Midnight Truth (Shifter Island #4) - Leia Stone Page 0,29

grandfather to attend to,” he said with a sad sort of smile.

Fierce determination had me clenching my teeth, and I propped myself up by my elbows, letting my hair fall around us like a tent, closing off the world.

“Rage Midnight, you are my mate, first and foremost, and I will spend the rest of my life here with you.” I hoped he took my bold declaration seriously. “I just need a little time before I’m ready … to do that, you know.”

His gaze traced over my face before meeting my own. He smiled then, and although there was sadness in that smile, there was also pride—and acceptance. “Okay, Nai. Okay.”

He yawned again, and my own body weighed heavy with the need for sleep. I slid off him but settled close, grinning when he tucked me even closer to his side.

“What time do you need to be back?” he asked, slurring with yet another yawn.

“Six … maybe a little before then.” I tacked on the latter part after only a moment of consideration. “I don’t think we want Reyna coming to get me.”

“Mother Mage, no.” He chuckled as his eyes fluttered shut.

A moment later, I felt him reach out to one of his brothers, which was a new sensation and must have been because our bond was sealed.

“Noble will get us at five, plenty of time for you to get back,” Rage said.

With his scent swirling around me, I nestled down next to my mate and fell into blissful slumber.

Chapter Five

When morning came, I didn’t want to say goodbye, but I knew if I didn’t, Reyna would show up and drag my butt back through the portal. We lingered as long as we could, but when the sun streaked the sky, Rage led me through the halls of the castle and then back toward the academy library.

I frowned. “I hate that we can’t talk while I’m there.”

Rage rubbed his hands up my arms. “I think … when you get there, try it again. Now that we’re mate-bonded, maybe we can. Also, I want to see you more.” He took a deep breath and then added, “How about every day, we meet here and catch each other up on what happened?”

I grinned. “Yes. And every week, we have date night, and I’ll stay over. You can take me out to dinner.”

Rage grinned. “I’m buying.”

“Obviously.” I rolled my eyes playfully, but it did nothing to ease the ache in my heart.

After we stepped into the library, we headed toward the back where the portal lay. Honor was there, waiting for me. Rage looked at Honor and smiled. “Thank you, brother.”

Then my mate turned his attention to the onyx stone door, his eyes narrowing with absolute hatred. “Nai, I need you to know something.”

I gulped at the seriousness of his tone, and my voice came out breathy. “What?”

“If anything ever happens to you there, if I feel you’re hurt or in pain through this—” he tapped the left side of his chest just over his heart. “—I need a way through that door. I won’t have anything keeping me from you.”

There was so much pain in his gaze, and shadowy remnants of it seeped through our bond such that I could only imagine what he’d been through after I’d left.

“Understood, my love. I’ll talk to my family and see what we can do.” I leaned forward and rose onto my tiptoes, grasping his cheeks in my hands, and then captured his mouth in a toe-curling kiss.

“Gross, get a room.”

I recognized Justice’s voice and broke away from Rage with a grin as I spun, searching for the other green-eyed brother. I found him leaning against a bookshelf, looking significantly worse for wear.

“Justice!” I pulled him into a hug, and he wrapped his arms around me, giving me a brief squeeze before he pulled away. His hair was a mess, and dark circles marred his eyes.

“You had us worried,” he said, his voice gravelly. His gaze darted to Rage before returning to me. “Honor said you’ve had a tough couple of days too.”

“You nearly started a war,” Noble called as he strode down the aisle. I turned to face the final Midnight brother, who was shaking his head and wagging a finger at me as he approached.

“Okay, lay off the guilt,” I told them, rolling my eyes. “I feel bad enough.”

And I did. Like a twenty-ton brick, guilt hung heavy in my chest—guilt heaped on top of guilt—for leaving without warning, and now … for leaving