KALLE

Did he just say True Mates? About her? He just said True Mates. But he didn't mean it, right? He was just using that as an example.

But the tortured look that crossed his face when he realized what he'd said, the way he closed his eyes and seemed to brace, like he was waiting for her to be the one to pull away. His broad shoulders tensed, that hard line of his jaw began to flex like he gritted his teeth against pain.

Like he was embarrassed.

What the hell was happening?

What the hell had the Anima done to him? Why didn't he see his own beauty? How the hell did he see hers?

"Gahrye,

" she whispered.

He met her eyes and she blinked at everything revealed there—heat, desire, fear, and something dark that she couldn't put her finger on. Something that tortured him. It was instinct to touch him, to try to soothe that… whatever it was. She reached out for him, put a hand to his arm and he shuddered. But she didn't pull away.

He looked down at her other hand hooked around his arm for several seconds, and his throat bobbed, then he looked back up at her again, his eyes locking on hers, a fierce light in them that stole her breath. And it was as if he'd made a decision.

He turned towards her, standing closer until their faces were only inches apart, and all hints of his embarrassment and uncertainty were gone.

"Do you know what happened to me today?

" he rasped.

She shook her head.

"I thought I was going to die. Elia lost control of the beast for a moment and it stalked me. It… pounced.

"

Kalle was sickened by the spear of fear that shot through her at that mental image and her hand tightened on him.

He shook his head.

"I had seconds, I thought. And the only thing I could think—the only thing I could feel—was pure rage that I'd never gotten to touch you. I'd never gotten to kiss you. That I hadn't told you…

" he trailed off.

Kalle didn't breathe. Did he mean…?

"Hadn't told me what?

"

He took a big, deep, slow breath.

"Kalle, the first time I saw you, I knew. You're mine. You're supposed to be mine. I don't know how it works in this world, but in mine—

"

Sucking in a harsh breath, she threw herself at him, letting the blanket drop, she took his mouth, fell into his broad chest, and took his gorgeous face in her hands.

He sucked in too, but he didn't flinch—as soon as their lips touched Gahrye made a gorgeous, resonant groan in his chest and pulled her in, his steel arms wrapping around her, one hand sliding up her spine to bury his fingers in her hair and hold her there.

Her skin pebbled everywhere he touched her and her breath became shallow and fast. Her body came alive. And so did he.

With another gorgeous huff in his throat, he swept her up, leaning back until she wrapped her legs around him.

Then, when he dropped his head back with a tormented groan, she kissed his neck and let herself shiver at the call he made, the groaning huff that vibrated in her belly and set her alight. Then, one of his hands at her back, the other cupping her thigh, his hand so large he could span it, fingers and thumb on either side and hold her, he tilted his head and took her mouth, deepening the kiss until Kalle could feel it in her toes.

His breath heaved, and he made a small moan of protest, but he didn't let her go. Didn't stop kissing her, and internally Kalle celebrated. She wasn't sure what this was going to mean, wasn't sure how she could suddenly be so certain about him… but she was.

Deep inside, she was rock solid. This was the man the Creator had made for her. How was that possible?

She pulled back, holding his face, staring at him, stunned.

"What?

" he asked, a thread of fear in his tone.

"I just… is this how it is for Anima? You meet someone and it's just… it's all there?

"

"Not always, but sometimes,

" he said, his fingers stroking the back of her thigh.

"When they're your True Heart's Call.

"

"True heart's call,

" she repeated, then bit her lip, smiling.

"That's… that's beautiful.

"

"You're beautiful.

"

She couldn't help it. She kissed him again. Desperately.

True Heart's Call. That's what this was. And come hell or high water she wasn't going to let anything like a stupid curse keep her away from him.

She kept her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, her breath ratcheting up. His hands were warm and sure. He was so strong holding her up, taking her weight, groaning as he stroked the back of her thigh.

Then with a heavy sigh, he kissed his way along her jaw and down her neck, holding her tightly, his lips soft, then his teeth even softer and Kalle whimpered.

Gahrye shuddered and clung to her, suddenly not kissing, not… anything. Just holding her. His face buried in her neck.

And he shook. From head to toe, he shook.

"Gahrye, what's wrong?

" she asked in a voice too high and thin. But he just clung. She held him tightly. Or rather, clung to him as he held her.

"Please… talk to me. This is impossible, but it's real and… let me help you, please,

" she whispered.

Then he pulled his face out of her neck and his eyes were shining in the sliver of light she could see.

"I've dreamed about this my whole life,

" he rasped.

"About holding you and having you hold me back. Wanting to hold me. I just… I can't… I'm just so grateful.

"

It should have sounded weak. She should have been skeptical, or thought he was desperate. But his words rang with pure truth and tears pinched the back of her eyes and narrowed her throat.

"You're so… good,

" she whispered and kissed him.

He shook his head and clung to her again.

"If I was good I wouldn't be doing this,

" he said plainly.

"I'd be back at the house and watching over Elia. But I can't, Kalle. I can't stay away from you. And I don't know what that means for me. With what the voices said—

"

"We'll work it out,

" she said.

"Just relax. We'll… we'll figure it out. Because I don't want to let go of you either.

"

He groaned that call again, and she took his face in her hands and kissed him as if it was the last thing she'd ever do.

****

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