Chapter 99 At My Pace pt 3
Seren
“I can help with that, sweetheart, unless there are any objections,” Aidan said. “We will draft a full plan, from patrols to personal security, for the key players.”
Duncan nodded in agreement. “That’s fine, Dad. I appreciate your help.”
“Let me know if you need additional support, Aidan. Elias can recommend a group from the Royal Guard to come assist.” Mom bit her lip. “I suspect that if anyone is going to try anything, it will be before or during the ceremony. Announcing Seren as the Princess and the Luna will mean that attempts on her person after the announcement will mean immediate death for any involved, so they’ll want to avoid that.”
“In the meantime, my Queen, I recommend that the Royal Family stay inside Crescent Moon until the ceremony passes. As we saw, neutral territory isn’t safe anymore, so travel between locations should be kept at a minimum,” Elias put in.
“I can agree with that. Besides, that gives me time to train with my sister. We’ll spend the next couple of weeks turning you into a tiny little weapon.” Gideon winked at me.
“Again with the small jokes! Good things come in small packages, you know,” I said. He just ruffled my hair. “Whatever.” I rolled my eyes at him.
Duncan yawned, his jaw cracking. The sun had gone down hours ago, our discussion eating into the night without any of us noticing.
“I think that’s about all I can take right now,” I said, leaning against Duncan’s side. “And it looks like you’re just as tired. Unless anyone has anything else?”
“No, dear, I’m ready to settle in myself. I want to give your father a call before bed. I’ll see you for breakfast.” Mom kissed my forehead as she headed out, Elias following her.
Chairs scraped as everyone else said their goodbyes and headed out. I looped my arm through Duncan’s as we walked back to our suite. “I’m really glad you’re home.”
“Me too, little wolf. I hated being apart from you.”
We got ready for bed, taking turns brushing our teeth and changing in the bathroom before climbing under the covers. Duncan reached over and pulled me against his side, tucking my head under his chin. The mate bond sparked to life as we touched, tingles coursing through me pleasantly. I laid my hand on his chest, idly drawing circles with my finger.
“I read some other books during my time in the library this morning,” I whispered.
“Oh?”
“One of them was on bonds. I was trying to find out more about my twin bond with Gideon, but there wasn’t much there.” I breathed in Duncan’s scent and felt the tension ease from my muscles. “There was a lot in that one on the mate bond, though.”
He tensed. It was subtle, but I was tuned into him, all but lying on top of him at this point. “Is that so?”
“It is. In fact, did you know that when a white wolf marks her mate, they can unlock additional powers for their mate if the bond is fated?”
His chest rose as he inhaled, his hand stroking my back. “I did not know that.”
“And the bond allows you to feel the emotions of your mate, as well as hear their thoughts.”
He chuckled quietly. “Now that, I knew. Mom and Dad take advantage of that one all the time.”
“Duncan…”
“Yes, little wolf?”
“I want that with you.”
“And you’ll have it. Whenever you’re ready. This goes at your pace, remember?”
“That’s what I’m saying. I know it’s fast, but being without you and talking with Mom and Kayla has helped me think through some things. And Cat set me up with a counselor that I’ve had two sessions with already—one yesterday, one today before you got home. I want to move forward with our bond. I want to be connected to you. I don’t want something to happen to either of us and not be connected.” Pushing myself up so that I could look him in the eyes, I told him, “I want this with you, Duncan. I want to cement our bond.”