“Like four hundred and sixteen years old.”
Dad’s face went comically blank. “You’re grounded.”
Emerald giggled. God, she was so happy he was okay. They could’ve so easily missed this moment. Both of them had been in the heart of the Old Tarian Pride, the most lethal Pride of lion shifters in the world, and look where they’d ended up. Joking in Ronin’s room, her dad tucked in bed with soup still steaming on the nightstand, a fire in the hearth nearby, and an entire Pride outside that would keep them safe.
“I like him, too,” she whispered, eyes on the thread she was picking at on the comforter.
“Ronin?”
She nodded.
“Baby, you always did. He’s the only one I’ve ever heard you talk about. Hey,” he murmured, stilling her hand from plucking at the thread. “It’s okay to let yourself care. I did with your mom, and it was the best decision I ever made. It’s what I want for you, too.”
Her dad’s blessing meant the world to her. He had been her rock for so long, and she trusted him. He was giving his approval, and she wanted to start crying all over again. No one person deserved to be this happy, right? It probably messed with the cosmic balance or something—this much happiness inside of one person.
But then again, who was she to question what was happening? Her dad seemed relaxed for the first time in years, and Ronin’s last kiss still tingled on her lips, filling all the holes that had been in her heart before him.
It was okay to be happy. To fight for something she wanted. For a life she wanted.
“I want to stay,” she whispered.
Dad’s smile was easy and steady, and his dark eyes danced. “That’s what I hoped you would say.”
Chapter Sixteen
The day had been eternal.
It was four in the morning, and down to her bones, Emerald was exhausted. She’d stayed up late talking to her dad and then stumbled out into the hallway to find voices echoing from the kitchen.
She couldn’t help the smile on her face when she saw everyone. The Pride was still awake— Kannon and Terrence and Gray were here. The Daughters of Beasts were also here with Grim, the Red Dragon, Vyr, and his mate Riyah. They were all wearing PJs and gathered around the kitchen island. Ronin wore no shirt, but she couldn’t even be that big of a perv because he was covered in bandages. Low-slung gray sweats hung from his hips, and his hair was all mussed like he’d rubbed his hand through it a bunch.
And even though his eyes were tired, his smile was megawatt when he saw her. “There she is,” he murmured. “Come here. I want you to meet some friends.”
His arm was outstretched, and sleepily, she slipped against his side and rested her cheek on his shoulder. “I’m Emerald,” she introduced herself.
The others introduced themselves, too, and when it came to Grim, he said, “Hey, I remember you.”
“I remember you, too, but you’re really different,” she murmured. “The last time I saw you, the Reaper was new. And terrifying.”
“Yeah,” Kannon said, spinning a half-full beer slowly in his fingertips, “He’s still terrifying.”
“At least you’re on his good side,” Ronin murmured.
One of Grim’s Crewmates, Rhett, leaned toward Kannon and said with a mischievous wink, “Might want to keep it that way.”
Ronin pulled up a bar stool and settled Emerald onto it before he stroked his fingers lightly down her spine and said, “I have to ask, Vyr. Why did you come?”
The red-haired man took a long swig of his beer and murmured, “My son is a Tarian lion. I don’t want him to grow up ashamed of where he came from. If the council was revived with Cassius as Alpha, and the Tarian Pride went back to their old ways, how could he not be ashamed? I want better for my boy. Ronin, I believe you can fix this Pride.” Vyr shrugged. “And if you can’t, then I’ll just burn you and devour your ashes.”
“Hmm,” Ronin said, nodding.
Vyr winked at Emerald and took another sip of his beer, but she was still about thirty-four percent disturbed. She’d seen his dragon on the news and believed he was fully capable of following through with that threat. He would have to go through her, though.
They stayed up for a little while, but eventually, the Pride started trickling away, and the girls in the Daughters of Beasts crew nodded off on the couch. And before she knew it, Ronin was carrying her to his room.
“What happened?” she asked softly.
“You fell asleep. It was cute,” he assured her.
Well, thank goodness for small blessings because sometimes she snored when she was exhausted, and that would’ve been truly embarrassing if she’d—”
“You were snoring.”
Oh, God.
He shut his door behind her and settled her on the bed, pulled back the covers, and tucked her in as she got comfortable and made a pillow nest. He made his way to the same chair he’d sat in when she’d awoken here a few days ago.
“Nope,” she said, shaking her head. “Come sleep here.” Emerald lifted the corner of the blanket invitingly.
“You’ve been through a lot, Em.”
“Being close to you makes me feel safe.”
The sound in his throat was positively satisfied, and he climbed in bed with her, scooped her into his arms, and pulled her against his strong chest. If his injuries hurt, he didn’t act like it. Perhaps he was simply too tired to react to pain right now.
He pressed his nose against her hair and inhaled deeply, and she understood. She was taking comfort from his scent, too. And his warmth. And the beating of his heart, and the feel of his skin against hers. Desperate to be closer, she peeled her sweater off and then her jeans, too. Ronin’s hand went to her waist and gripped her hard, and she rocked against his hips. His dick was hard and swollen behind the thin material of his sweats. Even those were too much of a barrier right now, so she hooked her fingers in the elastic band and tugged them downward. She giggled as he kicked out of them. Was she delirious with exhaustion? Was that why she was laughing during intimacy? Or was she just that comfortable with him already?
Ronin shoved her panties down her thighs as he smiled against her lips, chuckling into their kiss. Good gah, he was so sexy. She ran her fingertips through his hair as he rocked against her, hitting her just right with his thick shaft. She arched her back and moaned, sliding her leg over his, opening up the apex between her thighs.
Her body had been sore and injured and tired a few minutes ago, but now it was ready to go, growing wetter by the second with every pump of his body against hers. She could come just like this with him rubbing her, but she wanted more. Needed more. After everything that had happened, she needed him to make her feel like she was his, soul and body.
He took his time, trailing his hand down her arm, then down the side of her breast to her waist. He traced the curve of her ass and then up to her hair. He gripped it in the back and turned her head when she purred. Lips near her ear, he whispered, “I choose you.”
Emerald rolled her eyes closed at how good those words made her heart feel. He chose her. Really chose her. He was giving her a place beside him, under his protective wing, where she would defend him always.
There was something so freeing about being confident in your place in the world. And for the first time in her life, she knew her place. It was here with Ronin. Her Ronin.
His lips pressed to hers, and she reveled in the taste of her mate. Because even though they hadn’t said that word, that’s what they were. No contract could hold a candle to what they felt or the bond they’d already created.
She’d found him—her person. Her other half.
Ronin’s hand left her hair and gripped the back of her neck as he rolled on top of her. He was heavy, solid, like a weighted blanket. Safe, safe, safe. He pushed her knees apart, and she begged. What else could she do? Her mind was gone now, off in the sky somewhere while her body just felt, and did, and reacted to its other half. He pressed the swollen head of his cock into her entrance just enough for her to bow against the bed. She whispered another aching plea, “Please, Ronin. Deeper.”
Their bodies moved like waves rolling against each other. Like they’d been doing this dance for eons and knew exactly what the other needed. She slid her hands up his back as he settled firmly between her legs, and then he was there, sliding into her. Deeper…deeper. Emerald couldn’t help the needy noises she made, but from the hungry look in his eyes, they were just fine with Ronin. His hands were everywhere and they were fire, burning trails of ecstasy up and down her skin. And when his lips drifted from her mouth to her neck, down, down to her breast, then plucking gently at her nipple, she lost it. Eyes closed to the world, she let herself drown in him. She didn’t exist, and Ronin didn’t exist. They only existed as one now. He stayed deep in her for a few moments, and she reveled in the sensation of being filled with him. Moving slowly, Ronin drew rapture from her, teasing with his lips, tempting her with his touch, until her entire body craved him. Every nerve ending adored him. Every sigh from her lips drew a slight curve of his. Oh, that man knew he had her. He was playing her like some string instrument he’d practiced his whole life.
He moved in her smoothly, sure to hit her clit and hold it every thrust. Sliding his hands up her forearms, he pinned her hands above her head and kissed her. His tongue stroked into her mouth with the same rhythm that his dick was sliding into her. Slow and controlled at first, and then he slipped little by little as the growl in his throat grew louder. His cock filled her over and over until she was writhing against him. And when at last she lost all sense of control and begged him, “Faster,” he slammed into her and held. Slammed, held, faster. Faster. Faster. “Right there,” she whispered, holding his hands as he intertwined their fingers above her head.
Ronin grunted, spread his knees wider and went even deeper, bucking into her hard. Oh, she was there, she was there! Her body pulsed hard, gripping his dick. His body was so tense as he rammed into her and held, his dick swelling and releasing, erupting inside of her until she was filled with warmth. He moved with her until they were both spent. And then he rolled her over on her side and hugged her close, kissing her like she mattered. And she did matter.