Page 131 of Ravenous

What if hewasdifferent from other Lykae? What if hehadfallen for her? If she’d truly enchanted him, he wouldn’t have lasted a week without her.

Maybe her own insecurity had twisted everything.

Oh.

How could it not?

She read on:

You spoke of factions and war. But what if we could leave all that behind?

The letter described a portal to the mortal world opening on Mount Nothrior under the Hunter’s Moon—midnight only—before closing for three more Accessions. No wonder Thane couldn’t be contained there tonight. Ditch had said another party had “booked” the venue.

Had it ever.

Meet me at the base of the Mount. Walk through that threshold hand in hand with me. In the mortal world, we’ll live like gods—travel, taste every cuisine, feel the kiss of fabled oceans. We can learn what happened in the Exile.

No mate can find me in Gaia; I choose you, even over thepossibilityof her. Choose me back, Meera.

We deserve each other. We deserve more than the Skein can offer.

Let me know if I have a chance, and I will wait for you.

If you love me back—and I think you do—then come. Let’s set off, witch. Let’s never look back.

All my heart and soul,

Lowell

Her own heart thundered. Tears struck the paper like rain.

This letter was dated more than a week ago. She hadn’t answered him! Was it too late? Would he still go to the Mount?

She clutched the letter to her chest and looked around her home—once cozy, now echoing without him. Outside, the moon continued its ascent. Their one chance to choose each other dwindled with every passing minute.

He’d put everything on the line, was ready to abandon his kingdom and mate for her. But she hadn’t responded.

He probably thought she wanted nothing to do with him.I wanteverythingto do with him.

Could love triumph over fated matehood? Could two people choose each other over destiny?

Could she?

Folding and pocketing his letter, she climbed the stairs to her attic and pulled out the cradle her mother had rocked her in. A future child—Meera’s child—might sleep there one day. Would she give that up? Would she give up living among her kind, learning from other witches and acquiring wisdom?

Her breath shuddered out.

No male was worth that.

She repeated it. Told herself again and again.

And still…

She touched the cradle, grieving the child she’d never hold.

And still…

She drifted downstairs and dressed for travel.