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I also wondered what was going to become of Sprath. Their king was dead, by my own hand. And he had no heir. Was there someone next in line for the throne? There had to be. I wondered who, and if they would be as despicable as their predecessor. And would Sarai go back and tell the kingdom that the Princess of Rimor killed their king? Would there be a war because of me?

“Aura.” Elias’s deep voice startled me out of my thoughts. We had been walking since dawn, and had just stopped for a short rest. As we sat on a fallen log just outside the trail, I became lost in thought.

“What’s bothering you?” Elias was sitting next to me, his hand on mine.

I attempted a smile, but it wasn’t genuine. “The same things that have been bothering me since we left Zolmara,” I admitted. “Mostly I’m nervous about seeing my father. Telling him about Balor.”

I was still grieving. Would my father grieve over the brother he exiled?

Elias moved his arm to wrap around me. The energy and warmth from the closeness eased every tension I had been holding. He was incredibly gentle, careful not to brush against my still-healing burns. I wished all immortals had healing abilities, not just lycans.

“You will not have to face him alone,” my mate assured me as he gently stroked my hair. My body relaxed at the pleasure it brought me.

“I know,” I answered back, leaning my head on his broad shoulder.

Elias turned, and a strong, calloused hand gently pressed against my cheek. I looked up to meet his golden eyes, and he pulled me in for a kiss. The taste of him on my lips was a luxury I would never take for granted.

When we broke away, he smiled. “Who knew I would fall in love with a mythic?”

I grinned. “You mean the mythic women of your era weren’t your type?”

“I didn’t think I had a type until I met you.”

“And what type would that be?”

Elias pulled me into him so fast, a small squeal escaped me. Next thing I knew I was straddling his lap, our faces only inches apart.

“Smart. Courageous. Adventurous. Strong. Stubborn.”

I smacked him on the shoulder with that last one and he laughed – a beautiful, angelic noise that I would never tire of.

“And needless to say, absolutely breathtaking.”

Heat filled my cheeks, and I kissed him. We continued that way for a while, enjoying the taste of each other. Enjoying the ecstasy each touch created due to the mating bond.

Elias pulled away, the taste of him still on my tongue. I opened my eyes to see him looking at me with such intensity in his golden irises,I thought I did something wrong.

“We will figure this all out, Aura. Your father. Your powers. Sarai. Everything we have to face in this life, we will face together.”

I bit my lower lip anxiously, still tasting his sweet breath. “How do you know?”

Elias’s mouth turned up and his eyes tightened. “Fate.”

A laugh burst out of me that I wasn’t expecting. “The damned gods and their fate.”

Elias pulled me in and kissed my jawline, my neck, my collar bone. I shivered.

“Fate brought me to you, remember?” he said, continuing his trail of kisses down my shoulder.

“And you think fate will keep us together?” I nearly gasped between words as each kiss brought little eruptions of hot energy that flowed through my skin.

He paused. “We don’t need fate for that. I am yours and you are mine, from now until the end of our days. But I think fate has a lot more in store for you and me than we ever imagined.”

I contemplated this for a short moment. “And we’ll face all of it together.” I repeated his earlier words.

My mate, the man – and wolf – of my dreams, smiled. “Together.”