<b>+25 </b>Bonus
<b>“</b>Look<b>.</b>” She <b>traced </b>her finger across the screen. There were two lines on the screen. Two heartbeats. <b>They </b>were pulsing with <b>near</b>–perfect synchronization. “These are your heart rates. When mates are bonded, their rhythms align like this. Yours have been independent since the curse broke, but just now…<b>” </b>She gestured at the screen. <b>“</b>They synced up again.<b>” </b>
Alexander and I <b>stared </b>at <b>each </b>other. The bond was back? But it felt different. It didn’t feel like it was back. <b>It </b>just felt… Like something <b>else</b><b>. </b>
Curious, I reached out tentatively with my mind, the way <b>I </b>used to when the bond was <b>intact</b><b>. </b>
“Alexander?” I didn’t expect him to hear me. Knowing that <b>I </b>was pregnant again felt like enough of a blessing. Surely Dr. Evelyn
was mistaken.
His eyes widened. “E. I can hear you.” His voice in my mind was like a gentle, much–needed caress after months of emptiness<b>. </b>
I couldn’t speak. I just stared at him<b>, </b>still struggling <b>to </bprehend it. How the hell was this possible? And why now<b>, </b>of all the times<b>? </b>
Suddenly, another pulse of awareness hit me.
My eyes widened.
The crystal.
Dr. Evelyn was still messing with the monitor. <b>“</b>The readings are… unusual, though. The bond signature is different from a standard mate bond. It’s stronger. More stable.”
<b>“</b>How is that possible?” Alexander asked.
Dr. Evelyn shook her head slowly. “I don’t know. But given everything that’s happened with the crystal shard…” She looked at me. “E, I think the crystal may have done more than we initially thought.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. The crystal had been lodged in my chest for weeks now. I never thought it would be the thing that could not only allow me to absorb two souls, but also restore my mate bond. But now I knew it was true. Once again, <b>I </b>couldn’t exin it. I just knew.
It was as if the crystal was <b>a </b>living thing in my chest now<b>, </b>secondary to my wolf. As if absorbing those two souls had… awoken it. <b>Just </b>enough to wind its threads of blissful awareness through me.
“We’ll need <b>to </b>run more tests, <b>of </b>course<b>,</b><b>” </b>Dr. Evelyn was saying. “And I’m going <b>to </b>contact the Anthonies<b>. </b>I want to <b>keep </b>you here for observation for at least another day or two. Make sure everything stabilizes.<b>” </b>
Once she <b>left</b><b>, </b>Alexander turned to me. His eyes were shimmering with a happiness that I hadn’t seen in such a long time. It made <b>me </b>smile <b>despite </b><b>my </b>confusion.
<b>“</b><b>E</b><b>,</b><b>” </b><b>he </b><b>suddenly </b><b>said</b>, “let’s move <b>up </b>the date <b>of </b>the wedding.”
I <b>stared </b>at him<b>. </b>
<b>He </b>took <b>a </b><b>step </b>closer<b>, </b>grinning now. “Two weeks<b>. </b>Think that could work for you?”
“Alexander-”
“I never married <b>you </b>properly before.” Alexander sat on the edge of the bed and gripped my hands in his, then brought them to his lips. <b>He </b>kissed <b>each </b>one<b>. </b><b>“</b>I <b>want </b>to do it right this time around. And I’m tired of waiting. Aren’t you?”
I hesitated<b>, </b>considering his words. Admittedly, I was tired of waiting. And now, with Lucien in the picture, and two more <b>on </b><b>the </b><b>way</b><b>… </b>I wanted to do it. Even if everyone hated me for it. Even if <b>the </b>world still thought I was an imposter<b>, </b>and my father’s <b>agents </b><b>were </b>still vying against us<b>, </b>and my mother couldn’t be there<b>… </b>
<b><i>1/2 </i></b>
<b>+25 </b>Bonus
I did want this. I wanted peace. For myself, for my family. I wanted to <b>see </b>something beautiful grow from amongst the ashes my father had left behind. It was all I had ever wanted from the beginning. I wanted to live, truly live<b>, </b><b>not </b>just watch the chapters of my life flip by like skimming a book.
And most of all, I wanted him. Alexander. The man I’d loved from the beginning, even if neither of us wanted to admit it.
My mate.
“Okay.” My voice slipped into his mind like putting on an old pair of gloves, and both of our smiles widened. “Two weeks works just fine for me.”
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<strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.