Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Anger and loneliness, which take one hell of a swing at my heart.
Fear and despair for what she was forced to endure at Adeth and Ares’ hands.
Sorrow for losing her father before even having the chance to get to know him.
And regret. So much fucking regret it flays my soul raw.
“By Awo, Alchera,” I whisper, hating that she’s suffered for so long under the severe pressure Vaalbara has forced on her.
I shift slightly and press my hand over her heart. I’ve never heard of a guardian healing emotional or mental wounds before, but out of pure desperation, I focus with all that I am on my charge.
The blue light starts to glow between us, and when Alchera’s face crumbles and sobs escape her, frustration pours into my heart.
“You can take away those emotions?” her words fill my mind.
“Is it working?” I ask, desperate to hear her answer.
I feel her entire being sigh with relief, and she practically becomes boneless beneath me.
Every horrible thing she’s been forced to suffer lessens inside her until it all becomes bearable – and pours into my soul.
I’m hit hard with a tsunami of anger, loneliness, fear, and grief, but I take it all if it means she’ll feel better.
Fuck. I did it.
Shock ripples through me, and I’m speechless for a while.
Alchera lifts her head and presses her trembling lips to mine. “Thank you.”
“Better?” I manage to ask through clenched teeth as I work to compartmentalize the destructive emotions.
She pulls back, then her eyes widen as they dart over my face. “No,” she gasps. “You took my emotions like you do my pain?” When I nod, she wraps her arms tightly around my neck and holds me to her. “God, Raighne. I didn’t want that.”
“I can handle it,” I say so she won’t worry.
I push my arms beneath her and squash her to my body while pressing a kiss to her temple.
“I can handle anything that comes my way as long as I have you,” I murmur.
“I love you so much,” she whispers, her tone strained, and hearing the words soothes the chaos in my heart.
“Say it again,” I demand.
“I love you, Raighne.”
A feeling of peace soothes my heart and soul, and still buried inside my woman, I start to drift off to sleep from the exhaustion of healing her.
Chapter 24
Alchera
When I wake up and feel Raighne’s naked body lying partially on top of mine, a sleepy smile spreads over my lips.
I glance down at where his head is resting on my chest, and careful not to disturb him, I brush my fingers through his longish dark brown hair.
I struggle to process everything that’s happened between us, still finding it hard to believe he loves me.
My eyes drift over his muscled back, and there’s an intense fluttering in my stomach.
This over-the-top attractive and strong-as-fuck man loves me.
My thoughts turn to last night and how it felt to make love to him. Safe to say, my mind’s officially blown.
When I got to feel his emotions and how much he loves me, it was the highlight of my entire life because I’ve never been loved so intensely before.
I’ve finally found a place where I belong, where I can be myself, and it’s with the man of my dreams.
God. Thank you.
Raighne stirs, and a moment later, his eyes open. He lifts his head and stares at me for a few seconds before the corner of his mouth lifts.
“I’m surprised your body isn’t numb from me lying on top of you all night,” he mutters sleepily.
I shake my head, my fingers trailing over the stubble on his jaw. I love the feel of the scratchy bristles.
He pulls himself up and presses a kiss to my lips before he moves off the bed. When he sees the tinge of blood on the sheets, his eyes flick to mine.
“No pain?”
I shake my head, but when I move, I feel tender between my legs. As soon as I feel the ache, it disappears, and my eyes snap to Raighne.
“You don’t have to take all my pain.”
He doesn’t comment but instead says, “Let’s shower so we can get back on the road.”
“Shower?” I ask as I scoot off the bed. “Together?”
“Yes.” He gives me a cocky grin before walking into the bathroom and opening the faucets in the shower.
Things feel completely different between us, and I love it. I don’t have to be on guard anymore, and it’s refreshing.
I join Raighne in the shower, and when he starts to wash my body, I can only stand and grin at him because I adore having his attention and hands on me.
“I love it too,” he murmurs.
I tilt my head and narrow my eyes on him. “Can you hear all my thoughts?”
He pauses for a moment before saying, “Don’t freak out, but yes. Now that you’re not fighting the bond any longer, I hear and feel everything where you’re concerned.”