Under His Wings(69)

“Hold on, sweetheart,” he begged. “Hold on for me. I can’t lose you when I’ve just found you.”

His wings broke free from his skin and Nicolai shot into the sky.





Chapter Eleven



Tamar swam to a warm light that hovered above the abyss of unconsciousness. She hurled herself toward it, desperate to escape the dark.

Her lungs expanded with a hard gasp as she jerked her eyes open. Her gaze darted about her surroundings. A wide, bare window, weak moonlight streaming through. Walls of wooden logs. A fireplace.

Memories flooded back, washing away the initial fogginess.

The cabin. She was in the safe house.

Safe, apparently.

She shifted, groaned at the stiffness that permeated her body. Damn, had she been beaten with a stick?

Another deluge of memories roared through her head.

The woods. Evander. Nicolai. Battle.

Transformation.

Flying.

“Oh God, was I dreaming?” she whispered, throwing back the bedcovers and yanking her shirt up her torso. Wonder and disbelief rolled through her. A flat, shiny scar under her breast.

“No, you weren’t dreaming,” a low, familiar and adored voice spoke up from the corner of the bedroom.

Nicolai pushed off the wall where he’d been leaning, watching. Pleasure suffused her. He’d been standing guard, always protecting her. His confident, long strides carried him to the bed in seconds. She stared up into his handsome, sensual face, unable to tear her gaze away.

God, he was beautiful. And alive. She smiled even as tears stung her eyes. Alive. And so was she.

Tamar lunged from the mattress, heedless of the protest her aching muscles set up. His arms snatched her out of the air, dragging her against his chest, holding her close. His heather-and-wind scent filled her nostrils. His breath brushed her cheek.

“Oh baby,” he murmured. “I’m so damn glad to see your eyes open.”

His mouth crushed hers.

With a moan of desire and happiness, Tamar squeezed his neck in her tight embrace. Her lips parted and his tongue surged forward, tangling with hers. It was a kiss of assurance, of delight, of life. When he drew back and peppered her face and chin with short pecks, she sighed and tilted her head back to the tender kisses like a flower turning its petals to the healing sun.

He buried his face in her neck, his warm, rapid pants bathing her skin.

“You chose me,” he said, the words muffled.

“Yes.” She smiled. “Yes, I did.”

“You were so gorgeous.” He lifted his head and swept a trembling hand over her hair, pushing the strands away from her cheeks. His palms cradled her head as he studied her, peered down into her eyes. “My little warrior.”

Her heart melted like butter. Just melted into a golden puddle. “Not so little, it turns out.” She grinned, thinking of her hippogryph beast. Wow, what a damn kick in the pants. “I flew, Nico,” she said as if he hadn’t been there. Awe swelled inside her, filling her chest. Maybe her fear of the dark hadn’t been conquered, but she’d flown again. Instead of inside a plane she’d soared through the sky with her own wings.

“She is as beautiful as you are in human form,” he praised, his silken tone caressing the walls of her mind.

Her lashes lowered in pleasure, but then shot up. “So I wasn’t going crazy,” she accused. “You can speak to me telepathically.” All those times while they made love she’d believed she imagined his voice inside her head. But it had been real.

“You didn’t know?” he asked, aiming for innocence but falling far short of the mark.

“You know I didn’t know,” she said, smacking his shoulder. Then kissed the same spot. She sobered. “For a minute there I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“Think how I felt finding you squaring off with Evander.” A rumble like an impending thunderstorm vibrated against her chest. “I wanted to drag you off and kill the bastard both at the same time.”

“But you let me stand with you,” she murmured. He’d treated her as an equal, let her face their enemy together instead of cosseting her.

I don’t want to trap you or imprison you in some gilded cage. But I want you to live.

His vow filtered through her mind. Nicolai would always protect her, but he would never strangle her spirit. He wanted a warrior, a partner…a mate.

“I’m so proud,” he said. The hoarse words stroked her skin and she shivered under their touch. “And I love you so much. So much,” he whispered, pressing his lips to hers, to her forehead. “I’ll let you go like I promised. But I’m asking you to keep me.” He brushed a knuckle down her cheek, whisked the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. “I can’t imagine a life without you by my side.”