Chapter 241 – Hope
Ella
Sinclair’s heartbeat thumps steadily beneath my ear as his hands move over my body, massaging away all the kinks in my overworked muscles. I’ve been fading in and out of consciousness for the last hour, floating in a very different kind of high than the one induced by ether. Sinclair tells me it’s not unusual for she-wolves to enter a heightened plane of consciousness amidst such an onslaught of pleasure, but I’m still getting used to the violent surge of endorphins holding my body captive.
I feel completely boneless in my mate’s arms and I really don’t want to move, but my stomach is growling and I can sense Rafe’s hunger through our bond. Sinclair senses this too, gently untangling our bodies so he can rise. I murmur in complaint and he kisses my hair, promising to return with food. I snuggle deeper into the plush bedding as his footsteps recede, still reveling over the information revealed in my most recent hypnosis session.
It’s not that I find the idea of chosen mates any less romantic or important than fated ones. In fact, in some ways I think chosen mates are more special because they derive from a love which transcends divine power.
No, I think Sinclair and I are simply so happy because this news confirms what we’ve both felt for some time now: that we were made for one another and nothing in this world can come between us now that we’ve found each other.
Of course it’s not merely comforting, it also bolsters our spirits in the face of the war ahead. When Sinclair returns from the kitchens carrying a tray piled high with my favorite foods, I confess just how profoundly the priests’ vision impacted me.
“I know it was meant to give me hope back then, but I think I needed to see it now too. I needed to know there’s a chance we can beat Damon – that we can be that happy.” I say softly, accepting a bite of strawberry from his hand. “I understand it’s only one possibility, but if we can figure out how to win this war then that beautiful family – that incredible future is somewhere in our cards… we just have to play the right ones.”
“I needed it too.” Sinclair admits, holding a cheese-laden cracker to my lips. I accept the bite and chew, but I’m surprised to hear my mate disclose such doubts. He’s always so confident and in control, and though it may seem counter-intuitive, it’s a comfort to know he worries about our future just as much as I do.
once I’ve swallowed
and Rafe are my
things which are so right it hurts… so much so that I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to go on if anything happened
hard for you to agree to let me go.”
my sweet mate within reach at all
grow even larger and more wonderful.” He sighs, reclining next to me and nibbling a piece of chocolate. “And if I’m being completely honest, it helped convince my wolf that finding your mother is the right move.” A wry canine grin flashes over his gorgeous features. “He doesn’t
the ironic statement is short-lived. “I wish you could come with me.” I share, gnawing on my
before now. I needed Sinclair to be entirely on board with the plan before wavering, because now that we’re on the same page the stakes aren’t simply about missing one another or safety
another strawberry. “The Goddess set all this in motion, and so far she hasn’t led us astray. Everything that has gone right has been part
promise I’ll do everything in my power to
for granted. You remember what the priests said? There
confirm, knowing Sinclair is only reminding me because he’s so
a bite of chicken now, but I ignore it, leaning past his hand to steal a kiss. He cradles my head as we melt into the intimate act, his tongue teasing the seam of my lips and delving into my mouth. He tastes me with languid ease, running
an intensity that goes beyond mere affection. “Do you want to
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FdD2soeZWKC5iw3HkO6AF0zrLweGasmq+FetERqvvHicQmHtfBksAANngZ2J9YtLPHUWo8VEn1o027FvYLZjNI+Kp+Oq0T+puLPcSj71RBcHxkCJU/c5pdkRP33xAY/fyo9B+efXajSrWi/zS1ylwnu3haM=
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