Page 336 of Awakened

“How do we make this right, Dax?”

“We’ll figure it out.”

“Do you really believe that?” He asks as we start walking, falling behind the rest of the group and making sure to keep a significant distance between Idril and us.

“I have to. Because if I don’t… what the fuck is the point of anything?”

Vae doesn’t reply, but I’m not expecting him to.

Side by side, we walk out of the basin and start the journey back to HQ. Two Alphas. Centuries’ worth of battle experience.

And yet I know in my fucking soul that none of those battles mean shit compared to what’s coming.

This battle is the only one that matters. The only one that counts. It’s going to be the hardest fight of our lives, but every second will be worth it a thousand times over.

If Idril thinks she’s seen me dig my heels in, she hasn’t seen anything yet. I’m an Alpha facing a future without my Fated Mate. I’ll fight for her until the day I die if that’s what it comes to.

She’s experienced the strength of my hatred.

Now I need to prove that I can care for her even harder. And I will. I’ll prove just what kind of male I really am. I know nothing can erase the way I treated her, but I’ll spend the next two thousand years loving her enough to bury the pain.

Or I’ll die trying.

Epilogue

Asterion | The Between | Present Day

It’s time.

Adjusting my cufflinks for the eighth time, I lift my chin and straighten my shoulders.

“Did I tell you? The last bit of the Last Daughter’s wardrobe was finally delivered yesterday. Cutting it a little close, don’t you think?”

Silence.

“Oneric?”

“Yes?”

I narrow my eyes and poke at my Fated Mate through our Bond. He grunts, shooting me a glare.

“You know I hate when you do that. Feels like an electric shock,” he grumbles.

“Lies. You just don’t like to admit you’re ticklish and have to bite back laughter so no one dares question your stoic, broody asshole Commander persona.”

“You told me about the wardrobe over breakfast this morning,” he reminds me.

“I did not,” I gasp, turning from the mirror to face him. “I haven’t told anyone that!”

Oneric narrows his eyes, but I can see the dimple in his cheek, so I know he’s actually biting back a smile. “Asty, I’m the one who opened the door when the seamstress’ apprentice dropped it off. You told me all about the delays while we transferred eighteen boxes and garment bags from his carriage to ours.”

Damnit. He’s right.

With a sigh, he crosses the room and stands behind me at the vanity.

“You need to get some sleep, Love. You’re running yourself ragged. One of these days you’re going to forget your own name.” He presses a soft kiss to my temple to take the sting out of his words. “Do you really not remember telling me about the new wardrobe?”

“I remember it now,” I tell him. “But you’re probably right. I just want things to be perfect for her arrival. She deserves beautiful things to make up for the awful life she’s lived so far.”