YOU ARE AMAZING! Thank you! At the time of writing (24 hours into the new Golden Rankings) Reth & Elia are 7th overall, and you have already earned 2 chapters for the 1 September Mass Release! I better get writing, lol! I wish you could all see my face. Your willingness to give these rewards to my book(s) is truly touching. Thank you. Whether it is 1 ticket, or 20, I am grateful for you! *Insert squeezy hug here*

*****

LERRIN

Suhle tilted her head and traced his tongue with hers, and Lerrin instinctively made the call—a resonant, groaning huff he'd only ever heard his father make for his mother when he was a pup, that claimed her as his and spoke of his desire.

But it wasn't enough.

Something within him reached for her—through his skin, within his blood—it spun and stretched, reaching for her as if she was the answer to the only question left in the world.

Then she backed into the bed and their progress stopped. Lerrin straightened to meet her eyes, fear and hope warring in his chest.

She stared at him wide-eyed.

He was about to speak, to reassure her, but she shook her head and took a deep breath, then took her hands from him to put them to the laces at her throat and slowly, with trembling fingers, began untying the bow there, pulling the fabric free of the laces until the two sides of the fabric fell aside, baring the space between her breasts, and she let her hands drop back to his hips.

Lerrin looked at the smooth skin there, the hint of the swell on either side, and the call broke from him again. With a searching look at her to make sure she as okay, he raised one hand, put one finger to her skin, to slide the fabric aside and bare one breast, one perfect round, already peaked and aching for his touch.

"Suhle.

" He whispered her name like a prayer.

She closed her eyes and leaned back into his other hand, still at her lower back, as he dropped his chin, took that peak in his mouth and sucked gently.

She gasped and one of her hands clapped to the back of his neck.

He growled with pleasure when she pressed herself into him harder and she gasped again, her body beginning to writhe.

Unable to resist, he nuzzled the fabric aside to bare the other breast, and as her breathing got louder, he kissed and sucked, laving her nipple with his tongue, tasting her sweetness.

Then he bent her back, towards the bed.

At first she went willingly, arching back, gripping his neck, clawing at his back, her breathing fast and shallow, her body rolling with the ache, the need to get closer.

Lerrin sent up a silent prayer that she wasn't afraid—and the plea that she would not become so.

But as he moved his kiss back to the first breast, then began to kiss his way up, he felt her tense.

The temptation was there to press, to comfort and reassure, to show her that she would be safe to continue. But he knew he couldn't risk it, so he stopped immediately, lifting his head and beginning to back away so she would feel safe to move.

But she held onto him and stopped him from leaving her. Lerrin held his breath. Perhaps she did not want to stop? Only to… breathe for a moment?

What is it? he sent. Tell me what frightened you and I will ensure never to do it again.

No, I'm not frightened, she replied. And then he realized he hadn't been paying attention to her scent—her scent full of love and conviction, and joy, and… grief.

He combed her hair back from her face with his fingers. What do you grieve?

I grieve that we cannot do this now, she sent sadly.

The tiny ball of hope in Lerrin's chest shriveled.

Suhle swallowed, her breathing still very fast. We cannot risk this now, Lerrin. Ours scents will entwine. With you leaving—they'll know as soon as they scent us. If we complete the bond, they'll all know. They'll… they'll use me against you. Pressure you to their ends.

The Cat will never scent me—or you, he growled in her head. There will not be time for them to find you—

No, not Reth, she sent. The males here. This… group, this faction. If they learn that we are True Mates, they will use me to put pressure on you. We cannot give them that leverage on you, Lerrin. We can't.

He huffed his displeasure. He knew strategically she was correct. But he did not want to wait!

For a moment, his fingers tightened in her hair. He wanted to fight. Wanted to argue. But she reached a hand up and stroked his face.

When this is done. When you are in your place among the tribes, I will still be here, Lerrin. I will not let them use me as a weapon against you.

Then she let him feel her through the link—love, desire, and a fierce desire to protect.

A tiny whimper broke in his throat and he leaned closer to her, threatening to kiss her again, but she smiled.

Imagine it, she thought to him. Imagine how it will be, when we are at peace and in it together. Imagine it, Lerrin. It will be the best day of my life.

His throat suddenly pinched until he was forced to swallow to clear it.

I imagine more than that, he sent. I imagine walking the Flames and Smoke with you. I imagine a den of our own, and pups, and… Suhle, I imagine you. I have always seen that picture in my mind for myself. But now I see it for you. With you. Promise me you will wait. Promise me you will stay safe and welcome me home. Promise me.

A heavy breath rushed from her and she pulled him into a kiss, but differently this time—sweet and yearning and… a promise.

"I love you,

" he whispered, shivering with the overwhelming emotion of it all.

"And I love you,

" she whispered back, her hands at his face. Then the first shadow flitted across her eyes and he pulled her in tighter.

"I pray we will have all of the future, Lerrin. Please. You must try for peace. You must. If you fight… I fear I will lose you forever.

"

He tensed, but put his forehead to hers.

"I will think on it,

" he said reluctantly.

"I will promise you this: If the Creator brings me into the presence of the cat as he did once before, where talk is possible, I will speak with him before I kill him. I will seek peace first.

"

Her eyes closed and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him to her.

Thank you, she sent. Thank you.

**** YOUR POWER (and a Mass Release!) ****

The new Golden Ticket system is designed to put the power into the hands of paying reader.

IF YOU GIFT: Your small gifts do NOT earn Golden Tickets. If you regularly GIFT 20-25 coins per day, the book will benefit more if you only gift once or twice a month in one lump sum (You have to spend 500 coins in a single gift for the book to be assigned a Golden Ticket. If the gift is worth 1000-5000 coins, the book will receive a ticket for every 300 coins.)

THANK YOU for all your encouragement and support of me. No matter what happens with this new system, I am so touched by all your messages and desires for me to succeed. Keep unlocking chapters and buying privilege--for every 50 Golden Tickets I will add a chapter to the mass release on 1 September to say THANK YOU!