“Just give me your leave,” Ronan replied. “Jenner is more than capable to protect you until I come back.”
Mikhail scoffed. “Your ego’s grown since your transition. I want you at my side, Ronan, but I don’t need you to protect me.”
A spark of amusement lit the male’s eyes. “Not now that you have her,” Ronan said with a nod toward Claire. “Because I have no doubt she’d gut even the fiercest creature that sought to do you harm.”
She leaned into his touch as Mikhail brushed his thumb along her jaw. “He’s right, you know,” she said. “Anyone who wants you is going to have to go through me.”
As if he’d ever allow her to put herself in the path of danger. “Go,” he said to Ronan without making eye contact. “With my blessing. Good luck. And if you need help…”
“I know. Thanks. And Claire,” Ronan added, “you’re a serious badass now. Don’t let all of that power go to your head.”#p#分页标题#e#
The door closed to signal Ronan’s exit, but Mikhail couldn’t be persuaded to look away from his mate.
“He’s right,” Claire said. Her gaze flashed with liquid gold, the most beautiful thing Mikhail had ever seen. “I felt the truth in it. What does it mean, Mikhail?”
So much uncertainty. He wanted to reassure her. To make Claire believe that everything would be all right. “I don’t know, love. But I do know that whatever happens from this day on, we’ll face it together.”
“I could be more trouble than I’m worth, you know.” Claire kissed his temple and his cheek, took his earlobe between her lips, and sucked. “I mean, I am a reformed hustler and pickpocket. And not only that, I can’t even seem to be a proper vampire.”
Her hand wandered down to the fly of his pants and Mikhail swallowed a groan. “You were born to be a vampire.” He cupped her cheek, seized her mouth in a tender kiss. “And with any luck, our son will take after his mother.”
“Oh no.” Claire leaned in, dragged her open mouth over his throat. Her fangs scraped against flesh. “He’s going to take after his father. Brave.” She flicked out with her tongue at his jugular. “Strong.” Gentle suction tugged at his skin and he shuddered in anticipation of her bite. “A force to be reckoned with.” She bit down and Mikhail’s hips bucked as he ground his throbbing erection against her ass.
The bliss of feeding his mate was short-lived, however, as Claire sealed the punctures with her tongue. “That night in my apartment, you said that I would fall in love with you.”
“I did.”
“You were right, Mikhail.”
“Our souls are tethered, love. Irrevocably braided into a single thread.”
A surge of raw energy traveled through their bond from Claire into Mikhail. So much power. He reveled in it. Marveled at the strength of it. Of this female in his arms. For so long his soul had been lost and he had wandered the earth lonely, empty, untethered. But because of the wonderful, beautiful, perfect female he was whole. Complete.
“I love you, Mikhail.” Gold light sparked in her eyes, shining with emotion.
“I will love you always, Claire. Forever.”
And tonight was the first night of an eternity that he would spend proving it to her.