Marceline coughed and choked as her eyes rolled back in her head briefly.She’s marked, Sire—one of us.
It was those words.Hearing the sincerity and Marceline’s words caused him to loosen his fingers and let her go.They were all leaders and understood the deepest desire they each carried: to find their mate.Amaros could see the hope shining in his friend's gaze even as the dark-purple bruises, like the color of the night sky, began to fade slowly.
He forced himself to exhale.Even as he stepped back, he kept his body stiff and ready to pounce again if needed.
“She is mine,” he declared, his voice just shy of the anger he’d felt moments before.
He took two more steps back to resist the urge to lash out again.
Marceline rubbed her neck and swallowed a few times as she nodded, understanding.“How did the marked one come to be here?”Her voice was raspy.
“The short answer is I found her in Daniel’s Mouth ill and brought her here.” He shoved his hands deep in his pockets.
“The cave?”She frowned, her voice a little less hoarse, evidence of her age and how quickly she healed.“How did she get there?”
“That I don’t know.”
She sniffed, but instead of looking for answers in the air, she leaned towards him.“She’s marked, but I don’t smell the human sickness in her.”
He shrugged.“It was evident she had been traveling a long time, and she was hungry and thirsty.She didn’t look well.”Amaros knew he was not telling Marceline the whole story, but he was the leader, and it was his prerogative to share any news how he saw fit.Right now, he wanted to keep the details of his family a secret.
They would all know soon enough.
“Did she say anything?”
“No.I’m sure I’ll learn more once she awakens.”
She stepped away from the wall and squared her shoulders.Marceline may understand that he was the head of this coven, but she was a fighter and never a coward.“May I see her, Amaros?”
His fingers flexed in his pocket.He wanted to tell her no, but he rolled his shoulders back to ease some tension there.Marceline was already in the room, so denying her didn’t make much sense.He gave a sharp nod.
Turning, he led the way back across the room to the bed.He paused at the foot of the bed, not wanting to take her any closer.
Marceline stood beside him, momentarily quiet, observing Michaela’s still form.Her chest expanded, then lowered with a sigh.
“Were you able to get her name before you began the process of changing her?”
“Michaela,” he whispered, enjoying the remembered taste of not only her blood but her skin as well.
“She is lovely.”Marceline turned and faced him.“Congratulations.Once she is ready, we all must celebrate.I will organize one of my famous balls.It has been a while.”
“They’re legendary.I’m sure it will be grand," he offered as a consolation.He was the leader, and strength and power were necessary, so he would not and could not apologize.She would know this.
After a slight nod, she moved toward the door.“I will ensure your privacy over the next few days.”
“Maeve shall continue to bring blood.But tell her to knock once and leave it.”He directed as he followed his Vice to the door.
“I will do as instructed.”In a blink, she had the door open and was gone.
Amaros did what he should have done when he brought Michaela in; he placed a shield on the door and windows to ensure no one else entered without his permission.
With that done, he returned to the bed.This time, he stretched out beside his mate.He wanted to pull her into his arms but didn’t.Instead, he satisfied himself by cupping her cheek and gently turning her face toward him.It shocked him how much joy he derived from staring at her face, taking in her beauty.It brought him peace that struck into a hidden place in his core.
He allowed himself a moment of rest as he caressed the dove-soft skin of her cheek with his thumb.Mine.
~YH~
Damn, he smells so good.
