Page 23 of Marked Mate
She sniffled. Shuddered.
“What is wrong? Are you in pain?”
“He killed Lilah.” Her words were broken.
“No, love. Your golden beast is alive. Injured, but alive. I promise you.”
The news seemed to break the tight control she had on her emotions. She trembled as I carried her to the safety of my ship. Together we knelt beside Lilah. The valiant dog managed to lift her head and offer her mistress a kiss in the form of a swipe of her enormous tongue on Rebecca’s wrist.
She would live.
I paid no attention to the Atlans, looking away from my mate only when one of them appeared at my side with a ReGen wand. I lifted the device to Rebecca’s neck. She tried to shove my hands away.
“Lilah needs it more than I do.”
I grabbed both of her hands in one of mine and waited for her to look at me. Our gazes locked. “You will always come first, Rebecca. Always.”
She lowered her eyelids for long seconds. I expected an argument.
When her eyes opened I saw something there I had never seen before. I didn’t dare hope.
Then she said the words.
“I love you, Stark. Thank you for taking care of me.”
“I love you, Rebecca. If you will have me, I’d like to take care of you for the rest of our lives.”
“Forever?”
“Yes.”
“On Everis?”
“Yes.”
“Can Lilah come?”
“Of course.”
The Atlans moved around us, taking care of the ship and their weapons. Rokor’s body had been incinerated. The ship lifted from the ground and still I did not move. One of them handed the DNA tracer back to me and I shoved it in my pocket without looking. I couldn’t take my eyes from Rebecca. Needed her answer.
“Yes. I want to be with you.” She leaned back and exposed her neck, trusting me to heal her, to take care of her.
To love her.
Always.
“Okay.”
