He feels guilty about leaving, thinking he could have stopped the king from slaughtering all those women, but that’s the kind of man Grayson is.
Pausing, Grayson takes a deep breath. “Anyway, as soon as I got the opportunity, I started to track you down. There is something awful happening to the land, Clarissa.” His eyes are haunted, and I know I’ll have to update him at some point before he leaves. He must have seen some of the darkness the Mother warned me about. “But I found you. I promised myself that the first thing I would say when I found you was that I love you. Guess I messed that up.” He laughs again, but it holds no humour as he shakes his head.
I know what I need to do. I’m afraid, but I can’t keep living my life by avoiding situations that scare me. “You know what loving me entails?” My body is shaking and I feel nauseous, but as I look at him, I know I’m doing the right thing.
Either way, the answer terrifies me, but he needs to know that this is no fairy tale and there is no happily ever after in my future. Vaeril and Tor have made the choice to stay with me, and they know the risks and consequences of that, probably even better than I do. It’s only fair to Grayson that he’s given that same opportunity.
“I have no certainties to offer you other than my love in return,” I murmur, watching his eyes sparkle with emotion. He opens his mouth as if to speak, but I hold up my hand. “There’s a war coming, and I don’t know how we are going to survive it. What I do know is that you are all important and will all play a role in helping me complete the task the Great Mother has set for me.” I emphasise how all of them have a place beside me. Pausing, I push back a stray lock of hair again, suddenly feeling anxious about how he’s going to react. “Is that something you can accept?”
He makes a low noise in the back of his throat that sounds like a laugh as I meet his gaze. “I’m not thrilled about the elf,” he tries to joke, smiling at me, but I can hear the tightness in his voice. Realising his jest has fallen flat, he blows out a long breath and takes a step closer, clutching my hand in his. “However, I trust you, and I trust the Great Mother.”
Something flares within me at his words, like a huge weight has been lifted from me, and a smile spreads across my face as I look up at him. “I love you.” The words are whispered, but you would have thought I shouted them from the astonished look on Grayson’s face. It quickly changes to one of joy, and I wish I’d told him sooner. The stress and pain that was etched onto his face falls away, making him look years younger. Surging forward, he scoops me up into his arms, gazing down at me like I’m the most precious thing in the world and he’s lucky enough to be in my presence. It’s amazing how those three little words have the power to make such a difference.
“I love you,” he whispers reverently, before leaning down to kiss me, but I meet him halfway. Our lips connect in a passionate dance as our bodies take over, saying everything words cannot.
I place my hands on his chest, and I feel him shudder under my touch, his skin almost feverish as I skim my fingers over his abs. Grayson rests his hands on my waist, groaning into my mouth, and I gently run my nails down his torso, flicking over his nipples as I trail down to the waistband of his trousers. “Clarissa—” He groans into my mouth again, and I can’t stop my grin as I bite down lightly on his lower lip. “Fuck,” he curses, his hands tightening on my waist, and I can feel the evidence of his arousal pressing against my hip. “I don’t want our first time, when we form our connection, to be in a tent,” he starts through gritted teeth, like he’s trying to convince himself, and I have to fight back a frustrated groan. “It should be special—”
“Grayson.” My hands still on the edge of his waistband, and I wait for him to look at me. “You’re leaving in the morning,