Chapter 19: Chapter 19

SILVER

~“Eat.”~ I proudly step back. The deer I have caught and killed for my little champions is ripe, fat, and meaty.

Zoraul and Rawk step forward with raised claws, watching me warily as I step back again. ~“Go on, eat. You saved the whole camp, little ones. I’m so proud of you two.”~

I change back to my human form, and my feet sink into the grass as they accept my kill…and then I avert my pained and overwhelmed eyes to see a puddle of mud.

I trudge my way over and sit in it, picking up the mud with my hands and spreading it on my legs.

The river is close, so I know I’ll be able to wash off soon anyway.

Rawk and Zoraul feast, but not too ravenously. I see them sharing bits of the best meat and thanking each other with kisses of fire.

Cute.

“Pipsqueak?” My heart jumps a mile when I hear Storm growl my name.

“Storm?” I look over my shoulder, and I see him standing just behind a tree’s shadow in the night. “Is the burial done?”

“Yes; thank you for letting me complete the burial process…~amica mea~. You have no idea how—”

His words have been a strained rumble from barely held back emotion, and now his voice cracks, and his eyes are hooded.

“How ~important it was~? I think I do, Storm. You were able to settle your past by burying them. You needed peace once and for all.

“It’s why I fought the Blood Raven and my—sorry, ~our~ babies won,” I murmur. “Did you know they can speak now?”

I try my best to keep it light, although my heart is in anticipation of a soon-to-be rejection. I am waiting for it, as that is how it happens every time Storm becomes emotionally compromised.

My mate pauses, and I know he is struggling to get some important information out.

“I haven’t heard them talk yet…” Storm blinks and a tear rolls out of his eye, so I jump to my feet, my bottom half muddy.

I turn to him, and he stiffens as I put up my muddy hand to reach for his hand. I grab it, and I know he wants to pull away, but he forces himself not to. “I’m ~so~ sorry, Silver.”

Storm growls the words out as if they are the hardest words he’s ever said in his life.

“Well, I can’t lie and say I didn’t hope that you were,” I whisper, squishing my muddy hand over his. “I like mud; do you like mud? What does ~a—amica mea~ mean?”

I get a bit lost in what I want to talk about, and I avert my eyes down, my heart beating fast in my chest.

I’m scared he might feel it, so I snatch my hand back out of his, lest he leave again.

“My love,” he murmurs, and it takes me a moment to realize that is the answer. He called me his love in his language.

I look up, grinning, and I see that he is slowly smiling in relief. “I thought you would have run by now, pipsqueak…after what I did to you—”

“It wasn’t you,” I murmur. “And if it makes you feel better, I thought you’d leave too, but we’re both still here…together. Jinx would be proud.”

I know it’s dangerous mentioning her name, but the flash in Storm’s golden eyes is full of life, love, and passion. His whole aura of feeling ignites at her mention.

“She is gone, but she will always be with us,” Storm says passionately, and I smile at his attempt to be more open.

He is doing well in changing…so I must give back.

“Oh, Master of Feeling,” I murmur as I shyly glance down over his outfit…

I can’t help but wonder if after a near-death experience…I’ll be lucky enough to see him naked again in all his Legendary glory. And this time…I hope he’ll be kind.

“What lesson do I need to be taught today? Respect? Perhaps forgiveness is the lesson? Perhaps you’ll—” Storm raises a hand, and one of his fingers lies across my lips, silencing me.

“I’m the Master of Feeling, your teacher and guide…so I will speak,” Storm growls low, and even though he is being deadly serious, I find it a major turn-on that his gaze is so focused upon me, ~bravely~ focused on me, as if I am his mate, and he now fully acknowledges it.

I nod and stay silent as I hold his golden gaze, excited for his answer.

“Love, pipsqueak. Tonight’s lesson is about love. I have avoided it for too long because I’ve known a side of it that nearly tore me apart. But, regardless, I know it well.

“And here you are…and here I am, a second chance…at something beautiful,” he says slowly, more at ease, with a suggestion in his gaze.

His poetic words warm my heart, but my womb has more bold ideas.

“I don’t mean to question you,” I whisper. “But why are you still clothed?” I raise a confident brow, even though my bold statement has my virgin nerves sparkling in nervous, unknown anticipation.

“Mmm… I’m still curious about whether Drax really was your preferred choice.” Storm makes me feel incredible guilt, and I blush and blink, only for him to mist out of his clothes, a few steps back.

His clothes fall while he stands naked a few feet away, holding up a hand. “I don’t hold it against you anymore, pipsqueak… You did it because of me. It was my fault.”

“Who knew an apology could sound so damn attractive?” I grin and skip forward, grabbing his hand. “Take me to the river!”

“It’s not as if you have a say. You are still under my rule, by the way, little one. I will just protect your heart better.”

Storm turns and pulls me with him down a slope until our bare feet slide into the cool water. I let go of his hand and jump right in, covering my body in cold, clean water.

I rise up laughing, midway to the middle, my hands open above my head.

“I bet you are not as brave as me to dunk right in,” I challenge him as he wades by the riverbank, the water at his ankles so that he is simply cleaning his feet and testing the water.

His golden gaze now focuses entirely on me…with an acceptance of that challenge.

“Be careful what you challenge me to, pipsqueak… If you lose, there is a price to pay.”