Page 138 of His Retribution

And it is something I have no intention of ever doing again.

Cora nods and swallows, and finally gets her leggings up. "I have to do it now. Something about what my parents said leads me to believe that I have to do this right now."

She grabs her sweater from the counter and goes to put it on but stops, her eyes and hands drawn to the elaborate scarring on her stomach.

"Did they explain that?" I nod at her reflection. "Give you an indication as to why your wound turned into such an intricate piece of artwork?"

Her eyes flick to mine while her fingers trace the raised flesh. "They didn't, but I know why it happened."

I just arch a brow.

It seems as though my light returned with quite a bit of knowledge she did not previously possess.

"This is meant to be a new beginning, the start to another chapter in our epic love story. You saved me, Havok. You saved me with your love, with your blood and this." Cora's fingers splay over her stomach. "This is a permanent reminder of those things. You took something ugly, something scary, and made it beautiful with your unconditional love."

The smile she gives me is one I cannot help but return. I'm sure she meant that in more ways than just her wound but I will not call her on it now. If my light chooses to think her life didn't truly begin until we were together, chooses to view everything before me as ugly and scary turned beautiful since, I will not argue. Not now, anyway. I will bicker with her later over all the ways she is in fact my savior instead of the other way around.

"So if they did not tell you that, then how do you know?" Ok, so maybe I'll need a little more from her.

"I just know." Cora pulls her sweater down, successfully hiding the scar as well as those perfect breasts from my view. Have I mentioned how much I appreciate the fact that my love doesn't wear any undergarments half the time? "Even if I didn't, I'd have a pretty good clue. The scar is cool just like your skin, lovey, I think that's pretty fucking obvious."

I just shake my head with a grin.

I have missed her so much indeed.

"What else did your parents say?"

She frowns as she begins braiding her long raven blue waves. "You really believe me when I say they came to me in a dream? That I spoke to Tolan and Ellida, confirmed they are my real parents?"

"Yes. Why would I doubt you?" She somehow frowns harder at me and I can't help but laugh. "Considering everything about our life, where we are, who our family is, why would I for one second be in disbelief over communicating with your deceased parents in a dream? I'd imagine one would struggle more with the concept of a man turning into a dragon than dream fasting with loved ones."

Cora smirks. "I guess you've got me there." Then she giggles. "I do love the story about when Kai told Posey he was a shifter before she remembered she was one too. The fact that she thought he brought her out to their cabin to kill her is priceless."

"See? There are far more difficult concepts to grasp. And after your description I find it would be even harder to dispute. It sounds as though you are a perfect blend of the king and queen."

"Definitely explains a lot." Her smile grows. "Bozidar never included their descriptions in words and since his drawings were pretty… let's sayamateur, it was hard to get a clear image."

"But now you know."

She reaches for a ribbon, a blue one in the pile Grace brought along with her clothes and food. "I do, and it's kind of amazing how you can see someone and just, just know you belong to them. And I'm lucky enough to have had that happen several times."

I frown.

I really hope she's not referring to her multiple lifetimes.

She may have temporarily convinced me I have not failed her, but I had little choice since she distracted me with her pussy. I'm sure once I come down from the high of my light recovering and coming back to me I'll begin beating myself up all over again. No need for her to add to it as well.

But then Cora shakes her head. "That's not what I meant. I just meant that I've been blessed with it more than once. I saw you and knew I belonged to you, met your brothers and knew I belonged with them, and now, now I've met my parents and know completely that I'm theirs. That's all, my love."

"I'll allow it."

She rolls her eyes at me and starts wrapping the ribbon around the end of her braid, weaving the pieces around and through.

"What else did they say?"

"They were pretty vague. I mean, they confirmed the prophecy and our roles in it, like I said, and confirmed that you are destined for greatness." Cora flashes me a wicked little grin. "I actually get the distinct feeling Tolan was proud of you, that my parents love you just as much as they love me, and I have a theory about that but right now I want to get in front of that thing in the war room."

So I reluctantly take my mate’s hand and begin leading her down the long hallway to the other side of the basement.