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He stood on the rock, the cold da in his cat’s face His vision was clearer, his senses keener, his body stronger, more vibrant,through his aze swung to Skye One with his beast, perhaps, but not whole Not co of his lass

Belatedly, he realized the wind had stopped, the sky had cleared, and in the east, the sun was starting to rise He reached for the beauty ned his heartand stopped midreach as he stared at the sleeve on his arm

"How is this possible? I lose ifts co a lot of that power" Skye’s smile was the sweetest in the world "Now that he’s with you, you’ll both be stronger"

He gathered her hard against hi Finally he set her down and turned to hishih," Tighe said, a quiet grin on his face and wonder in his eyes

"I feelreborn," Paenther said

His brothers gathered around hi his His only disappointment was that Vhyper wasn’t there to share it with hiht take a while, but it would corasped his forear When he pulled back, a rare smile lit his friend’s face "You look like a new man, BP"

"I am Thanks to Skye" Paenther reached for her where she’d stepped aside and pulled her against his side

Lyon held out his hand to her, his a serious as he offered her this purposeful act of trust

Her expression uncertain, Skye placed her hand in Lyon’s He sandwiched it between the two of his "The Feral Warriors are in your debt, Skye If you ever need us, all you have to do is call And you’re welco as you wish to stay"

Paenther watched her eyes tear as a warm, sweet smile creased her face "Thank you, Lyon"

His heart burned with love

Skye looked at Paenther in surprise as he gave a tug on her hand, pulling her to a stop as the Ferals and their woed, rocky woods after the ritual She’d heard Paenther say he felt reborn, but she didn’t think he had anything on her For the first tiood power instead of dark, without pain, and the rush had been breathtaking Wonderful warht

She’d healed Paenther And pleased Lyon The Chief of the Ferals had accepted her and told her she could stay

A bittersweet sht tears to her eyes, the decision wasn’t hers She could only stay if Paenther wanted her to

"Problehe asked, his arm looped around Delaney’s shoulders

Paenther sain "I just want to talk to Skye without an audience, Stripes We’ll be right behind you"

As the others passed, he took her into his arraphing a tension that had her starting to worry Was this when he would tell her that a part of him would always love her, but of course she couldn’t stay? That he appreciated her help and wished her the best of luck in her life?

She buried her face against his warm chest and steeled herself for whatever he needed to say, refusing to let her grief show She wouldn’t do that to him To either of the a deep breath, struggling to hide the heart that was breaking, she pulled back and looked up into his beloved face

His expressioninfinitely tender "I love you, Skye Since the moment I saw you in the Market, I’ve been obsessed with you Even while I still thought I hated you, I was falling in love with you And I kno that even though my panther and I are finally one, we’re not whole And we never will be without you"

Tears sprang to her eyes "What are you saying?" she breathed

He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek "I want you to be my mate, Skye To be by my side Forever I can’t live without you"

She stared at hi the words that had lived in her deepest drea

"PaentherI’rinned at her Grinned "You don’t say"

But it wasn’t funny Tears burned her eyes, tears that were part joy and part heartbreak "Don’t joke, Paenther They’ll never accept ain, but his expression never lost that wonderful tenderness

"Don’t cry, little one They’ll accept you Sooner or later, they’ll accept you But until then, on’t live at Feral House I’ll find a place nearby and have it warded against draden attack It’ll work, Beauty I promise I’ll make it work"

His expression becahter, Skye Don’t let theht For me For us All three of us"

"Three of us?"

A tiny smile formed on his mouth "You, rowling at me to make you say yes" He cupped her face in his hands "You’reforward, he kissed her forehead, then pulled back to look into her eyes again, love shining from his own "Be my mate"

The tears slipped down her cheeks "Yes A hundred times yes, Paenther A hundred times yes"

Paenther pulled her into his arhly, the kiss tender and fierce Everything she’d ever dared drea by the cars when they finally caught up with thereed to become my mate," Paenther announced "We’ll find a place to live not far from here"

"You don’t want to live at Feral House?" Kara asked Her gaze turned to Skye "It’s a little crazy, but I think you’d like it"

Lyon looked at his second "I’d rather you be at Feral House, BP" He turned to her "If you don’t want to live with us, Skye, I’ll accept your wishes, but I’d like you to reconsider I meant what I said You’re welcolad to have you join us as a permanent addition"

Skye looked up at Paenther, but he didn’t return her gaze

Inexplicably, his jaw had hardened "Does that go for everyone? I won’t subject her to prejudice day in and day out"

"Prejudice?" Tighe asked "Were you paying any attention to the rest of us out there on the goddess rock? We were grinning like loons That woic touch, BP And I rowled "What if her people coain? She’s ours, now She stays here where we can protect her"

"Does that go for everyone?" Paenther asked

To ato spill over again

Paenther turned to her "What do you think?"

She lost her battle with the tears As they slid unheeded down her cheeks, she told theht I’ve waited a long time to find another one" Her voice broke on the last

Kara bounded over to her and wrapped her in a joyous hug Aat Skye