His hands moved up on my thighs. “I can’t imagine what you are feeling. Okay, that’s a lie. I can feel what you’re feeling, but that’s not the point.”
I tilted my head to the side, regarding him, curious what this was about.
“I want to make you a promise. There are many things I can’t give you, but…”
Didn’t he know I didn’t care about those things? I cared about him, for whatever crazy reason.
“…I will be your sword. I will be your shield. I will defend you until my last breath. This vow I swear freely, to be your weapon as long as you shall live.”
I almost fell off the bed. Holy shit Batman.
I don’t know what I expected him to say, but that had most certainty not been it. A monsoon of emotions slammed inside me, encompassing every space of my body, and I knew my skin was glowing. “Zane, what did you just do?”
There was a flare of intensity in his eyes that he tried to hide with a one-shoulder shrug. “Now you’re stuck with me.”
My eyes tapered, and the muscles in my legs tightened. “Explain.”
“Does everything with you have to be so secretive?” I countered. My innards were still buzzing with… I wasn’t sure what it was, but I felt more connected to Zane than before. It was bad enough our souls were aligned; now what?
“Call it insurance. It’s an ancient ritual rarely used anymore, a bond of duty. It will allow me to sense if you’re in danger.”
I shook my head, confused. “Why would you do that?” A bond? Until I died? It seemed so permanent, especially for someone who spent so much time pushing me away. That two-way soul connection we had was telling me there was more to it.
His eyes searched mine. “Do you really need me to spell it out for you?”
I swallowed, breaking the sweltering eye contact, and pressed my lips together. Was he finally admitting he had feelings for me? But that wasn’t all I wanted from him, a never-ending duty to protect me. Still I would take whatever I could get…for now.
He placed his hands on my hips. “A war is coming, Princess.”
I lifted my head. “And which side will stand?” I asked.
Zane caught a piece of my hair and wrapped it around his finger. “I think that’s obvious. Yours.”
All I saw was Zane—the guy I was falling for. In that moment, everything changed. I knew what I had to do. What I was born to do.
Piper and Zane’s story continues…
BLACK CROW
Coming in 2016
~*~*~*~
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