palm over her free hand. “There’s more.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “More?”
“Yes.” He rubbed his thumb back and forth over her skin, easing the tension that had started to build. “Together, we’ve completed the first two steps of becoming lifemates, as stated by the prophecy. John and I have pledged ourselves to you, and our physical desires have been consummated to link our minds and bodies. The last measure is solely yours, Sarah. When the time is right, you must pledge yourself to us or deny us.”
When the time was right? How would she know?
John levered up on his elbow to look into her eyes, and she braced herself for another revelation. “Are you aware that by bringing you to the present to escape Naga’s henchmen, we inadvertently activated your fertility cycle?”
“My fertility cycle? You mean the call to mate?” Her chest tightened at the mention of the witch trait she didn’t possess. “I don’t have a fertility cycle. I’ve never—”
“You do, Sarah. Right now. We’re pretty sure that’s what caused you to cry yesterday. And then when we mentioned the word ‘mate’ at breakfast, you seemed to lose control. You had a fever and passed out. We took you into the pool to cool you down, and you know what happened there.”
“But before the trial… I thought…” Confusion flooded her brain. She’d assumed she was “broken” as a young woman. All the evidence of her recent behavior pointed to a different conclusion. Why would she suddenly have a fertility cycle now? How had she conceived her son?
Trying to regain her composure, she closed her eyes and imagined staring up at the night sky from the stable window. The quiet serenity had done wonders for her anxiety. As she recalled the image, one tiny detail stood out. A surge of relief soothed some of the nervous tension in her shoulders. “No, it can’t be happening now. Only a tiny sliver of the moon was out last night. The witch cycle begins with the full moon and ends on the third quarter. The new moon appears soon.”
Tanner gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “A Pennymead witch’s cycle lasts from her birthday through the next four moon phases—for a whole month. And you aren’t broken . Your mates were simply in a different century, and you couldn’t get to us. You’re here with us now, and that’s all that matters.”
His use of the word “broken” struck a strange chord. She hadn’t used that word during her rebuttal. The stress of the conversation must have allowed the door in her mind to open again. I don’t want my hormones to control me.
He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand, pushing her heart rate higher. We’ll be right here with you. Let us help you stay strong. Trust us, Sarah.
Trust. She’d failed to trust them several times already, yet they hadn’t given up on her. Did she even have the capacity to trust?
John pressed his lips to her forehead. Let us slake your body’s needs, and you’ll maintain control of the rest. Only denial of sexual satisfaction can weaken you.
If she surrendered to lust, her fertility cycle wouldn’t have as much power over her? Perhaps trusting them with her body had benefits besides intense pleasure, but one major side effect kept her from accepting John’s and Tanner’s offer—the possibility of conception. She’d never survive losing another child.
Samuel’s lock of hair.
Where was her skirt? She pushed John out of the way in an attempt to sit up. I have to find my skirt!
His muscular form didn’t budge, holding her against the mattress. “Tanner, go find her skirt.”
Tanner released her hand as he rolled out of bed, and her dismay quickly changed to panic when he jogged into the hall.
“It’s okay, Sarah.” John grasped her cheeks between his palms, locking her in place. “He’ll be right back with your skirt. Breathe. Try to stay calm.”
Tears stung her eyes, and a lump blocked her throat. I can’t. It’s all I have left of
Her heart skipped a beat. “More?”
“Yes.” He rubbed his thumb back and forth over her skin, easing the tension that had started to build. “Together, we’ve completed the first two steps of becoming lifemates, as stated by the prophecy. John and I have pledged ourselves to you, and our physical desires have been consummated to link our minds and bodies. The last measure is solely yours, Sarah. When the time is right, you must pledge yourself to us or deny us.”
When the time was right? How would she know?
John levered up on his elbow to look into her eyes, and she braced herself for another revelation. “Are you aware that by bringing you to the present to escape Naga’s henchmen, we inadvertently activated your fertility cycle?”
“My fertility cycle? You mean the call to mate?” Her chest tightened at the mention of the witch trait she didn’t possess. “I don’t have a fertility cycle. I’ve never—”
“You do, Sarah. Right now. We’re pretty sure that’s what caused you to cry yesterday. And then when we mentioned the word ‘mate’ at breakfast, you seemed to lose control. You had a fever and passed out. We took you into the pool to cool you down, and you know what happened there.”
“But before the trial… I thought…” Confusion flooded her brain. She’d assumed she was “broken” as a young woman. All the evidence of her recent behavior pointed to a different conclusion. Why would she suddenly have a fertility cycle now? How had she conceived her son?
Trying to regain her composure, she closed her eyes and imagined staring up at the night sky from the stable window. The quiet serenity had done wonders for her anxiety. As she recalled the image, one tiny detail stood out. A surge of relief soothed some of the nervous tension in her shoulders. “No, it can’t be happening now. Only a tiny sliver of the moon was out last night. The witch cycle begins with the full moon and ends on the third quarter. The new moon appears soon.”
Tanner gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “A Pennymead witch’s cycle lasts from her birthday through the next four moon phases—for a whole month. And you aren’t broken . Your mates were simply in a different century, and you couldn’t get to us. You’re here with us now, and that’s all that matters.”
His use of the word “broken” struck a strange chord. She hadn’t used that word during her rebuttal. The stress of the conversation must have allowed the door in her mind to open again. I don’t want my hormones to control me.
He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand, pushing her heart rate higher. We’ll be right here with you. Let us help you stay strong. Trust us, Sarah.
Trust. She’d failed to trust them several times already, yet they hadn’t given up on her. Did she even have the capacity to trust?
John pressed his lips to her forehead. Let us slake your body’s needs, and you’ll maintain control of the rest. Only denial of sexual satisfaction can weaken you.
If she surrendered to lust, her fertility cycle wouldn’t have as much power over her? Perhaps trusting them with her body had benefits besides intense pleasure, but one major side effect kept her from accepting John’s and Tanner’s offer—the possibility of conception. She’d never survive losing another child.
Samuel’s lock of hair.
Where was her skirt? She pushed John out of the way in an attempt to sit up. I have to find my skirt!
His muscular form didn’t budge, holding her against the mattress. “Tanner, go find her skirt.”
Tanner released her hand as he rolled out of bed, and her dismay quickly changed to panic when he jogged into the hall.
“It’s okay, Sarah.” John grasped her cheeks between his palms, locking her in place. “He’ll be right back with your skirt. Breathe. Try to stay calm.”
Tears stung her eyes, and a lump blocked her throat. I can’t. It’s all I have left of
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