Page 76 of Forever My Siren Luna

For a moment, once the humor dies and all that’s left is this immense sense of bliss, we just stare at one another, the tingling sensation from the mate bond like a polarized magnet between us.

He hums contently, deep in his chest, wrapping his arms around me as he hugs my body to his. “Are you ready to finally make me yours?”

A tear breaks loose as I bury my face in his thick shoulder, letting his scent intoxicate me further than I already am.

“Yes. But I believe you promised to bathe me first.”

His throaty laughter vibrates between us. “I never break my promises.”

Twenty-Three

Elelira

“Lira,” a deep, rough voice whispered into my ear, making the tiny hairs on my neck stick straight up as sparks moved under my skin. “It’s time to get up.”

I groaned, rubbing my face against his chest, trying to cling to sleep. I have never slept better than I have in the past few weeks with Lachlan by my side. It’s become the norm for him to coax me awake like this every morning, because all I want to do is stay in bed and let the soothing comfort he brings me give my body the rest that it hadn’t had in so long.

“You’re going to miss training,” Lachlan urged me, amusement thick in his voice.

“So,” I muttered.

I rolled away from him with a groan when he laughed.

“You pouted for the entire day the last time I didn’t get you up for training.” I felt his arm snake around my waist. I melted against him, the sparks soothing my disgruntled attitude. “I love seeing you pout. If you really want to sleep in, I’ll let you sleep.”

I groaned, pushing the blanket down my body. “Fine.”

Despite my grumpy mood, I smile when hearing him laugh. He has been laughing a lot more lately.

“I’ll see you at training,” he whispered before kissing me deeply and leaving. Most of the men train in just their pants if they wear anything at all. He doesn’t have to get ready like I do. I know he doesn't like me exposed at all during training, and though he hasn't asked me to, I still remained dressed fully, except when I let Val out.

Mimi and Gemma insist on dressing me every morning, even though it's early and I just wear pants and a loose tunic for training. After I'm dressed, Mimi brushes my hair and braids it down my back as Gemma laces up my boots.

Lachlan has a doctor that fusses over Mimi now, and he insists she do as little as possible. We discovered that in our first life, Mimi died of a heart condition, one that is starting to cause her issues now.

Me being gone for several months, as well as Lachlan taking such good care of her in my absence, has helped to ease some of the burden on her. She wasn’t overly stressing her body or working herself to death to try and make my life a bit easier. She has many other health concerns as well, due to her advanced age, but we have been taking extra care to ensure she is living as stress free as possible. Gemma is always at her side, and Mimi only remains my maid because she insists on it. I would prefer for her to live a life of nothing but comfort, and Lachlan has tried to convince her to do so. She claims her only comfort is taking care of me, so if letting her brush my hair and plait it every morning fills her with any comfort, I’m glad.

Gemma handed me my robe, just in case I shift unexpectedly, and I head out for the training fields.

Training is the same as usual. Our warriors have gotten pretty well-acquainted with the pirates, and they work together as a cohesive unit now.

Jack showed up for practice this morning, which caused a bit of strain for Lachlan and me, but we tried to keep it hidden. When Lachlan and Jack begin to argue, it interrupts all of training for everyone and we get nothing productive done.

I need to actually talk to Jack soon. We have been in this awkward stand-still for weeks, tip-toeing around one another while tensions mount between him and Lachlan, tipping overboard at the worst of times. If war were to break out tomorrow, I would like to know that Jack would have Lachlan’s back, because I know that even though Lachlan doesn’t like him, Lachlan would protect Jack, even if it was just for my sake.

Jack helped Val come out of her shell, and helped me become the warrior I am now. He also offered his entire fleet and all his men to me to defeat my uncle. I don’t want there to be a rift between us if there doesn’t need to be.

Plus, I see the way he has been eyeing Beretta, and how he often watches her and not me while we train. I don’t think his affections are solely on me anymore. I think if I were to clear things up between us, that would give him the push he needs to pursue Beretta, who looks at him just as often as he looks at her.

Why does love have to be such a battle?

“Ela,” Lucky, Jack’s first mate, called me over to the edge of the training field. He stayed with the navy and pirate ships to train our pack’s navy today. Lachlan is helping the pirates fight better on land and Jack’s men are teaching our navy how to fight better on the sea.

“Your father is at the castle dock. I told him I would come retrieve you for him.”

“Thanks, Lucky. I’m coming.”

I let Lachlan know I was leaving, and that I would be right back. When he insists on kissing me before I walk away, a long, deep, passionate kiss, my face reddens, hearing the hoots and hollers from everyone watching.