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Jayah crouched behind a tree, silently cursing herself as two guards spoke quietly nearby, both their instincts alarmed, though she’d stayed downwind so they hadn’t caught her scent yet.

She’d hurried. Taken risks. Let her wolf run, despite knowing the animal would choose conflict over care. And now she’d lost several minutes while the guards discussed what had raised the hackles on their necks and whether they should leave their posts to patrol further.

To her relief, after another few minutes the two decided to take turns patrolling—and one of them darted off to search in the opposite direction.

Praying they wouldn’t stumble on her trail, the moment the remaining Guard’s back was turned, she shifted to her wolf and darted into the underbrush and toward the cave.

She was early again and praying that Skhal was as sensitive to the nudge to be close as she was. She felt as if her guts would pull out of her body if she didn’t get close to him soon. So it was with a great wave of relief that she pushed through the ferns and bushes that obscured the cave mouth and ran inside to find Skhal already pacing the area at the back of the cave.

“Thank the Creator,” he growled as she appeared, rushing to take her in his arms and hold her tightly to his chest.

He was trembling.

.....

“What is it?” she murmured into his broad chest. He held her like he was afraid. “What’s happened?”

“The Guard presence has been increased. Or concentrated at least,” he breathed, then with a quick shake of his head, he reached for her through the mindlink. ‘Those who were nearer our territory have drawn back, closer to this spot. There’s far more of them in the ravine than there has ever been. Either they’re all here, or they sent some back to your City and left the remaining only in this area. I was almost caught on my way.’

Jayah’s blood ran cold at the mental image he sent of how closely he’d come to being discovered. She flashed him an image of her own hiding, but knew without doubt that the risk was not nearly as great to her. The guards would know her, at least. Even if they were suspicious, they would take her, not kill her. But Skhal?

‘You have to stay with me,’ she sent, along with an image of him standing at her side. ‘If we’re caught, we must be caught together. They won’t kill me. They’ll listen.’

Skhal’s brows pinched and he stared down at her, worry and tension written all over his handsome face. ‘That was never the plan. They were never to find out that you were working with me—’

‘We can’t risk it, Skhal. Please. Don’t… don’t ask me to risk losing you when I could save you.’

His breath rushed out of him and he trailed his fingers through her hair, searching her eyes. ‘It is incredible to me… but I feel you, Jayah. I feel your heart. I ache for you—and yearn to keep you close. I was pushed here, as if the Creator Himself shoved at my back. I struggle to accept your plan because it aligns with my passion—how can we trust that we aren’t simply indulging our desire?’

Jayah gave a wry smile. ‘I had exactly that conversation with a wise man in our people… one who reads the winds. He… he told me that I can know the difference between my own selfish desires and the push of the Creator because of the… conviction of it. It is… undeniable, not because of my flesh, but because of my heart. I was pushed to you, too, Skhal. The male I spoke with—Behryn. He doesn’t know everything, but he guessed… the Creator told him I needed my mate. And he urged me to you. He said to resist the Creator’s plan is to resist the Creator Himself.’

Skhal’s fingers tightened in her hair. ‘You felt the push as well?’

Jayah nodded, smiling at the boyish glint in his eyes at that thought. ‘Yes. I… I find myself unable to concentrate on anything but you, Skhal. My people are in crisis—as are yours. And yet my head is flighty like a girl’s, and my body aches and shoves at me. Something here is… important. Bigger than simple desire.’

His breath had grown faster, shallower as she spoke. He licked his lips and nodded, his eyes alight as he stared at her. His fingers stilled in her hair and he cupped her face, his eyes piercing, blazing as he searched hers.

For a long moment they only stared at each other. Jayah was stunned to find herself speechless—no words that could express what she felt. As if a piece of her, deep within her heart that had lain dormant for her entire life suddenly woke and stretched… and his eyes, his soul, his need for her was the warmth of the sun. She wanted nothing more than to bask in it.

Lifting trembling fingers to his face, Jayah licked her lips nervously, her stomach fizzing with nervous anticipation, even as her heart swelled and stretched. ‘Do you—’

‘Are you sure, Jayah? Sure that I’m your one? Sure that the bond… the bond should be complete?’ His words were breathless even in her head. ‘Because we can’t go back from this. We haven’t discussed our plan, or the risks—are you certain?’

She nodded without hesitation, letting her thumb play along the line of his jaw, enjoying the masculine roughness of his trimmed beard. ‘You were made for me,’ she breathed in his mind.

Skhal made a tiny groan that tugged right behind her navel. He leaned down as if he’d take her mouth, but stopped himself, resting his forehead on hers, eyes closed, his face tight in a grimace of restraint.

“If we’re… if this is it… Jayah I want to honor you as my mate. I want you to be sure of me—of my heart for you.” His whisper was rough, guttural as his body came alive. He gripped her, one hand at her back, the other at her neck, held her against him, and she could feel him wanting her.

But then he opened his eyes and straightened, staring down at her, his face solemn and shadowed, before stepping back.