watched as it shot up the dark mountainside, seeking her out like his own personal missile.
Â
Â
Â
Anna stood on the deck of the main lodge, staring at the stars overhead. It was a perfectly clear night that seemed perfectly designed to illuminate her heartbreak. From deep within the woods below sheâd almost imagined the sound of Nevinâs cry for her, but she knew her heart was only imagining what it wanted to hear.
The sound came again, more plaintive, desperate. Needy. She leaned over the railing, listening intently; silence was her only answer.
Tears stung her eyes, blurring her vision, and she blinked at them hopelessly. Of course Nevin wouldnât lay claim to their bond now that they were back in the compound. Of course he would return to the man sheâd always known before, so controlled and unemotional. The only surprise at all was that Anna hadnât anticipated his behavior.
Lifting a hand to wipe away her tears, she spotted an eerie light down below the deck. The woods glowed unnaturally, as if some powerful energized being were moving through the area. Anna tensed, clutching at the railing, and tried to get a better view. Perhaps itâs our commander, moving through the woods in his natural form , she thought. Yes, that has to be it.
She shuddered. Or maybe itâs one of our enemies, probing us.
Reaching carefully, she found her pulse pistol holstered at her hip. Her fingers twitched, but she didnât make a move for fear that sheâd alert this beingâwhoever it wasâto her presence.
The glowing intensified, moving up the mountain rapidlyâand aiming right for her. âAnna,â she heard whispered through the dense trees. âAnnaâ¦â
Before she could blink, the orb of brilliant energy made a beeline for her, seeking her out with intense purpose. âAnna,â came Nevinâs whisper again, from deep within the energy sphere. His power was so blinding, she could barely keep her eyes open.
She sensed his invitation, his pure desire to have her touch this part of himself. Glancing all about them, she searched for him. âWhere are you?â she muttered aloud, her gaze sweeping the side of the main lodge.
âRight here,â came his throaty, emotional reply from just behind her. She jolted, and he caught her from behind, clasping her shoulders with firm, staying hands.
âYour energy?â She squinted, trying to gaze at it in the pure darkness. Up close like this, it was absolutely blinding.
âIt was the only way I could think to find you.â
âYou sent it after me? Like a homing beacon?â
He pressed his lips against the top of her head, blowing out a heavy breath. âYouâre my lifemate. My energy reacts to that, feels it. But that wasnât the only thing.â He wrapped his muscular arms about her waist, pinning her against him. âI wanted to reveal my energy to youâ¦intimately. Sensually, not like the other times when we were stranded. This is the most vulnerable part of me.â
Tears brimmed in her eyes anew. From the very beginning between them, their respective energies had been a staging area, a line neither would cross willingly.
She forced her eyes open, leaning back against his chest. âHow could All have ever made something so incredibly beautiful?â she whispered.
âTouch it.â
âI-I canât.â
âI would never hurt you, Anna,â he promised, pressing his lips against her ear. âNot intentionally. That I hurt you earlier, well, itâs torn me up inside. But with my touch? With my energy? No, I will never hurt you. Never .â
Extending both hands, she placed her palms around the undulating sphere; at that precise moment, her lifemateâs very energy shot deep within her, setting her entire body afire. She began to quaver, feeling her legs grow wobbly, but he anchored her against his chest. After a moment, she began to