Chapter 60 What...is this??
~Sage~
Keith let out a shaky breath. His forehead dropped to rest against mine. His breath came in rough gasps. His body shook with the effort of holding himself back.
"Why?" The word was tinged with frustration and desperation.
Tears burned at the corners of my eyes. But I pushed them down. "Because if they find out, it will be war. Your father will destroy us both. The pack will—"
"I do not care about the pack," he cut in with fierce words.
"You should." I pressed my hands against his chest and pushed lightly, making the smallest bit of space between us. "You are the future Alpha king. Your people need you. I will not be the reason you turn your back on them."
His hands came up to hold my face. His thumbs brushed across my cheeks with such soft care that it made my heart break.
"I would burn a thousand worlds for you. I would turn my back on a million packs for you," he said. "Do you not understand that? There is nothing I would not give up to have you. To stop hiding. To show everyone that you wear my mark."
A lump formed in my throat and I pushed it down.
I had spent so long learning how to hide my emotions, pretending I did not care about the impossible situation fate had put me in. But Keith had always been my weakness. The one person who could tear down my walls. The one who left me raw and open.
"The makeup washes off every night," he said. His voice was soft now. "And anytime I see my mark on your skin. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I just want the world to see it too."
His thumb traced over the spot on my neck where the mark hid. Even through the makeup, I felt the connection between us spark to life. The bond that tied us together forever.
"Soon," I whispered. "I promise. Soon."
Before I could say more, a sound came from somewhere behind us.
I gasped, jerking away from Keith just as Riana came around a hedge of roses.
Keith and I stood just inches apart. Our faces were flushed. Our breathing was heavy. Our lips were swollen from kissing. Our clothes were out of shape. The closeness between us was impossible to hide.
For a long, terrible moment, no one moved. No one spoke.
Then Riana's face changed, the immediate shock slowly fading away. Her eyes jumped between us. Understanding began to show in her expression.
"What," she breathed. Her voice shook with anger. "Is this? What exactly am I looking at?"
Keith went stiff beside me. I felt the moment his protective instincts kicked in. He moved slightly to put himself between me and the threat.
"I do not know what you are talking about," he said in a flat voice.
Riana's eyes turned hard. "Do not insult me, Keith. I am not blind. I can see—"
Her eyes went to my neck. To the spot where Keith's lips had just been. Some of the makeup had rubbed away. I could tell from the way her face changed. From the way her mouth fell open.
She could see the outline of the mark.
"You marked her," Riana whispered. Shock filled her voice. "You already marked her."
Keith did not deny it. He stood tall and proud. Like a wolf protecting what was his.
“That's king Damon's mark,” I began, attempting to diffuse whatever thought she had in her head.
“Don't play games with me, Luna.” The way she stressed the Luna told me it wasn't out of respect. “Everyone knows what happened when the alpha king tried to mark you. He wasn't able to–”
"Riana?"
We all turned toward the new voice. My heart began to beat ferociously.
Damon was coming through the garden.
Riana's eyes snapped to Keith. Then to me. Then to the sound of footsteps.
She knew.
She knew exactly what she had just seen. I could see the thinking happening behind her eyes.
She had a choice to make. Tell what she saw and destroy us both. Or protect the lie that Keith might still be hers.
Keith tensed beside me. His eyes locked onto Riana's with a hidden threat.
Something passed across Riana's face. Fear, maybe. Or ambition. Or some mix of both.
Then her lips curved into a thin smile.
"Alpha Damon," she called out. She turned to walk toward the coming footsteps. "I was just looking at the gardens. They are so beautiful at night."
Their voices faded as they walked away. I heard Damon's low answer. Then the sound of gravel under their feet got softer and softer.
I exhaled in relief. My legs almost gave out under me. Keith caught me before I could fall. His arms wrapped around me, holding me up against his chest.
"She did not tell him," I whispered. My voice was shaking.
Keith was quiet for a long moment, his eyes still looked at the spot where Riana had gone.
"Not yet," he finally said. "But she saw the mark. She knows now."
I swallowed hard. "She could tell him at any moment," I said. "We need to tell him first. Unless she actually bought the lie that I told her."
Keith looked down at me. "Does that mean you are ready? Ready to stop hiding?"
I reached up and touched my neck. The spot where his mark lived under the smeared makeup. The mark that proved I was his. The mark I had hidden for so long.
"I do not know if I am ready," I admitted. "But we may not have a choice anymore."
He pressed one last kiss to my forehead. He stayed there like he was trying to remember the feel of my skin against his lips.
"I meant what I said," he whispered. "Every word. I will not let anything happen to you. I will not let my father or anyone else tear us apart. You are mine, Sage. My marked mate. And soon, everyone will know it."
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust that love could beat the impossible odds against us.
But we had just stepped closer to the edge of a cliff.
Riana knew about the mark now. It was only a matter of time before she used that knowledge.
And when she did, heads would definitely roll and the first rolling head might be mine.