“The Therian must come with me.” Melisande snapped. “He knows the truth.”
Kougar shook his head dismissively. “He’s practically bound. I can feel the mating bond that all but links them. Once the ritual is complete, the bond will be unbreakable, and he’ll be unable to betray her. Your secret will remain safe.”
“How dare you interfere! They must die.”
“No.”
Melisande’s expression turned to fury. “I must at least return with the moonstone!”
“The moonstone will ensure that Julianne doesn’t turn to mist and give you away. Your bitch of a queen can do without it.” Kougar took a threatening step toward the far smaller woman. “Go, Melisande. The threat to your race has been nullified. Your job here is done.”
Melisande turned to Julianne, shooting her a killing look. “If you ever betray us…”
Zeeland tightened his hold on Julianne even as he turned, putting himself between them. “Get the hell out of here.”
With a shout of pure fury, Melisande threw her hands outward, rattling the furniture in a fine show of temper, then disappeared in a rush of cool, pine-scented air.
For several moments no one else moved. Finally, Zeeland relaxed his hold on Julianne, but his gaze remained fixed on the spot where Melisande had stood, not trusting she wouldn’t reappear.
Julianne stepped in front of him where she could see his face. “Are you okay?” The softness in her eyes filled his heart, and he pulled her into his arms and held her tight.
Julianne pulled back enough to turn to Kougar. “She killed my parents.”
Kougar met Julianne’s gaze with cold, expressionless eyes. But his voice was not unkind when he answered. “Your parents were unmated. Unbound.” His gaze flicked to Zeeland’s. “You must bind yourselves to one another immediately. Your knowledge is a threat they will not allow.”
As Kougar turned toward the door, Zeeland released Julianne and followed.
“Kougar. You’ve known the Ilinas still existed all along.”
Kougar didn’t turn around. “Yes.”
“Why do they let you live?”
The Feral glanced over his shoulder, meeting his gaze with cold eyes, then turned and left without replying.
Zeeland stared after him, then shook his head and turned back to Julianne.
She watched him with pensive, uncertain eyes.
His heart expanded until it ached in his chest. She was so beautiful. So precious to him.
He went to her and pulled her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. “You’re sure you’re all right?”
Her arms slipped around him, and she clung to him. “Yes.”
“Me, too, though I’ll be better once we’re mated.”
She pulled back to look up at him, an aching sadness in her eyes.
“Zee…I hate that you’re being forced to take me as your mate.”
“I’m being forced into nothing.”
“You never intended to bind yourself to me.”
He smiled. “Not true. I think I knew from the start you were going to be mine someday. I tried to fight my fate, probably because I’d spent a century believing I never wanted to be bound to another. But I was wrong, Sunshine. I spent a century alone and lonely. This past decade without you, I’ve been miserable. Only with you have I ever been happy. Have I truly felt alive.”
Tears gathered in her eyes. “I love you, Zeeland. With all my heart, I love you.”
He took her face in his hands and kissed her, tasting her tears. And her joy. And feeling his heart burst in his chest, overflowing with a love that would not be contained.
“I love you, Julianne. Be my mate and my companion for all eternity.”
“Yes, Zee. A thousand times yes.”
He pulled back and grabbed her hand. “Come on. We’ll go downstairs and do it right now, in the middle of the party.” A grin spread over his face. “That should get the festivities popping.”
Julianne laughed, a sweet, musical sound that sang through his veins and made him feel like he was the one floating this time.
“Are we really going to marry on Valentine’s Day?”
He stroked her cheek and smiled with all the love in his heart. “Can you think of a better time?”
“No. It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”
He kissed her again. “As are you, my beautiful Julianne. Perfect.”
About Pamela Palmer
When PAMELA PALMER’s initial career goal of captaining starships didn’t pan out, she turned to engineering, satisfying her desire for adventure with books and daydreams until finally succumbing to the need to write stories of her own. Pamela lives and writes in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Please visit her on the web at www.pamelapalmer.net.