RETH

He placed himself there, right there, and made sure she was ready for him. She smiled, pulling him back in to the kiss as she breathed,

"Always.

"

Entering her was like coming home. A sensation so overwhelming, so pure, it threatened to unhinge him.

Elbows braced on the grass, both hands in her hair, his fingers tightened, pulling her head back, extending her throat to him as they joined, and a low, guttural groan broke from him, puttering into a pleading call as they began to move together.

The world fell away. There was no sunlight, only her gaze. There was no wind in the trees, only her whispers and cries. There was no WildWood, only his mate, her skin, her warmth, and the soft, sweet taste of her mouth. There was no shadow on his skin, only her touch, her stroke.

She was his world.

"Elia, I—

" he gasped into her mouth.

"I know,

" she gulped.

"Me too.

"

Then he couldn't speak. There were no words that would explain. He had to show her—show her with his touch how precious she was. Show her with his body how desperate he was for her. Show her with his cover, how he would never let harm come to her—would always stand between her and danger. Show her with his kiss how beautiful she was.

And all of it together added up to… him. With the mating call on his tongue, and his body worshiping her, he… gave himself up. Emptied his heart so she might take every corner of it. With trembling fingers and shuddering breath, he offered himself and could only weep with relief when she received him with joy, when she took what he gave, and gave herself in return.

Taking his weight on one elbow, he lifted himself just high enough to see her. As her eyes fluttered open to meet his gaze, he cupped her jaw with one hand and stroked her cheek with his thumb.

But he did not stop moving inside her. Could not.

Her mouth dropped open with every roll and her eyes began to hood. But he had to see her. Had to watch her, burn this memory into his mind's eye.

He thrust and held, just for a breath. Her head dropped back and he let his teeth slide—so gently—under the point of her chin.

"Elia,

" he whispered.

"Don't stop… please?

" she pleaded.

"I need you, Reth.

"

"There will never be a moment that I do not desire you, Elia,

" he groaned.

"I love you, Reth. So much.

"

Her tears threatened again, so he kissed her to distract her, picked up the pace of their joining until she was panting and her hands clawed through his hair.

Then he lifted himself again to watch her, one hand cupping the back of her neck, his elbow braced over her shoulder, he pulled her into him with each roll, until she was holding her breath between pants.

"Reth!

"

"You are mine, Elia,

" he said through his teeth, fighting for control as she writhed, and he pulled her ever closer.

"No matter what… no matter who might stand in the way… even in death, Love. Always mine.

" Breath shuddering, he laid his mouth on the mark on her neck and she tensed, crying out, her skin pebbling under his lips, and washing down her body to the place where they joined.

He leaned back to watch her crack open, her voice high and keening, then, as she shook and twitched beneath him, her porcelain skin flushing and her breath sucking in. Her hand slapped as she grabbed at him, and arched again, pressing herself into him.

"Creator's Light, you're beautiful,

" he panted. He'd intended to slow down, to give her time, see if he could wring another climax from her.

But as she returned to herself, she cried,

"Oh, Reth!

" and pulled herself up, to lay her mouth at his throat, her tongue flashing out against his skin and he grunted as his body responded.

"Mine,

" she said against the tensed cord of his neck and his body jerked, pulling into her, deeper.

"Mine,

" she whispered with her lips on his Adam's apple. He groaned.

"Only mine,

" she gasped, then licked his throat.

Reth's control shredded. With a snarling call, he pulled her to his chest and she could do nothing but cling as he unleashed.

He lost all sense of time or direction.

He was a compass, and she was north.

He roared as his body sought her again, and again, again.

She cried out, riding the wave—again—with him this time, calling his name, her face buried in his neck, her arms latched around his neck and pulling herself in so no space existed between their skins.

Or their souls.

As Reth tumbled over the edge, calling her name, something inside him unlocked.

And in response, a piece of her heart, a flash of light and heat, that spiraled and whipped out of her, leaped to find his.

As they both drew breath again, that piece of her looped around a piece of his, and pulled it back, into her.

When he collapsed over her, still shivering, his skin alive, their pieces rested together, locked.

Forever.

And as he realized what had happened, he threw a silent prayer of thanks to the Creator for the miracle of love.

*****

ELIA

She lay there, gasping, frantic and sated, all at once. Reth groaned and moved like he would roll off of her, but she whimpered,

"No!

" and held him there, over her.

"Elia, love, are you okay?

"

"Don't move, please, Reth. Stay here. With me. Just like this.

" She hugged him tight, even wrapping her legs around his back and locking him in. He rumbled in his chest, a sound she loved. Tears threatened, but she swallowed them back.

Something had happened. She didn't know what. But something within her had shifted and for now all she needed was him. To be close, to listen to him breathe.

And somehow he found a way to come closer, to cover her, to close her head in his arms, his fingers in her hair. To rest his cheek against hers, and to breathe precious words in her ear.

"Elreth,

" he whispered, his voice a bare rasp. Then he dropped a kiss to her hair.

"What?

" Elia asked, unwilling to move.

"Elreth. That's what's we'll call her.

"

"Who?

"

"Our first cub. She will be a piece of each of us, so her name should reflect that.

" And he sighed happily, purring against her neck.

"Elreth.

"