Page 3 of When Roses Burn

“No, but I’ll keep you safe.”

“What will we do on the sea?”

“Find an island to live on or some other place to live. We have no idea what’s out there, but we’ll discover it. Until then, we’ll fish, swim, drink in the sun, make love, and raise babies.”

She grinned at me. “You want to have babies with me?”

“I want to have everything with you.”

Emotion filled her eyes as she rested her hand against my cheek and kissed me. “You are my everything. Mea eveto.”

“What does that mean?” she asked.

“My everything, in the ancient language of the demigods.”

“I like that. You’re mea eveto too.”

I drew her close, hugging her against me as our kiss deepened into something else. When we parted later, she curled up against me again.

“Our parents will hunt us,” she whispered.

“We’ll outrun them.”

“And sail away.”

“And sail away,” I repeated.

“We’ll need supplies.”

“We’ll gather them.”

“Yes, we will.”

And so we did. Over the next few weeks, we collected clothing, food, water, and enough supplies to sustain us throughout our journey. We’d travel through one of the kingdoms until we reached the sea.

I didn’t know where we’d acquire a boat, but I’d figure it out when we got to the ocean. No matter what happened, I’d keep her safe. I’d protect her and love her until the day I died.

On the day when we were to start our new lives together, we met in the tunnel for the last time. She laughed as she ran to me, her eyes twinkling in the way only they could.

I lifted her off her feet and swung her around. We’d leave tonight, after sunset, and under the cover of night.

When the time came, we’d slip across the desert and on toward the elf kingdom of Terra. They couldn’t catch us trespassing there, but we’d make it through.

Even though my animal had yet to emerge, my shifter instincts were getting stronger. My sense of smell, vision, and strength had all increased since I turned eighteen; I’d get Briar to the sea.

But we had to wait until nightfall before we could go anywhere, and as I kissed her, I knew exactly how we’d pass the time until then. With Briar in my arms, I experienced true contentment and what it was like to be engulfed in love.

Within me, my animal stirred. I’d felt it many times over the years, but never with such intensity. It clawed at my insides like they were a barrier to its freedom as it sought to take control.

But as it rose, it fell again. I was still too young for my animal to take form, but it was getting stronger, and it wanted Briar so badly that my teeth shifted into something new.

With the tip of my tongue, I found two elongated canines and discovered others had also altered their shape into something new. My animal couldn’t break free yet, but it sought to claim her as mine.

When my newly elongated teeth scraped her neck, her breath sucked in a little as she wiggled closer and craned her head to give me better access. She didn’t have to speak; I knew what she wanted. We were two halves of a whole—best friends, lovers, and soulmates.

I was reluctant to hurt her, but I couldn’t resist her longing or the call of my animal. My lips skimmed back as I sank my teeth into her neck and collarbone, forever marking her pristine skin. Nothing could erase the mark of a shifter on its mate.

Within me, my animal roared with ecstasy and briefly surged toward the surface before settling once more. Knowing it had left its mark on her was enough to satisfy it… for now.