Page 138 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

“You remember me now?” he asks, disbelieving. “Everything?”

I nod.

Running my hand down his cheek, my fingers smear the partially dried blood. My thumb barely grazes his bottom lip, pulling it down ever so slightly. Alec groans as his eyes flutter closed. I lean up, standing on the tips of my toes, and gently place a kiss on his bottom lip.

Alec’s hand threads in my hair at the nape of my neck, tugging gently, as he tips my head back and brings his mouth to mine, claiming it with a hungry sweep of his tongue.

“I am glad you did it,” he says as he pulls away panting, placing his forehead against mine.

We hold each other in silence as our breathing and tears calm.

Alec finally pulls away and kisses the tip of my nose. “Will you spend the day with me?” he asks me timidly, almost as if he’s nervous, and it makes my heart patter.

“Of course,” I whisper.

Alec leaves me at the pillar, going to retrieve my staff. His movements are slow and pained; his coloring is off. A twinge of guilt eats at me as he walks back to me, thoroughly worse for wear.

“Shouldn’t you grab your swords?” I ask him when he leaves them behind.

He offers me a crooked smile. “They will find their way back to my chambers. Your weapon is far more valuable. Would you be kind enough to take me to the kitchen? I fear I do not have the strength to bring myself there, on my feet or otherwise.”

My answer is to put my arms around his waist, the living magic encasing my heart sings with our bare skin touching, at my acceptance of him. It paws at the veil still separating us, begging to be complete. Alec holds me tight as I lean into my magic and pull us into the void, reappearing in the kitchen.

He’s still holding me close when the room takes form.

Alec steps forwards, walking me back, not breaking eye contact. My core tightens with the heat in his stare. My back gently hits the counter, and he breaks away from my gaze, placing my staff on the surface behind me.

Alec studies my face, my hair, my outfit before he inhales deep and shakes his head. “You are divine covered in blood. And wielding unheard of power. I cannot wait to see how you wield it with practice.”

“I’m sorry I destroyed your training pitch.” I subtly pull in my bottom lip.

Alec runs his thumb over my mouth and whispers, “Our training pitch.”

He reaches up and toys with a piece of the long ribbon in my hair before offering me a boyish smile. “I hoped you would like that. I was pleasantly surprised to see it wrapped around you.”

A confident grin splits across my face. “I guess I had a need to remind you that I’m the true gift.”

Alec’s face lights up, and he laughs deep, the sound shooting straight to my knees, making them weak. He holds me closer and rubs his nose against mine.

“I cannot argue there. You are the greatest gift.” He kisses me, his full lips warm and soft against mine.

Alec pulls back a fraction, and I frown at him, wanting him to continue.

“Is this okay?”

The question is soft and caring and warms my soul. Where I would have fought that steadfast warmth earlier today, I allow myself to be wrapped in it now, pulling it tight around myself.

Being lost to the depths of uncertainty, my self-depreciation festered. I convinced myself I wasn’t deserving of this blind devotion and unconditional love from Alec that I had no inkling of where it came from in the absence of all our memories. For eternal, miserable minutes, I knew the loss of my mate and was given a glimpse of the pain I was causing him with my rejection.

The rejection that I gave thinking that I was sparing him.

“Yes,” I say, leaving him no question to wonder about my comfort level with his touch.

For emphasis, I bury my face in Alec’s neck and begin planting kisses on every inch of skin I can find. He twines his fingers through my hair at the nape of my neck, my tight bun long since loosened, and pulls with pleasurable force before his mouth meets mine.

Moaning into him, he takes the invitation, gripping the back of my thighs with his strong hands before depositing me on thecounter. I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist, hooking my ankles and using them to pull him closer to me.

His breath catches. “Elly,” he whispers thickly.