Alpha's Promise - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,116

he took Grace’s hand and disappeared out the door.

Ivar stood and moved toward her, all grace and sleek muscle. “Trust me.”

She lifted her chin, facing him calmly. “I do trust you.”

“Then tell me how to get to Quade. The wormhole moved as I was going through it, and I can see by your equations that you know exactly how much.” He cupped her chin. “I’m asking you for this. I have to try and save him. I made a vow.”

Her entire body hurt all of a sudden, the pain spiraling out from her chest. “You can’t bring him through this wormhole.”

“I’m asking you to trust me, and somehow, at some point, I’ll bring those instruments back with readings. Just think of the decades of research they’ll have in them since time moves so quickly there.” The intensity in his blue eyes was almost blinding. “Trust me. I will come back to you.”

She swept her hand to the board. “The math says otherwise.” All her life, she’d depended on math. It was real and could be proven. In fact, she had proofs right there on the boards.

He leaned in, his masculine scent washing over her. “I know what the math says. Trust me, not the math.”

She looked up at him. Did he have any idea what he was asking? By the expression on his face, he did. Her heart thumped. He’d said he was all in. Did she have that strength? “I love you, Ivar.”

“I know,” he whispered, kissing her again.

She leaned back, her heart cracking. She did trust him. Even more than the math. “All right. This is how you get there after these new changes.” Then she took the marker and diagrammed the solution for him.

* * * *

Dawn was finally arriving in hues of gold and pink across a still dark sky. Ivar finished dressing in the protective outfit and took a moment with his brothers, looking at each in turn. Logan and Ronan were happily mated, while Garrett and Benny were very happily not mated. Adare, on the other hand, had shit to work on. But for now, as the six of them stood outside in the rain, he tried to find the right words. “I—” His chest flushed.

“Ditto,” Benny boomed, slapping him on the back.

The rest nodded.

Ronan stepped up. “If I could go instead of you, I would.” His aqua eyes were so much like Quade’s, it hurt to look at them.

“I know, brother,” Ivar said. “I made Quade a promise, and I have to keep it.” They were bonded in blood and bone. To the soul. He trusted his woman, so he needed to draw on her mathematical skills for a solution. For now, they just had to make sure Quade had time to survive. If there was a way for Ivar to take his place in the meantime, he’d do it. But he needed Quade’s cooperation.

Logan and Garrett hugged him, and he was careful of Logan’s still healing neck as he hugged them back. They all moved away, and Adare stood before him. “You dragged me out of every funk I’ve gotten into the last few centuries. Thank you,” Adare said, his jaw grim.

Ivar nodded. “You’re my best friend. Always have been.” He searched for the right words. “I’m coming back. Take care of Promise until I do.”

“You know it,” Adare said, emotion in his dark eyes.

“And give your mating a chance. Stop being a bossy asshole and get to know the woman. Grace is special.” Which was probably why Adare was running like hell in the opposite direction.

“Come back, and you can Oprah me all you want. Here. The packs are all full of what you wanted.” Adare hugged him hard and then stepped back, handing over several backpacks. The final pack, a light blue one, would remain in this world.

Promise came out the back door and ran to him, hitting him hard. Her eyes were cloudy. “Please be safe. Remember the path.”

He had memorized her equation already. A twist to the left, more than last time, and hopefully he’d end up where he wanted to be. Hopefully the path wasn’t closing even now. “I love you.” It humbled him that she’d believed him over the math telling her the opposite. That she hadn’t fought him when he’d said he had to keep his promise to Quade. His heart was full of her.

“I love you too.” She swallowed and handed him a notebook. “If there’s a way somehow, bring back any of the