"I would know it in any world, any life, any form, anywhere in time and space. I would die for these lavender eyes to glitter with warmth - anytime, anywhere."
His words constrict around my heart like golden barbs. The beauty of them excruciating.
...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
You should be happy.
You should be able to flash a genuine grin.
I reprimand myself as the forced hint of a smile slips away from my face as soon as Elle looks away.
She's basically the Luna, at this point. Radiant, with Ashton's arm around her waist - that possessive male, I swear. I have no clue by what will of the Goddess he hasn't yet snarled at even one of all the males standing here, exchanging smiles with his mate.
They have come out this snowy morning as an officially mated pair. We have grown up seeing them as mates, but this - after every horrible thing that they've been through - is glorious. A win for the pack.
So I certainly do not begrudge the way the Alpha has glared at every male in the park who has dared extend his hand to shake the Luna's in congratulations. Elle has just concealed her laugh and smiled instead, and every one of them has understood with a grimacing smile.
His protectiveness will continue to be unusually high for a while now. And having been there throughout most of the torture sessions of those special prisoners, I can wager that he is taming the darkness within himself with his everything.
I look away from them, and focus on the papercup full of hot chocolate - that has inevitably gone cold now - and take a slow sip of the sweetness of the liquid that still spreads a warmth over my tongue.
My eyes linger over the huge Christmas tree at the centre of the park that everyone is decorating, overseen by - as usual - Cassie. Elizabeth - Elle's mother - is also helping her and the others - mostly teens - with the work, while throwing occasional adoring glances at the Alpha couple.
"She's probably already planning their wedding in her mind.", Esmerauld's voice right next to me is a surprise, but I don't startle. I'm pretty sure that no one but him and the Alpha can ever sneak up on me. Well, not even him if I'm not distracted enough.
I glance towards him. His eyes are usually just blue, except when the sun blindingly reflects off of the snow and then off of his irises. That's when they come the closest to getting a tinge of the lavender that's the dominant colour of his sister's eyes.
And those eyes are focussed on Cassandra.
As usual. Despite the fact that something has been off about these two recently. Possibly since the moment we all realised that Ashton and Elle have locked themselves in the Knights' manor to seal the bond.
"She probably would be planning yours too if the two of you hadn't suddenly gone all rocky and unsavoury.", I taunt as I empty the remaining contents of the papercup into my mouth, crush it in my hand, and neatly target and throw it into the nearest wastebin.
"Think about yourself, Allard.", he snaps.
I laugh, just to get under his skin. "I don't have to. I have beyond plenty ladies and gentlemen to do that for me. Perks of swinging both ways."
