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MARA

O h shit, Edith was definitely right. Wes had to be the most intense and demanding being I had ever met. But hell did I like it. It was exhilarating, frighteningly beautiful, and desperately passionate. But I had to breathe or I was going to pass out from a kiss that lasted an eternity.

His arms wrapped and supported my lower back as Wes kissed my jaw, and then my neck, and then my collarbone. And I just breathed, inhaling as much oxygen as I could in preparation for my next dive into the depths of him.

Because this wasn’t just wanting . This was needing —absolute desperation .

This was the clamor for water after thirsting for days. This was the demand for nourishment after starving for weeks. This was the request for heat after freezing for hours in the snow.

It was a little unnerving, and a whole lot of exciting. And I loved every minute of it .

Something about it made me feel strong, and powerful, and gorgeous, and beautiful, and invincible.

Like I was capable of anything and nothing could ruin me.

Because something about the way Wes loved me—so deeply, so passionately, so desperately, so completely—was causing this surge of prevailing power within me that I didn’t understand.

Because I had only ever been a broken, worthless girl.

A soul to be tortured and left to starve in the confines of a dungeon.

And I had truly come to believe that I was nothing but dust.

But something was changing.

Something was shifting.

Something was curling and molding and folding and growing within me. But I didn’t understand what it was or what it meant. All I knew was that it felt good, and I wanted more .

Bing!

His tab rang, shattering the lustful bubble we had both been drawn into.

Wes growled in irritation as he rested his forehead on my shoulder.

I laughed, and damn, did it feel good to do so, even if only a little.

Because Wes’s sexual frustrations always made me laugh, and it was like that dead part of me was stirring once more, awakened by the whispers of love.

The tab chimed again.

“I swear to god, I’m going to murder whoever is paging me right now. There better be fucking Telvians at my front door,” he groused as he lifted his head off my shoulder and moved to look at his tab.

I took the opportunity to admire my ring.

The afternoon sun caught the stones and it glimmered like stars in the sky.

I loved it. It was perfect the first time he gave it to me, and it was even more perfect now.

Because Wes asked me to marry him, not because he was being forced to, but because he wanted to.

Because Wes Calvernon loved me. I almost squealed at the thought.

“Damn it. I’ve gotta go.” He looked up at me. “I’m sorry. ”

I smiled, taking his face in my hands. “It’s okay. I get it.” I stood on my toes and kissed him, just a graze. So warm… So soft…

“Fuck it,” he said, sliding his hands down under my thighs and lifting me off the ground. He pressed me up against the wall, supporting my weight as his hands guided my legs to wrap around him.

I did. I gripped his face and then dug my fingers into his hair. I crashed my lips against his. And oh my freaking god, the need was back. The hunger was knocking on the door—

Bing! Bing!

“ Christ ,” he growled out.

But it wasn’t just his tab this time. It was mine too. I glanced at my wrist and saw a message. “It’s from Edith.”

He blew out a breath, clearly trying to control his temper. Gently, he placed me back on my feet, and I tapped my screen.

Edith: Is Wes with you by chance? Or do you know where he is? We need him pronto.

Mara: Yes. Why?

Edith: 1. You better spill the beans later about whatever it is you two are up to. 2. Tell him to get his freaking ass down to the War Room. It’s urgent.

I looked up at Wes. “Edith says they need you right now in the War Room.” Wait. There was a War Room at the estate?

Wes tipped his head back with a sigh and then cracked his neck. “Fine. Tell her I’ll be right there.”

Bing! My tab chimed again.

Edith: You better come too.

Mara: Me?

Edith: Yeah…I think you’re gonna wanna see this.

** *

Taking only a few minutes to collect ourselves, we made our way to this mystery room I didn’t know about.

“I didn’t know there was a War Room here,” I commented, enjoying the warmth of my hand in his.

He turned us around a corner. “There wasn’t. But I didn’t want to leave the house for every Council of War while you were in stasis, so we converted one of the parlors into a Situation Room.”

My heart melted. He didn’t want to leave me. Even while I slept, he didn’t want to leave me. God, I loved this man.

We came to the end of a hallway, and I thought I recognized this one. The place was a maze, and I had visited so few parts of the estate that half the time I had no idea where I was going. I saw a pair of double doors, one of which was cracked open, with Edith standing outside as guard.

She turned her head to see us, and I noticed as her eyes zeroed in on our joined hands. She smiled. “Well, it took you two long enough. Tell me it was good at least?”

“ Edith ,” I whisper-yelled.

Wes ignored her completely. “What’s going on?”

Her devious smirk was having a full-blown party on her face. But she cleared her throat and faced Wes, all business. “You’ve got visitors.”

His brows drew forward in a deep V. “Who?”

The door opened wider, revealing General Krous. “Mr. President, we’ve been waiting for you, sir.” His eyes skipped to me. “Miss de la Puente...this, this might not be a good time for you to join us.”

Edith slipped between us, keeping Krous at her back. “If you want my opinion, sir ,” she eyed Wes, “Miss de la Puente absolutely needs to be here.”

Krous glared at her, opened his mouth as though he were going to reprimand her, but then shook his head and returned his attention to Wes. “You might want to know what’s happening before you let her in.” He stood a little straighter. “But of course, I’ll defer to your command.”

Wes stared at Krous, working his jaw before he looked at me.

I didn’t want to put him in a hard place. “I can wait.”

He frowned. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, just don’t forget I’m out here waiting.”

A half-hearted smile crossed his mouth. “Promise.” Then he dipped down, pecked my lips, and walked through the door.

Krous gave me a somber smile. “I’m sorry, Miss de la Puente. But I’m glad to see you’re awake and doing okay.” Then he closed the door.

Okay. There was that word again. Okay. Why did everyone assume that I was okay ?

Edith pounced. “ Well ,” she purred. “What were you two doing just now?”

“Nothing. And it’s none of your business, anyway,” I said as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

Edith’s eyes bulged out of her head. Her hand snapped out, grabbing mine, and held up my fingers. My ring caught the light, shining bright.

“What’s this? This doesn’t look like nothing.”

I grinned.

Edith started prancing in place. “I knew it!” she squealed. “I knew you guys would figure out your shit! It’s about freaking time. How do you feel?”

Her enthusiasm was contagious, and that little bubble of warmth grew steadier, expanding throughout my body.

“I don’t even know anymore. I’m like this jumble inside, but…

” I pressed my hand to my forehead, assessing myself.

I knew I was still a hot mess inside. There was this darkness that kept swirling, threatening to pull me back under.

But that warmth—the little flame of love that sparked and began to burn—it was like a torch casting back the shadows. “I’m happy. ”

“You two kids have been stressing me out with all your drama and BS. You know that, right?”

I chuckled and then let out a long sigh. “It feels good. I haven’t felt this way in a while, but I told him everything, and it felt so good to get it out.” I turned and leaned against the wall, looking up at the ornate ceiling.

She rested her shoulder against the wall beside me, smiling. “Yeah, I bet. Did he tell you anything?”

I turned, mirroring her. “That he loved me.” I leaned closer, lowering my voice. “And when I told him I loved him, he wanted me to say his name.”

She cocked a brow. “Like a, ‘say my name bitch,’ kind of moment?”

I snorted, burying my face in my hands temporarily. Leave it to Edith to go there.

“What?” she shrugged innocently, but I could see the corner of her lips hooking into another devious smirk she was struggling to hide.

I shook my head, whispering, “ No . Jeez, you realize it’s not always about sex.”

She scoffed. “Girl, it’s always about bumping uglies.”

I wanted to bury my head in my sweater again like a human turtle. I can’t believe we were having this conversation with Wes and god only knows who else on the other side of a damn door. I decided to move the conversation along… away from sex talk. I leaned toward her again, whispering once more.

“He wanted me to say his name and then tell him I loved him.” I pulled back, but kept my voice low.

“It was kinda heart-wrenching. But when I did it…I don’t think I’ve ever seen Wes so broken, but in a good way.

It was weird. Like, he was happy, but something shattered inside of him.

” I shook my head. “I don’t know how to explain it. ”

Edith’s expression was a mixture of curiosity and concern. “Did he…did he say anything else after that?”

I shook my head, and Edith stayed quiet. Pensive .

I changed the subject. “So what’s going on in there? What’s happening?”

Her eyes darted to mine. “I don’t think me telling you is the way for you to find this out.”

Worry curled into my gut. This did not sound good. “Why? What’s going on?” She pursed her lips, and I could see her mind calculating quickly the best approach to this. I leaned in towards her again. “Edith, you’re my best friend. If it’s bad news, I’d rather hear it from you. What’s happening?”

Her eyes flickered, face falling into a reserved expression. “Mara, I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about this, but…your mom, she’s alive. And she’s here.”