.”

The words are an absolution I didn’t know I needed. After a day of mounting worry and the heaviness of so many of my people helped, but so many more still suffering, the simple permission to enjoy some time alone with my mate feels like a gift I don’t deserve.

All around us, her magick fills the space with light and wonder. I was floored when I found her here a few minutes ago, overwhelmed by the crisp scent of her power and by the determined spark in her eye. Surrounded by her gifts, I was humbled.

Blood humming with anticipation, I let her lead me further into the bathroom. I let her pull my jacket from my shoulders, helping her when she laughs at the complicated closings on the back. I let her undo the top of my trousers and nudge them down. Stepping out of them, I stand entirely bare and open for her inspection.

And inspect she does.

Allie trails a hand down over my chest, gently brushing a nipple, and draws a slow caress over my stomach, stopping just short of where I’m already hard and aching for her.

“It hardly seems fair,” I tell her, leaning in close to brush my lips over the shell of her ear. “That you’re still so covered.”

She arches a brow and takes a step back, then turns around.

“Help me with the back?” she asks, glancing over her shoulder.

As if she needs to ask. Working on the buttons down the back of the dress, it’s all I can do not to lean in and kiss every bit of soft skin exposed. When it’s open completely, I step back again, content to have her set the pace.

Allie turns. The top of her dress has gone loose around her chest and she holds it up with one arm.

“I don’t have anything on under this dress,” she says, all seriousness. “I had some panties, but they seem to have gone missing.”

“Good riddance,” I growl, eyes fixed on the shift of dark blue silk over her lush, generous curves.

“A shame,” she murmurs. “I really liked those panties.”

“I’ll buy you a hundred more. As many as you want.”

Allie’s laugh is husky and soft. “Make it a thousand.”

“Done.”

The gown drops, and every one of my senses is attuned to the sight of her luscious skin, her delectable scent. Her light pink nipples pebble, and even from this distance I can sense her arousal.

Mate, my brain yells.My mate, bared and willing for me.

Allie comes back to me, bare skin gilded in the warm light she created, and when she touches me every place our skin meets vibrates and hums with awareness of her.

“Beautiful,” she murmurs. “You’re beautiful.”