Page 25 of Rising Reign

“I love you, too.” I whispered the words over his lips, praying it would be strong enough to carry us beyond whatever was to come.

“I don’t want you to be anyone but who you are. I’m sorry I pulled back.”

My fingers sifted into his hair, keeping our connection as I straightened so I could really see him. “I get it. Self-protection. And we’re talking it through now. I just…I missed you.”

Locke’s expression softened. “I missed you, too. More than you’ll ever know.” He raised a hand to cup my face, his thumb tracing my lower lip. “Will you do something for me?”

I cocked my head to one side. “If it’s lock myself in some underground bunker until all this is over, the answer is no.”

Locke barked out a laugh. “No underground bunkers. I promise.”

“Then, yes. I’ll do something for you. Anything for you.”

That soft look was back on Locke’s face, the one I loved more than any other expression he wore. He reached over, put on his glasses, and opened the bedside table drawer. He fished out a wooden box and handed it to me.

The box itself was stunning, artwork etched into its surface like a tattoo. Moons and hearts formed a stunning pattern across the lid and down the sides. “It’s gorgeous.”

“Open it,” Locke pressed.

My fingers stilled on the lid for a moment before I lifted it. As I did, my lips parted. Inside was a necklace. A delicate gold chain with a lock pendant. As my fingertips ghosted over the metal, I gasped. “It’s enchanted.”

A buzz lit in my hand like a stroke to the senses. It was magic meant for me.

“Only you or one of your bondmates can remove it. It’s spelled with a locator enchantment. And there’s a tracker chip in the lock itself. We’ll be able to find you wherever you are.”

Tears pressed against the backs of my eyes. “This kind of magic…it isn’t easy to come by.” And I knew it had a high cost.

Locke’s thumb ghosted over my lower lip again. “Worth it. Over and over again.”

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

Locke lifted the jewelry and fastened it around my neck. “A reminder of us. That I’m with you always.”

I leaned down and brushed my lips over his. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

And then my stomach rumbled.

Locke laughed, lifting me as he stood and slid his feet into his shoes. “Let’s get you fed.”

“I had other plans,” I grumbled.

Locke tapped my ass as he set me down. “Later. Gotta take care of my girl first.”

I mumbled something about sex winning out over food but still headed for the door.

We made our way downstairs and toward the sound of voices in the kitchen. I could smell the scents of homemade pasta sauce simmering, and my stomach rumbled again.

“Told you that you needed to eat,” Locke said with a grin.

“Yeah, yeah.”

Just as we hit the bottom floor, the front door opened. I came up short at the appearance of Ender. His gaze instantly cut to me, and his expression shuttered.

That tiny movement cut deeper than I wanted to admit—the fact that Ender didn’t want me to know anything he was thinking or feeling, that he couldn’t share even one tiny truth with me.

“Feeling better?” he rasped.