Galaxy Of Hope

‘I don’t want you to. I don’t care what he says.’

Andrew now openly reached for me and I fell into his arms. He kissed my forehead and I released a breath I had been holding for weeks now. Everything was finally right in the world.

‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.’ He whispered against the top of my head, caressing my hair.

I hugged him tighter. ‘I’m still angry you know. Really angry.’

He chuckled. ‘I can tell.’

We fell down on the couch and I was basically in his lap now. He kissed me and I reveled in finally being able to do this without consequences.

‘I will do whatever to keep you safe, Princess.’

‘I don’t want you to. I can keep myself safe.’

‘Princess… if you don’t claim the bond. You will never be safe.’

‘You can die in the Culling Andrew! Die. Death.’

‘Yeah, but at least if I die in the culling…. The bond will seal itself between the remaining five.’

What? I did not know that.

‘It’s the only way to remove one of the circle. And nobody can be pushed into the shadowlands. They have to go willingly.’

That changes things. Changes lots of things. If Andrew goes to the culling…. Either way we will receive the blessing from the stars. Either he comes back without his oath or he doesn’t come back at all and the bond will reset. Shit.

‘I have to do this. I have to keep you safe.’

‘I know that the bond screams that but… there has to be another way.’

‘There isn’t.’

‘Andrew.’

‘No lux… I love you.’

My heart bloomed.

‘You know when I fell in love with you… when I knew.’

‘Well obviously since the motel.’

‘No… I loved you since your rebellious ass walked into that strip club on my day off. When I had the best night of my life and the worst night up until you walked in. The worst night because I had been thinking about you all day and night. And the best because, when you were shoving down those fries like a starved mountain lion, I felt it deep in my chest, deep in my soul. I knew, way before the bond showed up. That it was you the stars had found for me. It had been you from the very first time I had laid eyes on you at the Maddox Manor. When you gave Vincent hell.’

‘So me stuffing fries in my face made you realize I was your mate.’

‘It was more complicated than that princess.’

‘Sure it was. Very romantic!’ I sighed. ‘I knew something was different too….’

‘When?’

‘After the party with Sebastian… when you had brought me home and to my bed and I woke up and there you were. All I could think about was that I was disappointed you had not slept right next to me.’