Page 21 of The Bear’s Darling

“Ow!” a weirdly masculine, yet squeaky voice exclaimed from somewhere in the tree.

Arthur’s wide eyes cut to me. “What was that?” he whispered.

“I don’t know,” I whispered back.

Then we heard a shrill battle cry from above, followed by a black figure jumping from the great height. It was humanlike, but translucent. It was shorter than us and creepily fast.

I tried to step back, forgetting my broken leg and crying out in pain as the figure jumped me. Pain erupted across my left side, like tiny blades had cut into my skin.

“Nazuss!” Arthur screamed, then roared. Blood splattered across my face, but I was in so much pain I didn’t really register what happened.

There was a weird sound, then came the sound of something snapping. I barely even noticed when darkness took hold, lulling me into a comfortable hold.

Chapter Sixteen

We’d passed. That was the first thing Arthur had told me when I woke up to healer Janine working on my leg. I’d passed out again as soon as I took in the state of my leg.

Now, I was back in our own room, my leg bandaged as well as my torso. The weird human thing that had attacked us wasn’t supposed to be there, and we’d triggered it by hitting it with a rock. According to Arthur, the creature was one of the island's protectors and came out during the night. They slept during the day and this one had chosen to sleep somewhere it wasn’t supposed to. Willa had told him all of this while I’d been passed out behind them, dead to the world. Silas had spent hours searching for more of the creatures, but it had luckily only been the one that had gone rogue. They also shouldn’t attack students, but us attacking it had likely caused it to see us as a threat.

“You know Myve is never going to let you forget this, right?” my mate teased as he fed me some soup in bed.

I smiled at him. “I don’t mind being reminded of how brave my mate is.” And he was. Arthur had saved my life. I’d gone into this test worrying how to be equals when all I wanted to do was to protect him. Arthur didn’t need any protection, that was clear. My mate was so strong and brave, acting on instinct without any hesitation. Headmaster Wren had even visited me and apologized profusely, stating over and over how lucky I was to be alive. It was all because of my mate.

“I know you don’t,” he smiled. “But I hope you’re okay with us postponing our beach date celebration? I want you to enjoy it with me fully and not be in pain for the entire time.”

“She said a week, then I’m back to my full health,” I reminded him, shooting him a wink.

He rolled his eyes. “No funny business for a week. I mean it, Nazuss! Don’t give me that look!” I continued to bat my lashes and pout. “Argh! Why are you so damn cute?!”

I laughed, then winced as pain radiated from my side.

“Serves you right,” he grumbled, but his eyes showed his worry. It had been scary for him, he’d said, waiting for me to wake up. Willa and Silas had been there instantly once the creature had been killed. The Magic told them with a sort of lighting sequence that a guard of the island had fallen.

“Do you still have classes today?” I asked. I didn’t want to be all alone in our room, but The Magic decided whether or not he still had to go and listen in on the remaining classes. Even though we’d graduated, we still had to follow our light each day, attending whatever class it deemed we needed.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. He brushed my bangs out of the way, smiling fondly down at me. “My only job is to stay here and care for my mate.”

Warmth spread across my entire body whenever he called me his mate. It felt like such an honor being his. “Are you still nervous about your father and the king?”

Arthur’s eyes flashed with worry, then guilt. He sighed and sat next to me on the bed, taking my hand in his. “A little. I don’t think the fear will go away until we’re in your kingdom and I know for certain we’re safe.”

“I get that.” And I did. I felt the same worry, but I still knew logically that we were as protected as we could be. We also had so many wonderful allies that would help us out, if it would come to that.

“Only a few weeks until we get our soul forms,” he whispered. He was so excited about that, even though we still had no clue what it meant.

I smiled at him. “I bet your form will be beautiful, like you.”

He grinned. “You charmer.”

I shrugged, grinning back. “I do try.”

He then leaned closer and kissed my lips tenderly. “And I love you for it.”

“This is beautiful!” I exclaimed, looking out at the calm waves.

“Do you think we can swim later?” Arthur asked, sounding excited.

We’d just arrived at the secluded island for our beach date celebration. It was dinner time, so the sun had yet to set, but it was making its way down to the horizon, promising us a wonderful view as soon as it met the sea edge.