Our future. Her words wormed their way into his brain, his rationality fleeing.
“Munro, if you save them, I’ll become what you want.”
He gazed down into her eyes. “And what is that?”
“Your . . . immortal mate.”
The wolf’s expression somehow looked both crazed and cunning. “You’re offering yourself to me forever?”
Belong to the night? To the Lore?
To him.
Ren shivered, her mind racing for any alternative. Who will take care of Vanda if I go with him? Of course, if Ren didn’t go, Vanda and everyone else would die. Who will lead the circus? The circus was about to perish.
“Yes.” She swallowed. “That’s what I’m offering.”
He swiped a palm over his face. Glanced at the woods and back to her. “Make me a vow that even a carnie like you must keep, no matter what occurs in the future.”
Ren’s gaze flicked to Jacob. He and Björn and all the others had heard this exchange, were awaiting her next move.
She would make any sacrifice to keep her loved ones alive—even surrendering her humanity. She told Munro, “If you defeat these foes, I vow on the souls of my ancestors that I will be your mate forever.”
“Good lass.” Munro stepped closer and cupped the back of her head. “For you, Kereny, I’ll kill them all.” The wild lightning bolts reflected in his golden eyes as he leaned down. “Now, give me a taste of what I’ll be fighting for. . . .”
In the pouring rain, his warm lips met hers for the first time. She gasped into the kiss as the world spun, and his words echoed through her dazed mind.
The hands of gods.
SIXTEEN
If there was ever a prize to fight for, it was more of his mate’s breathless kiss, yet Munro couldn’t spare the time to enjoy it.
When he drew back, she looked thunderstruck.
His irrational decision to fight was a huge risk, but at least he had a chance of securing her cooperation through Quondam and while searching for a way to turn her immortal. He just needed to survive long enough.
His wavering had subsided. The fade must come at intervals. How long did he have before the next one hit him?
When the newlings burst from the tree line, Munro told her, “Doona move from this spot. I’ll keep them away from you and your hunters.”
Her gaze slid to the groom, who looked partly sick, partly determined.
Getting his head in the game, Munro faced the approaching threat: his Lykae brethren. He reminded himself that he’d never killed a newling, and history couldn’t be changed. This slate would be wiped clean as soon as he reached the gateway.
Each male had fangs and claws bared. They were going to come at him like a tornado of razor wire, as fast as the lightning bolts all around them.
But war was Munro’s vocation. Battle is what you do. And never was a wolf stronger than when protecting a mate.
As he struggled to concentrate on the task ahead, he stole a glance at his hands. They wavered once more, only now the fade had spread up his forearms.
This one’s goin’ to be close. . . .
Before Munro had turned from Ren, he’d shaken his head hard, his gaze growing focused.
He was going to battle without his beast. If he harnessed his body’s unspeakable power with his calculating mind, he’d be more terrifying than all the newlings.
But he was weak from his recent imprisonment and her knife attacks, and she counted another dozen in this wave. No way he could defeat so many.
Jacob limped to Ren’s side. “I never thought the wolf would fight his own kind. Maybe they’ll cancel each other out.”
Munro might . . . die. The ache in her chest shocked her. Munro MacRieve cannot be meant for me. A Lykae?
Jacob studied her face. “So matehood is real?”
Guilt swamped her. “I-I don’t know.” But how else could she explain her reaction to Munro’s kiss? She’d felt as if the entire universe had been distilled into that contact between them. As if gods had indeed touched them with a divine hand.
Seeming to read her mind, Jacob said, “We never kissed like that.”
“I’m sorry you had to see it. I want to talk to you about all this, but right now we must prepare to defend ourselves, just in case.” She addressed the hunters: “Regroup and make ready!” They mustered into place as Munro fearlessly charged to meet too many opponents.
She sensed Jacob’s eyes on her, but she couldn’t wrest hers from the wolf.
When he gave a brutal roar, several of the newlings stopped and howled at this unknown alpha. Four heedless others attacked him.
Munro moved like a flickering shadow in the storm. He swung, claws glinting. Two newling heads somersaulted through the air, and blood spurted. The bodies hadn’t even dropped before Munro turned to the next pair. He clawed at one’s throat while punching the other male’s face in, sending that Lykae flying.