was free of the demon, but I hadn’t yet won back Emma’s heart. She was my mate… but not my girlfriend, fiancé, or otherwise my partner.
I wanted that to change. I’d made mistakes, but they were in the past. I would do whatever it took to make Emma see that I would become the mate of her dreams, become the man that she needed me to be. I’d made a fresh start, and that first step toward a brand-new life involved mending our relationship, and getting back the love we once had.
I only hoped she accepted me as I was, and didn’t turn me away.
Chapter Sixteen
Emma
The retreat was beautiful. It towered above us, built into the side of the mountain and constructed in a modern-style. I got off of Ethan’s back and began to climb up the steps with the others. He shifted and followed me. His presence was overwhelming, soul so near it was overpowering my senses. It was like when I moved, he moved. I’d felt the power of our bond before, but now that the leshane was out of the way, it was as if Ethan and I were one spirit, and not two separate people. I could hardly stand to breathe.
Delmare noticed my concerned look. “Something wrong?”
“Does it feel like this… all the time?” I whispered.
“The bond? Yeah.” Delmare nodded solemnly. “Intense, isn’t it?”
“I thought it was strong before. But this is so different.” The need to be around Ethan was consuming me, suffocating the desire to do or want anything else. I thought I’d go crazy from the emotions rattling my senses.
“Well, you’ve never been in his presence before without the demon being there. He was possessed when you met him,” Delmare pointed out. “All those powerful feelings are just now flooding out.”
“I don’t even know if I want them.” Ethan and I weren’t together… and gods, that seemed like a crime now.
“Just don’t think about it. Follow your heart,” Delmare suggested. “I suppressed what I felt for Stefan for too long, and I regret that now. What did you guys talk about up in that attic?”
“He said he was going to change,” I mused. “He wanted to put me first, and make me his priority.”
“Do you think he’s going to?”
“Yes. He wouldn’t have been able to get the demon out if he wasn’t serious about becoming a new person.”
“Then let him have that chance,” Delmare suggested. “You still love him. You can break the bond later if he doesn’t live up to his promises. But why not take this time to be happy?”
Delmare’s words made my loud thoughts quieter. I was still on the fence about Ethan, yet she was right. I loved him, and I didn’t have to give up on us anymore. What was keeping us apart was no longer there. Things could be different, but only if I didn’t push him away.
I had changed into a better person. Why couldn't my mate?
We entered the house, and Stefan turned on the lights. Sounds of delight rang out from the group. The house was huge, decorated in a trendy and modernist way. Alexei began rummaging through the giant fridge in the kitchen for food. Kiara, Odette and Theo jumped on the sectional in front of the fireplace, and turned on the seventy-inch screen TV to watch a movie.
Stefan dragged Delmare to the nearest bedroom. She laughed and grabbed a bottle of champagne that was lying on the counter.
“If you’ll excuse us, my mate and I are going to enjoy the master suite,” Stefan purred. “Don’t come in unless you want to see some perverted stuff.”
“Trust us, nobody wants to.” Kiara laughed.
The house was gorgeous, but I couldn’t enjoy it. All I wanted was space to be alone with Ethan. We still had a lot to talk about.
Ethan sensed my need for isolation. “We’re taking the bedroom upstairs. Emma has to lie down.”
“Have fun,” Alexei said. Nobody watched us as we climbed the stairs. The sound of the TV faded as Ethan and I walked together to the bedroom in the farthest corner of the house.
I opened the door and immediately relaxed. The suite was gorgeous. The lights were dim, and the bed was pushed against a wall of floor-length windows that showed the mountain range beyond. The attached bathroom had a massive Jacuzzi tub big enough for two people, and fluffy towels that felt like blankets as I ran my fingers over them.
I heard the sound of the water running. Ethan had turned