land.
Peace washed over him, riding a gentle breeze stirring the air. When Ariel finished the magick chant, he opened his eyes. Jarrett smiled and pointed.
âLook.â
Amid the dead earth and dry grass, a small daisy struggled to grow. Arielâs face grew rapt. âItâs working, Jarrett.â
He couldnât help it. She looked so lovely, her eyes dancing with happiness. Jarrett leaned forward, framed her face with his hands and kissed her.
She kissed him back, a deep kiss filled with intent.
He tumbled with her downward to the blanket, in the middle of the meadow no longer tainted with blood and sorrow and guilt. The rotting stench was gone, replaced by the sweet smell of fresh air and pine from the nearby forest.
Joy shot through him. He felt free and unburdened, his heavily muscled body as light as a Faeâs.
They undressed, but when she went to lie down, he shook his head.
âYouâre on top this time.â
Surprise flickered on her face. âWhy?â
âBecause this isnât just a mating. Itâs a partnership.â He gathered her small hands into his and kissed them. âYouâre part of me now, Ariel, part of my heart.â
He lay flat on his back, watching with hooded eyes as she straddled him. Ariel clasped his penis and stroked the hardness. A droplet of moisture wept from the tip. She brought it to her mouth and tasted it with a small smile.
A low moan escaped him. She was going to kill him.
With pleasure.
Then Ariel sank onto him, and rose up. His hands on her slender hips, he surged upward, aiding her, but letting her set the pace. Her eyes closed, her palms flat against his chest, she looked delicious as a fresh peach. Rosy color inflamed her delicate cheeks, flushed her pale body. Wind lifted and teased the dark auburn curls tumbling down to her backside.
It felt right and whole, being here with her, being one with her. His love, his heart, who had saved him in the dark cave.
Power hummed inside him, the wolf running wild and free. He felt his body tighten and held onto his control, until he felt her inner muscles quiver with her impending release.
Now. Jarrett slammed upward as she fell down, their bodies slapping together, his arms wound tight around her, hugging her to his chest. They climaxed together, sparks from her aura igniting the cool air in a burst of colors. She laughed, the sound musical and sweet, filling him with joy.
Slowly they untangled, sharing their body heat as they lay in each otherâs arms. Ariel gave a drowsy smile.
âI think we did it.â
Jarrettâs heart pounded hard. âYouâre sure?â
âI felt it. Those sparks afterward, the blue ones? Theyâre a sign of new life.â
Emotion clogged his throat. He did not shove it down, but let it be. Jarrett felt his eyes fill with tears. A new beginning. More than heâd ever hoped for, or deserved.
You do deserve it, my love .
The ethereal voice floated on the wind. He turned his head, tracking it, and saw Chloe, transparent and shimmering with light. She stood a little ways off, smiling her gentle smile, clutching the hand of a small child.
âBe happy,â she whispered.
Then they became fainter, and vanished like mist under the hot sun.
He felt a thumb wipe away the salt water trickling down his cheek. Ariel smiled at him and pulled him upward.
âLetâs return to our cabin. I canât wait to tell everyone.â
Jarrett took her soft hand as they walked through the meadow that had known only blood and death, and had now given life. He walked toward their future as baby-blue sparks danced in the air around them.
He did not look back.
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If you enjoyed this story, donât miss these other titles in Bonnie Vanakâs The Ancients series, available now wherever ebooks are sold from Harlequin Nocturne Cravings:
Mated to the Wolf
Hunted by the Jaguar
Bitten by the Vampire
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Donât miss the other