“Yes,” was my instant reply. If talking it over helped her, I would listen all night long.
She nodded, her mouth moving silently as she worked through her words. “There was… so much blood,” she whispered. “Death was everywhere in my trial. I saw terrible, horrible things.”
I drew in a sharp breath, clenching my fists as my heart ached. I wanted to punch someone. Anyone. To do something to get rid of this rage coursing through my veins. Speaking through clenched teeth, I asked, “What did you see?”
She paused, another shudder running through her.
“Tell me, Aileana.” I kissed her, our mouths barely brushing against each other. “Please. Let me carry this with you.”
She blew out a long breath, the sound agonizingly heavy. “They showed me what would happen if we failed. If the balance wasn’t restored.” She looked up, cupping my cheek as her eyes searched mine. “They showed me what would happen if I lost you.”
A growl rumbled through my chest, and this time, I did not shove it down as I shook my head. Pulling her onto my lap, I held her firmly until those green eyes met mine. “They were wrong. You won’t ever lose me, Aileana. I will follow you anywhere, from this life to the next.”
Nothing and no one could keep us apart. She was mine, and I would never allow us to be separated. Anywhere she went, I would follow. I would kill anyone who dared take her from me.
I must have said that out loud, because Aileana smiled softly.
“I love it when you get like this,” she whispered, her lips dancing over mine in a tender kiss.
I growled, “Like what?”
“Possessive.” Her eyes searched mine, and then she surged forward, kissing me once more. This kiss was not tender, nor was it gentle. It was filled with fire and passion and possessiveness and… fear.
I wanted to get rid of that feeling. To push it so far from her mind that she forgot it had ever even been a thought. I would never leave her. Not now. Not even death could separate us.
My hand slipped behind her neck, and I held her against me, letting my mouth say all the things I couldn’t put into words. We kissed until our lips were swollen, our breaths came heavy, and our bodies were stiff with want.
Aileana pressed her forehead against mine. “Promise me, Xander.”
I didn’t need to ask what she meant. Promise I would never leave her. Never forsake her. Always follow her.
She didn’t need my vow, but I would give it to her, anyway.
“Always,” I murmured, punctuating each word with a kiss. “I will not let anything keep us apart.” My lips grazed her jaw. “Even if the gods threw us across time and space, I would find you.” A nip on her neck. “Do you know why that is, Sunshine?”
She arched her back, pressing herself against me. “Why?” she whispered.
“Because you’re mine.”
Aileana groaned, reclaiming my lips as her hand snaked behind my neck. Her hand slid beneath my tunic, tracing the planes of my stomach. My grip on her hips tightened, and I held her close on my lap. There were too many clothes between us. Too many layers keeping me from touching my incredible mate.
One of the sleeping elves coughed, and we broke apart.
“Damn,” I murmured, drawing in a deep breath. We weren’t alone, and we were supposed to be on watch. I would never forgive myself if I got distracted and let harm come to our friends. Especially since we were in Shadowfell Mountain because of me.
Forcing my desire as far down as it could go, I breathed in deeply and lifted Aileana off my lap. Placing her on the log beside me, I wrapped my arm around her shoulder.
She laced our fingers together, squeezing tightly. “I love you, Elyx,” she whispered. “No matter what happens, I will always love you.”
Her words were a warming fire in my chest. Drawing Aileana against me, I held her close as I returned the words. Tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear, I held her close. “I wish I could have protected you from your trial.”
Her voice was little more than a breath as she said, “You can’t always protect me, Xander.”
“I know.” Gods, that knowledge broke me. Aileana had already been through so much. To know that I couldn’t keep her from getting hurt in the future was devastating. “But I want to.”
She turned, running her fingers over our mating bond. Her touch sent shivers through me, and my entire body hummed at our closeness.
“Sometimes, I get to be the one protecting you, too.” She pressed her head against my shoulder, sighing. “That’s how relationships work. We’re partners. Equals.”