The Mate That Wasn't Mine novel Chapter 84

4

My scheme worked. My heart is so full it hurts. Yet the only response my body has is to keep crying. They are tears of joy.

I have no idea what we’re meant to do next but that doesn’t matter either. His hands find mine, entwining with ease, squeezing my fingers lightly in the darkness, touch is the only means of proving the other is real. That he isn’t a fantasy my grief–addied brain has constructed.

Nuzzling into his chest I plant a few kisses against his newly formed bite. Luxuriating in his firm heartbeat and solid, warm chest. The low grumble of satisfaction that escapes his chest in the darkness is intoxicating.

My memory did not suddenly rush back. There was no unlocking of barriers or sudden realisations. I think we were both hoping something like that might happen. But at the same time, it is not important. Not right now anyway. Maxim is alive. So alive I cannot help but feel his body. He is warm and breathing and mine. My mate.

Forced to be down here whilst Maxim stood on the edge of that ledge was sickening. I felt everything. Heard every word. Closing my eyes, his lips still softly kissing me. I remember how terrified I was to see him fall. My

replaying the way he twisted in the air, fighting for his existence.

The relief at realising the ropes had him was beyond exhilaration. Still being kissed, my brain suddenly kicks into action. The arrow in his thight it’s still there!

My last minute addition to the plan to keep hold of him, should the worst happen and the ropes not hold. Even if it swung him into the sides of the rocks at least he would have a chance at surviving. I’m sure he will call it brutally unncessary and tease me later.

My hands pause in their fluttering exploration of his firm chest. I hiss instead. “Maxim, your leg! The arrow?”

“Hmm?” he murmurs before adding, “Oh yeah, It will wait,” guiding my lips back to his. I wrap my arms around his neck and savour his oak and berry

scent. “Maxim?”

“It will wait, stop disagreeing,” teasing me with that gentle smile and resuming his soft worship.

Alpha Hale’s voice grows louder. “I am killing liars today. Let

us

bring out the next

one!”

A shrill scream explodes through the empty space of the cliffs. Louder than any of Hales ranting. High and desperate, but not a voice I recognise. Held tightly by Maxim we both stare upwards, trying to work out who he has dragged out onto the ledge.

Keeping my hand entwined in his Maxim leans out over the balcony, his other hand on the black rope web. “Fuck…it’s Hazel.”

Princess Hazel? The cat–stealing ex? I thought he said she had long blonde hair?

Maxim’s hand tightens around mine. I cannot be jealous of someone when Maxim has given me his heart. It would be like being jealous of the wind or sun for glancing upon him.

“The ropes should hold her,” I whisper, kissing the knuckles of his hand. “We can try and help.”

It is hard to work out what Hale is saying, the crowd’s murmuring panic is causing too much echo. Only for another series of screams to ring out. They are from the crowd itself. Hazel is fighting back?

Above us there is chaos. A white blur of shapes is moving. There is no way to tell who is hurting who. Someone hurtles close to the edge, only to be yanked back, their white gown swirling. The sound of a sharp slap rings out. Then another.

A shrill, female voices rises up, standing between the pair, her hands raised. Her “NO!” deafens us. “I loved you! You killed us! Nobody else! You killed our bond when it was never in danger!”

“HE FUCKED YOU! OVER AND OVER! DESECRATED US!” Hale screams, stamping his foot down so hard, debris scatters down the side of the cliff, the crowd scuttling backwards in their huddled balconies.

Chapter 84

And I knew nothing of it! I still asked for your forgiveness! For your heart! The one you swore was mine!”

Sabrina… he answers back.

“I DID NOTHING WRONGI” the Luna screams, her voice high and angryl enough to make me wince even down in the depths.

Princess Hazel has edged backwards to safety. Only the Luna, her long blonde hair styled high and curling, remains out on the ledge. Tiny compared with the huge shape of Hale. In a flash he pounces. With a a quick twist, he grabs his Luna by the throat, holding her outwards, well beyond the limits of the ledge.

Her hands slap at his thick, armoured arm but he is

Unflinching, cruel stone.

“Let her go! MOTHER!” Princess Hazel begs, oh her knees, from

just before the ledge.

Maxim flinches then quickly wraps me up in arms. “You don’t have to watch this,” he hisses in my ear. I wonder why his hold feels different, he is missing his leather jacket, he only has his black shirt.

But he is trying to protect me, even when there is nothing we can do for the poor woman suspended above us. The desperate Luna’s feet kicked out at nothing but fresh air. She can see only the black sky above, knowing void waits below.

“You have failed me. Those who fail me face death. My Luna. My only love…this is it,” Hale declares, his voice grimly determined. I feel my heart chill, holding onto Maxim tighter.

The crowd is panicking. Screams rise up. “Don’t hurt her!” someone shrieks.

“Show mercy!”

“Forgive her!”

“Not our Luna! What will become of Ravenbow!”

The panicking crowds‘ cries for peace do not help. They inflame. In a show of his strength Hale lets out a deafening roar. Then lifts the flailing Luna higher, his arm straight, angled upwards, the white of his armour glinting under the orange lanterns that fill this gloomy space.

Then, as easily as he lifted her, Hale let go. Luna Sabrina screams.

I should have buried my head into Maxim’s chest but I was transfixed. Luna Sabrina’s hands reached out and grabbed at his gold and platinum chains. Instead of dropping straight down, she almost swung, underneath the ledge.

Which caused Hale to bend double, then totter forward. To me anyway, it looked like Luna Sabrina knew what she was doing when she pushed herself away from the nearby rocks with her feet. She wasn’t trying to climb up.

Another stumble, onto his tiptoes, arms circling wildly.

Then the Alpha fell too.

The pair of them were combined once more. A tangle of white fabric, jewels and screams that flew down like a blazing comet.

When Hale and Sabrina plummeted into the ropes, the balcony supports Warden Marshall and I had weaved the ropes between gave way. Meaning the black strands briefly entangling them simply melted away to nothing. An illusion of salvation.

They continued to fall.

Rocks clattered, merging with their shouts of confusion and mistaken hope. To the crowd above it probably looked like it took half a second longer to disappear than expected. But soon, there was silence.

The evidence of Maxim’s escape vanished down below, along with the Alpha and his Luna.

Princess Hazel tottered out, not daring to stand on the ledge itself. Just peering, curiously, waiting for the silence to confirm their end.

Chapter 84

WARDENS!” she cries.

From below the ledge a flurry of activity, Men in white and gray all filter in a line, like ants, up a stair passageway, awaiting their orders Heads be Each eager to make their own good impression on a new leader. I can feel Maxim’s jaw clenching

“Release Remy now! RIGHT NOW! Nobody leaves this place until they have sworn allegiance to your new Alphia. Remy is nothing like our father. He wil tead us to safety, and happiness once again.”

I turn to look at Maxim. Well, my face points towards his, in the dark I still can’t make out his features, only the slightest amber glints when the lantern lights from above catch.

“Do you need to leave? Are they calling for you?”

“Even if they were I would not answer,” he murmurs softly. “Let them miss us a little longer,” before his hand cups my jaw again, stroking against my cheek. “Let me love you,” rushes into my ear and I feel myself begin to melt.

My throat seized, I nod a silent yes, nuzzling into him. He kisses my forehead. “I’m sorry you had to see that. But it is a good thing for Ravenbow. Remy is a good man. The Wardens should all be ashamed it went as far as it did.”

Blurting, “I want to see your face,” I feel myself blushing. I want more than his face. I want everything. To treasure and hold, never to be risked again. After I help him take the arrow out of his leg of course.

“Then let’s go,” feeling his grin against my cheek. “Come on.”

Together, hand in hand we felt our way back to the royal passageway underneath the mountain. The crowd is going beserk back in the cylindrical cliffs but neither of us care for that. We have each other. Maxim can catch up on the news later.