Mated to the Chaos - Georgette St. Clair Page 0,65

men. I never knew about that when I came to you. I just found out, but it was enough to anger you. Your rage was something I couldn't quell, and I couldn't explain. How could I after I had lied to you after I hadn't told you the truth of who I was and what she was to me.

“The lies between us were enough for you to strike out. And so our past was etched. The moment you killed me, my Norn powers activated and the past we’d created occurred over and over again. Always at odds. Always a rival for my sister. Always against her. That was what we created, all because I didn't tell the truth. It is all my fault. And the reason Skuld turned out to be who she is today is because of me as well.”

Carlo pulled her tighter to his chest. “It isn’t your fault. Nanshe. Don't believe that. Things happen. We were only human at the time. We didn't know anything. We made wrong choices and mistakes. That, in itself, is being human. You have suffered that fate so many times, and I did the same no matter how many lifetimes I went through with you. I didn't learn from my own mistake that we shoulder some of that burden together. Don't take it all alone.”

“But don't you see, Carlo? If I had simply told you the truth, we never would have been here, and perhaps many people in Encantado wouldn’t have died because of it.”

Carlo lifted her face and looked down at her. “That is not your fault. You made a mistake. It’s that simple. We can’t always control which roads we must take in life. I know this because I thought leaving you would be better than killing you. Because of what I saw in the past, I nearly made the same mistake and didn't give you a chance to explain to me why. I didn't give life a chance to happen. And because of that, you were taken and Skuld hurt you.”

“At least I found out the truth. Something good came of it.”

Carlo sighed and pulled her even tighter into his chest. “But I will not leave your side again, that I can promise. It doesn't matter what Skuld wants to do. We will fight her, and we will win.”

“She is so powerful, Carlo.”

“So are you, my mate, and you are not alone. All of Encantado is behind you. And you came to us with this danger, despite knowing I could have killed you. I will never forget that.”

“But–”

He crashed his mouth to hers, cutting her off.

This selfless woman was hurting, silent sobs racking her body as he held her. But when she walked, she held her head high, her shoulders back, and her spine stiff as steel. She was so strong yet so fragile. When was the last time she’d relied on someone else? When was the last time someone had promised to take care of her instead of letting her face the world alone? Carlo wasn't sure, but he knew he would never leave her again.

Carlo would always be by her side. And tonight, he would prove it. He would show her just how important she had become to him.

He ate at her mouth, sucking on her bottom lip to open for his seeking tongue. Their tongues dueled with each other, wet and hot. Her body pressed against his, but her dress was in the way, blocking him from her heated skin. He wanted to feel her flesh, expose her to him and see her as she truly was with nothing between them. The past was all out; everything they needed to know was clear. They no longer had to hide anything from each other. And it was wondrous. He rolled them to place her on her back and slowly kissed his way down her neck. She arched her back, giving him more access.

Carlo removed her dress, every bit of her exposed skin available for his tongue, his teeth, his lips. He studied her, learned her, paid attention to every gasp, every moan. He loved the way she clenched the covers when he nipped at the underside of her breast. He was entranced by how she bit her lip when he traced his tongue across her nipples. Even more so, he was taken by the way she sucked in her breath when he kissed her navel before trailing his tongue over her stomach and nipping at her pelvic