Chapter 60

When I slipped out of the sheets in the cleansing chambers, I noticed red marks the size of Xen's fingers. There were more scratches on the base of my ankle, stinging and throbbing, yet also reminding me of the intimacy I experienced last night. His rough hands gripped me, trying to restrain himself. A shudder ran through my spine as pleasure coursed through me. I pulled my hair to one side, attempting to trace the scars behind it. Heat flushed my cheeks as I remembered how they got there. Until he mentioned them, I hadn't felt anything, not even now when they throbbed. Strangely, they reminded me of the pleasure I experienced instead of causing me pain or making me feel diminished. Every experience and feeling with him is different. I touched my lips, and they stung. They were cut and slightly swollen. Oh my, how can I go outside like this?

As I cleansed myself, the memories came crashing back, as if I were reliving them.

*"Water is your witness, remembering everything; fire is pure, protecting your bond." "The promise of a mating bond must be reaffirmed. We don't worship the moon god; we worship his maiden bride, the medium through which his grace reached us during the great plague, healing our people and bringing a new dawn to our lives. In a wolf's life, his duty is to protect his people, but above all, it is his duty to worship and cherish his mate, the moon's maiden bride, chosen for him. Crescent Alpha Xendriote, will you, with your celestial ancestors as witnesses, promise to love, cherish, worship, and protect this woman as your Luna, your mate, your wife, and your family?"*

My back hit the wall as I remembered our wedding day as if I were standing there, reliving it all over again.

*"I promise with my mind, heart, body, and soul."

"Rosette of the Human Clan, will you take this man as your Alpha, your mate, and your husband? To light his path in darkness, to love him at his lowest, and to support him at his highest?"

"Rosette." Xen's hands reached out to me, asking for my acceptance. I told him I couldn't, not like this. Not irreversibly. Without it, the pack can't continue, so my father followed after her. "If you don't say it, I won't say it." Xen moved closer, touching my elbow and pulling me nearer. "Three full moons, my love, give me that much."

"I promise with my heart, mind, body, and soul."*

I took a deep breath, exhaling several times to gather my thoughts. I shivered and quickly finished cleaning myself. I dressed in a light green dress, tugging the long sleeves closer to my knuckles. The moment I stepped out of the screen, I was pushed against the wall, with Xen's body covering mine. I looked up at him, my hand resting on his chest, and my breath caught.

"You took too much time," he smoldered, gazing at me. My lips parted, speechless, and I bit my lip.

"Don't do that; you're already bruised." He gently tapped the cut. I blushed.

"Be careful with my wife; she's a fragile little thing." His eyes remained fixed on mine as he leaned closer, towards my lips. My body gravitated towards him, my hand moving up from his bare chest to his shoulder. The current between us started to pulse again. Fragile little thing? I frowned, breaking the spell and pushing him away.

"I'm not that fragile," I protested.

He chuckled, and I moved away from him, pressing my lips together to stop myself from smiling. I shook my head at myself.

"I was just concerned if you're still cross or going to try and avoid me."

He came closer and wrapped his arms around me from behind. I was a little surprised as he pulled me to him, causing me to catch my breath.

"I'm not avoiding you," I said.

And I couldn't be cross anymore when I knew why he was being so careful with me. He was still careful last night; he still hadn't fully claimed me. I remembered his words; he wanted me to remember everything and choose him. But I closed my eyes.

He buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. "Thank the Lord," he murmured.

A shiver ran through me as his voice rumbled. Will my body always respond to him this way? I wondered, and I opened my eyes.

I leaned into his touch as I touched his arm, looking at us in the mirror. I saw the difference between my thin, slender frame against his broad, tall frame, and my pale skin against his tanned one. Yet we fit together perfectly. We stayed like this for a while.

"I wish I could stay here like this," he whispered, and my stomach flipped. I wished for it too, but there are more important things.

"But we have to go," I said.

He sighed and tightened his arms around me, holding me for a moment before letting go. I turned to him and kissed his cheek. He looked at me for a moment, a little surprised, then grinned and kissed my forehead again. This time, a warm current shot through me before I could open my eyes. He was already walking towards the cleansing room. I looked back in the mirror; the small cut on my lips had healed, and the tender feeling on my shoulder and ankles was gone. He had done this many times, healing me almost to the brink of death after the lycans' attack at the temple. Now I remembered it correctly—not behind a veil or foggy faces. I remembered it all clearly.

A chill swept through my bones, and I shivered, shaking myself out of the memories. I started braiding my hair when a knock interrupted my thoughts. I went to the door, and Joffery stood there with a letter in his hand.

"Good morrow, milady," he greeted me with a boyish grin. There was some dirt on his nose. I nodded.

"Is Lordship here? I have this letter for him," he said, glancing inside.

"I will give it to him," I replied.

He hesitated for a second, but when I raised an eyebrow at him, he finally handed it to me, giving me a sheepish grin. He scratched the back of his head.

"And the elders have called for another council after everyone breaks their fast," he added.

"We will be there," I said.

He had curious eyes, taking his sweet time before stepping back. Abruptly, he turned away and bolted downstairs. I frowned, wondering what that was about. I closed the door and looked down at the letter. It had a dragon seal, and memories of my governance teacher teaching me about the different seals of the rulers of the Immora Islands came to me. It was from Dragonstone, addressed to Crescent Alpha.

The me without memories had noticed him receiving frequent letters, but I had never asked about them. He received one the day before as well, but now, with my memories flooding back one by one, I became curious. He was corresponding with someone from Dragonstone. There was no sender's name, but it must be from Prince Albert.

"There's a letter for you," I called out.

"Who sent it?" he inquired.

"It doesn't mention a name, but it has a dragon seal," I replied.

"Open it. It must be from Silas," he said.

"Silas?" I asked, curious.

"My friend," he said from behind the screen.

"Your friend? Doesn't your friend know that he should mention his name in the letter?" I started to break the seal, wondering if it was alright for me to read it. I was curious about this friend who made his eyes twinkle.

"Well, he's a vampire king." He doesn't have to," he explained.

I stopped midway through unfolding the letter, looking at him dumbfounded.