Page 93 of Hunting for her Heart
“He likes you,” Ronan says with a smile. Pointing to Bo on our left he tells me, “That’s Tilly, and Hawk’s skyreacher is called Sky. But you’ll be riding with me and Valor today.”
I watch the other two greet their birds then they all grab their saddles and start attaching them to their skyreachers. Once done, Ronan grips me by the waist and lifts me up highonto Valor’s back. He quickly climbs up behind me and wraps one arm tightly around my waist.
It doesn’t take long for the three birds to take off, and within moments, we’re flying over the water as I grip the saddle tightly.
“We’re so high,” I say in alarm. Even if it is water below, I’m not sure I’d survive a fall from this height.
“I would never let you fall,” Ronan says before kissing the side of my neck.
It takes me a bit of time, but after about ten minutes, I finally start to relax a little and enjoy it. The skyreachers move so gracefully, it's hard not to be impressed by them.
“You know,” Ronan says, as his thumb moves back and forth across my stomach. “I had hoped when I’d be making this return trip across the sea, I would be bringing something special with me. Something to save our land and help our home. But I never imagined just how incredible it would be.”
He kisses my cheek before continuing. “I hope you know that even without your magic, all of that would still be true.”
I tilt my head back so he can see the genuine smile on my face. “Ronan, you guys chose me long before any of us knew I had that ability. Since the moment I met you, you’ve been taking care of me.”
He dips his head and gives me a brief kiss, looking satisfied when he sees the lust on my face.
“We can’t risk falling, my tiny treasure. But don’t worry,” he turns his gaze to the sky in front of us. “We have a large forest to regrow.”
I’m unsure what he means until I remember that sex is what ignites my powers. And since they have a lot of dead land, there is sure to be a lot of sex in my very near future.
We spend the rest of the journey in a pleasurable silence,and when Ronan points to the specs of land in the horizon, nerves start to coil in my belly.
“That’s home,” he tells me as we soar toward it.
My father is a terrible human being, and even the other parents on the compound had been strict and distant with their own children. A big part of me knew that wasn’t right, and I’d always thought if I was ever to be a mother, I would never treat my kids that way, but a smaller part of me fears that’s how all parents are.
Bo and the others assure me that his parents are great, but that could be a relative term. Great to them might just mean that they didn’t try to sacrifice them, like my father had planned to do to me.
As the island grows closer, some of my apprehension is shoved aside to make way for awe. The island looks incredible. There’s a variety of terrain, from tall peaks on the south coast, to what looks to possibly be beaches on the North. The center is lush and green and there isn't a building in sight.
“Hey, Ronan?” I say over my shoulder, finally ready to ask questions about my new home now that the Mating Hunt is finally over.
“Yes, my love?”
“What is your house like? Like where do you live and sleep and stuff?”
“Have we not told you?” he asks in confusion.
I shake my head. “You’ve told me about the people, and the forests and I know you live together, but for all I know, you live in a tent.”
He releases a small chuckle behind me, his thumb moving again on my stomach. “We’re so close. I think it would be better to wait and show you.”
“Fine,” I say, not entirely put off by that. It doesn't matterif we live around a campfire in the middle of the woods, as long as they’re with me.
“I will be staying with you, right?” I ask, suddenly nervous there are some unknown rules here that would make me need to stay on my own.
He hugs me tighter against him. “Of course. You will never spend a day or night without us. Our home is your home now.”
“And Bo’s parents won’t think it’s strange? Me living with you so quickly?”
“It is normal in this world,” he explains. “Especially for fated mates. What’s bothering you?” he asks as we fly closer and closer to my new home.
“I wasn’t sure if I had to stay somewhere else until we’re married. It’s like that where I’m from.”
“You’re already ours,” he reassures me. “The wedding is merely a visual celebration of our commitment in front of our village.”
