112 Closer to You*
~ HARTH ~
When Harth had been reaching maturity, the females in Thana had often spoken to her and the other young females about mating, choosing mates, and the drive that could happen between Chimera who were attracted to each other.
She’d seen it at work, too, and wanted that-seeing a male whose attention was laser-focused on his mate, who clearly desired nothing more than her. And the female who flourished under that love.
She’d ached for that. Yearned for it. Prayed for it.
And she’d been blown away to have found it in such a wonderful man.
But this...
Tarkyn’s ragged demand that she meet his eyes as he loved her and the intensity of that, the intimacy of being so together in that moment... then the tenderness with which he’d carried her to lay her down... it stole her breath.
Trust. That’s what it was-a sense that this was the male who would place himself between her and... anything. Who loved her so much that it was as if she were the only female in creation.
She didn’t know his people. Didn’t know his ways. But she knew his heart, and it took her breath away.
.....
For the first time she could remember, she lay in the depth of a cave, walls around and ceilings above, and she felt not even a pinch of fear. No tension. Nothing. There was no weight of being caged. She lay there at rest with her mate because her heart knew if a threat appeared, he would fight to the death to protect her from it.
She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know how to describe the feelings building in her chest, the desires-not just passionate-that clamored for her heart.
It took time for both of them to stop panting, but when they finally did, Tarkyn lifted a sweet, gentle finger to trace the hair back from the side of her face, then trailed it behind her shoulder and down her back.
“Harth.” His voice was deep, and still ragged. “There’s something I want to ask you.”
Nerves jolted at her, but they sparkled with joy. “What is it?”
Tarkyn blew out a breath, his brows pinching over his nose like he was afraid. She held him tightly.
“I want to make you truly mine,” he said, his voice like honeyed gravel.
Harth blinked. “Tarkyn, I am yours to my bones,” she whispered, feeling her cheeks heat. “I... I’m just yours.”
He nodded. “And I’m yours. But Love, there’s a tradition in my Pride... And it’s pulling at me.”
Harth licked her lips. “What is it?”
Tarkyn’s face became very serious and for a moment she worried that it wasn’t good. She held him more tightly. “Tell me, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” he said, his voice tight as if he fought emotion. “That’s just it. I... I don’t want to miss anything with you, Harth. Ever. Even if we’re different. Even if our people are different. I want to be with you in every way that I can.”
She was stunned to feel him through the bond-nervous!
“Tarkyn,” she breathed, “what is it?”
He pushed up on one elbow to loom over her, stroking her hair, her arm, her breast, her side... as he spoke, his fingers never stopped finding her.
“You are beautiful, Harth. The most beautiful. You are... precious.”
Tears welled in her eyes and she grasped his hand, bringing it up to her mouth. “I feel the same way. I just don’t know how to say it.”
Tarkyn cleared his throat, watching where her lips rested against his knuckles. “There’s a tradition in the Pride. An old way... we have a... special rite, I suppose, that happens only between mates. I want you to think on it, to pray about it.”
“What is it?”
Tarkyn’s eyes flashed. “We call it claiming. It’s... an act of surrender. The male marks the female so all other males will know that she’s viewed as elevated in his life. Treasured. Untouchable by others.”
“Oh, Tarkyn.” She pulled him down into an embrace, fighting tears. “I’m already surrendered to you.”
He pulled back to measure her gaze. “Are you sure? You would have to put yourself in my hands completely. Willingly. But it will deepen our bond, and-”
“I’m certain, Tarkyn. We have a tradition too-where male and female wolves mark each other to deepen the bond. We become...more sensitive to each other after it. Would you let me mark you?”
“Of course!” he breathed. Then he blinked. “Now? What do I need to-”
Harth gave a small, breathless laugh. “Not right now. Soon. I’ll... I think we’ll both know when it’s right.”
Tarkyn’s face relaxed into a beaming smile and he leaned down to kiss her again. “I’m sure you’re right. I can hardly wait.”
Harth gave a little laugh and pulled him down to cover her, holding him there, thanking the Creator when he relaxed and let his weight pin her to the furs.
She’d never felt safer than she did in that moment. Never more sure of herself or her purpose.
This male, her mate, he was the center of her world. And together... together they had to find a way to bring this harmony to their peoples.
She smiled into his hair as he clung to her, but his grip slowly loosened and his breathing evened out.
Harth lay there, her sleeping mate in her arms, smiling at the ceiling of the cave.
She’d had hope since she found him-though it had been sorely tested-that they could build a life together. That their people could come together.
His words were true, she knew. That meant his Queen did have a heart. They only needed to figure out how to open it to the Chimera.
Thoughts of trying to meld the people always gave her pause, but now, with Tarkyn’s head resting on the pillow next to hers, his weight pressing her down into the furs, she couldn’t help but smile.
They were the walking evidence that Anima and Chimera could co-exist.
They were the Creator’s purpose, she was certain of it.
So this was no longer a question to be asked, but only a puzzle to be solved. And until they did that, she would love him. Hold him. Protect him. And wallow in his love in return.
“Thank you for him,” she whispered, watching her mate sleep. “He’s perfect.”
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