However FJ is confident: “She is our mother, Olafr. She would know you anywhere and in any form.”
And indeed he is right. Their mother falls into Olafr’s arms, squeezing her youngest boy tight as she cries, “Olafr! Olafr! I can’t believe it!”
“Yes, is it me, Mama,” Olafr answers slowly in her tongue.
At his words does their mother begin sobbing. For so long, it occurs to FJ his mate might not have been the only one who believed his brother was bound to his wolf by litthyggiandi rather than choice.
And perhaps Olafr and his father realize it, too. Despite being watched by the many gathered on the shore, they let Chloe cry into Olafr’s chest for as long as she wishes. Seemingly uncaring if it makes them seem weak with emotion before battle.
Yet watching their mother cry once more brings to his mind the image of their mate. Tears, which she didn’t even shed when her pack did burn her with its mark, falling wildly from her eyes as she begged them to take her with them.
“I can’t!” she’d screamed at them. “I can’t do this life without you. I love you so much. Please!”
FJ almost wished he had managed to keep his heart hardened against her. For leaving her behind in that state was more difficult even than slaying his first dragon—as their mate did call their serpent enemy.
Perhaps reading his brother’s emotions, Olafr says over their mind link. “Go now and show the other warriors the swords. I will tell our mother and father of Myrna.”
FJ begins to shake his head. “I can—”
“You told our crying she-wolf of our leaving while I stood by, dumb with grief.” Olafr’s face sets above his mother’s head, as if he, too, is reliving the memory as a nightmare. “Let me bear this burden for us both, Brother.”
FJ nods. Not because he agrees with Olafr, but because he understands his brother’s feelings. And he understands the pain of delivering the news of their lost sister to their parents might be the only thing large enough to distract them from the pain of leaving their she-wolf.
His father has gathered many wolves, but the serpents have their warriors, too, and none know their real number since they’ve been attacking gated villages throughout the land, mayhap as one force but possibly as several. However, FJ refuses to think of a scenario in which he and Olafr do not keep their promise to return to their sobbing she-wolf.
“You will tell Mother and Father of Myrna,” FJ agrees. “Then will we rid our lands of the serpent scourge. And then we will return to our queen, never to leave her side again.”
Though it was made with ink not fire, FJ swears he can feel their she-wolf’s mark burning upon his shoulder as he says, “Hers always.”
And he has no doubt Olafr’s mark blazes much the same as he repeats, “Hers always.” Voice just as earnest.
Thus does FJ go to re-arm their father’s army, knowing he and Olafr will either die in this coming battle or live to find their way back to their she-wolf.
There can be no inbetween.

47
“We will come back to you, Varra. Only death will keep us from returning.”
Only death…I spend a lot of time hating FJ and Olafr in the weeks after they leave. Hating my father and brother for not telling me the full extent of their agreement. And then holding me back as they walked out of my suite. Out of my life.#p#分页标题#e#
Apparently that had been part of the agreement. FJ would marry me. Give over his fortune. Then leave me here under the protection of my father, who’d in return sworn to never force me to marry Kyle or any other.
I still can’t believe they did this. Claimed me, only to leave me. Saying what Alisha referred to as “a separation spell.” A reversal incantation that, if uttered by either fated mate, would return both fated mates to their respective times. Back on New Years Day, a day that now seems so very long ago now, I would have invoked the spell myself if I’d known of it. No questions asked. Anything to get out of the weird triangle FJ was proposing.
But it hadn’t worked out that way. They’d claimed me. Not just my body, but my heart. Then they left. And now I hated them.
Hated them with a sickly longing that made me feel like I was also coming down from a drug addiction, and not just mourning the loss of my mates.
I’d heard about how bad the mate bond can hurt when severed. Mainly from Alisha who, despite being the one who ran away from her own fated mate, had missed Rafe every single day they were apart.
But I didn’t realize how bad it could get until the longing became a desperate and permanent ache inside of me. One that wouldn’t let me sleep until I reached under the covers and desperately fingered myself, thinking of their faces, their mouths, their hands on me until I climaxed.