Page 21 of Shifter’s Promise (Devourer of Magic)

Chapter

Seventeen

“ D o you want some tea?” I asked. We padded around the staircase to the back of the house, taking a single turn into the rustic kitchen.

“Sure,” Leona said, her voice high with surprise. “I didn’t know you like tea.”

It wasn’t a common drink among clans, especially in the heat of the Beast Kingdom.

My lips twisted in a rueful grin. “It’s probably the only thing I liked about the slaver’s manors.”

Leona’s steps paused a few paces behind, but I’d already begun preparing the kettle. Once it was full, I lit the stove’s fire with a nearby match. They were always kept in a drawer right next to the stove, along with a small poker, stained black with soot.

“I hope you like peppermint,” I said. “They’re the only tea leaves Kara could find at the market.”

“Kara?” Leona asked. With the quiet broken, her steps approached until her front brushed up against my back.

I blinked in surprise, skin tingling with our sudden closeness.

“M-My sister,” I explained.

“Oh.”

“We really don’t know much about each other, do we?” I realized aloud.

Leona’s chuckle brushed the back of my neck, warmth running down my spine, making me shiver. Her fingers brushed my hips. I hesitated, hands hovering over the teacups I’d been preparing.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know you, Twinlin,” Leona said. Her voice had lowered huskily, however, there was an edge of longing to it. Like she really had missed the chance of getting to know me thus far.

“Can I turn around?” I mumbled. Embarrassment flooded my entire body, flushing my cheeks and burning my ears.

Gently, Leona’s hands turned me until I faced her.

A soft smirk lit her face, going straight to those fathomless amber eyes.

Once she’d settled her hips against mine, all thoughts fled.

I had no idea what I’d been about to say.

My heart pounding, I opened and closed my lips a few times, but no sound emerged.

“Did you have something to say, precious girl?” Leona hummed, gaze half-lidded—teasing.

My throat suddenly clogged with nothing, my skin the temperature of the sun. “I—uh—” I couldn’t remember for the life of me. Not when she stood so close.

“Cat got your tongue?” Those thick lips parted in a toothy grin, fangs glinting in the candlelight.

“Leona,” I whined, both embarrassed and desperate. She was so overwhelming in the best way.

Her lips captured mine, stealing my breath and sating my leopard.

I groaned into her mouth, pushing forward, despite being trapped against the counter.

Her fingers wove around my braids, while mine plundered her curls.

She devoured me like I’d never been devoured before, each kiss searing my lips and setting my soul aflame.

Feeling cheeky, or maybe just emboldened by my mate, I nipped at her lip, earning a delicious moan. Her amber gaze flashed with challenge, and before I knew it, her hands cradled my thighs. Squeezing, she lifted me onto the countertop, bringing me level with her tall form.

“Twinlin, you’re so beautiful.” Her warm gaze soothed something deep inside me, making a purr build in the center of my chest.

Heat flooded my cheeks before she claimed my mouth. I wrapped my arms around her neck, bringing her as close as possible. With our bodies molded together, my breathing increased, pulse erratic.

Leona’s tongue slipped along the seam of my lips, and I parted them without thought. While our tongues danced, her hands explored, gripping my thighs, then my hips. Her touch set me on fire, threatening to consume me completely.

I had no idea this is what it would be like.

While I might have had a mate once, Gina hadn’t been anything like Leona.

Their stark contrasts, while different, were equally as beautiful.

Only, I’d never had the chance to touch Gina like this.

We’d barely been able to kiss, let alone embrace so deeply.

Trapped in opposite cells, we were lucky to hold hands on the occasions we were released at the same hour.

It felt so right to be in Leona’s arms. Entirely whole. A complete woman with her mate at her side. It was all I’d ever dreamed of—all I could ever hope for.

Before I knew it, tears burned my eyes and streaked my cheeks. I was just so happy. So grateful to have another chance at love. Another chance at life.

Leona pulled back too soon, forehead wrinkled with concern.

“Twin? Are you okay?” I couldn’t speak, emotion lodged firmly in my throat. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you so far.”

Her hands fled my hips, but I tightened my grip on her neck, begging with my gaze for her not to go. Realization blossomed in her panicked gaze, softening her smile.

“Oh, Twin.” She pulled me against her, wrapping her arms around me. Chin resting on her shoulder, I nuzzled into her neck, breathing in her citrus and sunshine scent.

“I never thought I could be this happy again,” I finally managed to say. I loosened my hold to wipe my eyes, but Leona only clung tighter.

“Me neither,” she admitted .

“I’m sorry I never told you about Gina,” I murmured. “I didn’t know how to bring her up. It was so long ago and… I never thought I’d be lucky enough to have another mate.” The gods had truly blessed me.

Leona nodded against me. “I understand, Twin. I wouldn’t know how to bring that up either.” She paused for a beat, mulling something over. “Would you… tell me about her sometime?”

I pulled back and this time Leona allowed it. She met my watery gaze, not an ounce of jealousy or spite in those warm eyes.

“You really want to hear about my ex?” My lips twitched, unable to hide my joy or my amusement. I’d never seen the powerful lioness so vulnerable.

She smiled. “Of course. She was important to you. I could never erase her, and wouldn’t want to.”

“Oh.” Tears poured from my eyes, once again startling my mate.

“Twin,” she breathed, panic widening her gaze.

I laughed and wrapped my arms around her neck, drawing our foreheads together. “Thank you, Leona.”

Her tense shoulders relaxed with her exhale. “For what?”

“For being you.”

Her chuckle shook my entire body, making me giggle along with her. “You don’t have to thank me for that.”

“Well, I’ll thank you anyway,” I said stubbornly.

Leona’s grin widened. Her fingers wove into my braids once more until her fingers massaged the back of my head.

“Thank you , Twin.”

I raised a brow as she leaned back.

“For fighting your way home. Without your stubbornness and your strength, I doubt we’d have ever met.” Her fingers brushed my brow, her gaze locking on mine. She treated me like someone precious, someone who might sail away at any moment.

But I wasn’t going anywhere. Not with my mate in my arms and my family in this house. I wouldn’t be taken. Never again.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I assured her, delivering a kiss to seal our promise.

We’d been so wrapped up in our own moment, that I hadn’t realized the murmurs in the other room stopped until the kitchen door swung open.

“Oh, that’s where you two went,” Taka said.

I stiffened, freezing like a child caught stealing an extra cookie.

“So, what exactly is happening here?” Aya asked.

“Wasn’t there supposed to be some kind of arranged marriage going on?” Taka joked, a grin splitting his face.

I groaned and buried my face under Leona’s chin. Her chuckle vibrated against my cheek.

“We’re mates,” Leona explained.

“Mates?” Father entered last, his booming voice both shocked and pleased.

“That explains the looks,” Raxa murmured.

“You should have told us you were into women,” Taka chastised .

“We could have gone hunting together!” Aya agreed adamantly.

I knew the kind of hunting he meant, and it wasn’t for deer.

“Would you all stop?” I grumbled.

“What was that?” Taka’s voice was making me want to punch him. “I can’t hear you very well, you’ll have to speak up.”

I rose from my Leona cocoon with a glare at the triplets. “Shut up, Taka!”

His manic grin disappeared in an explosion of laughter.

“Well now this arrangement really can’t go on,” Raxa said, scratching his chin in thought.

“No way are we stealing Leona’s girl,” Aya agreed.

Leona scoffed and rolled her eyes down to meet mine. “As if you could.”

I couldn’t help beaming at my mate. “Exactly.”

Stepping back, Leona set me back on the floor. It wasn’t a moment later that Taka and Aya flanked us, wrapping an arm around each of our shoulders.

“Congratulations,” they said in unison. Was that a triplet thing?

“No way are we marrying you now,” Aya added.

“I want to hear all the details,” Taka continued like a regency gossip queen. I’d never seen such a spark in his gaze. “Don’t skimp! I’ll know if you are.” He narrowed his eyes.

These men might have started out as my betrothed, but they were more like brothers these days. I had to admit, I’d always wanted a brother. Though three seemed a little excessive.

I wonder what Kara will think of them…

“I’m happy for you, Twin,” Father said. He stepped forward, shooing Taka off my shoulder so he could give me a comforting squeeze. “But tell your sister before she hears it from one of these idiots.”

I barked a laugh. “Good idea, Dad.”

He grinned, that smile only widening with the triplets flurry of complaints over his choice of words. Watching them tease and poke at each other, we really did feel like family.