Page 124 of The Mating Quest

Ignoring this cruel hallucination, he began gathering the palm tree seeds dropped onto the ground. Then he measured out a cup of fertilizer, began sprinkling it around the first palmtree.

“Ethan, damnit you stubborn wolf, look atme.”

Hesitating a moment, he shook his head, keptworking.

Something charged into him with the force of a raging bull and slammed him into the ground on his back. He grunted and staredupward.

Ilana sat on his chest. “Now will you look at me? It’s me. YourIlana.”

He closed his eyes. “You’re an illusion. Ilana isdead.”

“Huh. Guess it’s going to take someconvincing.”

Pressure eased off him as the Ilana mirage climbed off him. He stood, dusting off his jeans, when she head butted him again. This time he didn’t go down, but punchedback.

The illusion fell on the ground, laughing, as he scowled. Then in a swift move, she kicked the back of his legs, bringing him down withher.

She rolled atop him and kissed him. He growled, then surrendered to the sweet warmth of his illusion’s mouth. Aw hell. The illusion was better than reality and his empty, lonelybed.

When she came up for air, gasping a little, her gaze turned tender. “I’ve missed you,wolf.”

“I’ll always miss you, Mage.” His voice turnedhusky.

“Miss me enough to marry me and stay with meforever?”

Ethan felt his body tense. “Damnit that’s not right. Go away. If this is adream…”

“You’re not dreaming. I’m alive, Ethan. I was resurrected as the new Starlight Wizard of the Brehon. And I want you to be with me, forever, as my mate. Immortality.Look.”

She opened her palm and showed him a tiny marking on her skin of a blue and white diamond. His illusion closed her palm and resting there was a replica of the blue diamond Ilana had used to heal him on that terrible day in the DarkKingdom.

“If you agree to this, you’ll never die, Ethan. All you have to do is hold this diamond and let it sink into your skin, and then drink the potion of the Blood Moonflower to retain your immortality. We can be together, always.” Her brows drew together in a faint, adorable frown he’d loved. “Only if you wantme.”

Ethan couldn’t believe it. It felt as if someone had offered him all his hopes and dreams on aplatter.

“Ilana.” His voice was thick as he cupped her cheek. “Is it reallyyou?”

A smile touched her mouth. “Want me to punch you and you can find out thatway?”

He kissed her again, his arms going around her, frantic, angry and happy kisses over her lips, cheeks,neck.

“Damnit Ilana, you died. I thought my worldended.”

She touched his cheek. “I didn’t want to die. Because I didn’t want to leaveyou.”

Ethan’s arms wrapped around her as his heart galloped. He feared releasing her, feared it was all a dream still. But when she wriggled free, she was still there. Ilana, with her big blue doe eyes and her cheekygrin.

Thinking of his pack, his heart sank. “I want you. I can’t bear to lose you again. But my people… they need me and I made a promise toSimon.”

A radiant smile touched her mouth. “That’s the fantastic part. You don’t have to leave your pack. Danu agreed we can live here, together. But I will have to leave for assignments, when I sense a Skin, or Other, is surrounded by darkness and lacks the strength to fight for themselves. I will fight forthem.”

“Ilana,” he said hoarsely. “Champion of theunderdog.”

“Underwolf.” She looked a little uncertain. “What’s youranswer?

Ethan opened her palm and took the diamond. “Yes. Definitely yes. I think this is the real reason I have that five-pointed star as a birthmark. I was meant to be yours allalong.”

The diamond sank into his palm, burning and yet filling him with life, with renewed energy. Wincing, he let it flow through him. When the pain eased, he looked down at his palm. A small five-pointed star symbol was embedded in hisflesh.