i 0e57392105b539eb (28 page)

In the meantime, she had plenty to keep her busy. As requested, she’d

been providing Jax with regular updates. Even though, she usually had

very little to report.

Cami and Tariq had left shortly after Ivy’s bonding celebration

aboard the
Contingency
, Kai’s personal cruiser. They’d promised to visit

once things had settled on Xenthian, but Ivy imagined it would be some

time before she saw her friends again.

Sion, however, had decided to stay, at least until after the summit. He

made the excuse that Ivy needed someone to watch her back, and while

she appreciated his concern, she also thought he was a rotten liar.

Whatever his reasons for staying on the planet, they had nothing to do

with her.

Still, she’d let him keep his secrets. Right then, she had more pressing

concerns.

“Where did all of these come from?” Ivy scrolled through the vid files

on the comm glass in their quarters. “I don’t know any of these people.”

Pressing against her back, Kai wound his arms around her and

stroked her stomach in light circles. “They’re well wishes from the

people of Xenthian,” he explained. “There’s one from Vasera Clearwater.

There’s also one from Vasere Sundale, but I suggest you skip Jericho’s.”

He bent, pressing their cheeks together, and sighed happily. “There is

one from Earth as well.”

“A vid file for me?” Wow, news traveled fast. “Who’s it from?”

“I didn’t watch it, dove.” His lips traveled over the curve of her jaw,

coming to rest at the hollow behind her ear. “Why don’t you play it?”

Frowning, Ivy started the recording. Her eyes rounded and her heart

nearly beat out of her chest when her parents appeared on the comm

glass.

“Congratulations, baby!” her mother sang, waving like mad. “We just

heard the good news, and we’re so happy for you.”

“Your parents?” Kai asked, stiffening against her.

Ivy only nodded, too stunned to speak.

“We always knew you’d amount to something,” Max added. “It just

took crashing your ship to do it.”

“Exactly.” Kenneth smiled, showing off his impossibly white teeth.

“Finally, something we can be proud about. Queen!”

“Come visit soon!” Julia finished.

When the screen went blank, Ivy didn’t move, didn’t speak. Just

when she’d thought her parents couldn’t be any more ridiculous, they’d

gone and proven her wrong.

“I’m sorry, dove. I didn’t know.” Kai squeezed her tightly and kissed

the top of her head. “Are they always like that?”

“Actually, that was probably the nicest thing they’ve ever said to

me.”

And yet, it hadn’t really been about her. It had been about what she

could provide them—money, power, prestige—and her new position as

queen of Sommervail delivered all those things. They’d never change,

and she was tired of basing her self-worth upon their level of approval.

“Fuck them,” Kai spat, surprising her with his vulgarity. “You don’t

need that kind of poison in your life.”

With a smile, Ivy turned to face her mate and rested her hands on his

shoulders. “No, they’re not important.” She didn’t want to talk about her

parents anymore. “Come on, love. I need to get Hamlet from the gardens

before Lorcan decides to cook him.”

Now that they were bonded, Ivy no longer had to rely on channeling

magic from Kai through her pendant. The same magic that flowed

through him now resided within her. She still had a lot to learn, but she’d

been able to master a few basic spells. Currently, Kai was teaching her

how to transport.

“Remember,” he said, his tone wary but encouraging, “visualize

where you want to go. When you feel like you’re falling, don’t fight it.”

That part always got her—the feeling of falling into the unknown,

and she still struggled to breathe through the fear.

“I’ve got it.”

Gripping Kai’s shoulders, she closed her eyes, picturing the stone-

lined gardens behind the citadel. A rush of power swept over her,

sending electrical currents racing across her skin. Then, she was falling,

tumbling into a void that leeched all the air from her lungs.

Her knees crashed against something hard and wet, splashing water

into her face and down the front of her tunic. Well, she’d managed to get

them to the gardens. She just hadn’t intended to transport them into the

shallow fishpond.

“You fought it,” Kai grumbled, catching a bright green fish when it

tried to swim up his shirt. “You always fight it.”

Ignoring him, Ivy climbed over the rock wall and knelt in the grass

to wring the water from her hair. She’d get better. Eventually.

Loud squeaks echoed through the gardens as Hamlet bounded to her

and scrambled into her lap, nudging her happily with his nose. He didn’t

care if she sucked at magic, just as long as she gave him plenty of belly

rubs and treats.

Hamlet’s brothers and sisters squeaked their welcomes as well, but

they were all much too busy chasing willowhips and lounging in the sun

to come greet her properly. Even Lorcan appeared to be enjoying the

afternoon. He’d settled on one of the stone benches at the edge of the

garden with a leather-bound book, his nose buried between the pages as

he studiously tried to ignore them.

“I’m sorry, dove.” Kneeling beside her in the grass, Kai scratched

behind Hamlet’s ears and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “I shouldn’t have

been cross with you.”

He really hadn’t been. She’d have been annoyed if someone had

dumped her into the middle of a pond without any warning.

“I’m sorry I got you all wet.”

“Mm, maybe I can return the favor,” he purred.

“You are incorrigible.” Still, she wouldn’t say no if he wanted to

persuade her. “We should probably find some dry clothes.” Or no

clothes at all, whatever worked. “Uh, let’s walk back.” Knowing her luck,

she’d transport them into the fighting pit of the training hall—during a

sparring match.

As they passed a trellis covered in bright blue leaves, Kai stopped

and stroked the plant, his expression almost sad. “Do you want to go

home? I know what I said about your parents, but they
are
still your

parents. Do you miss them?”

“No, I don’t really miss them. I spent my entire life trying to please

them and make them proud, but I’ve figured out something very

important.”

“Mm, and what is that?”

Ivy turned her face up to the sun, smiling as the rays warmed her

skin. “They’re not my family.” Blinking to dispel the dots of light that

dance in her vision, she turned to her mate, her grin stretching even

wider. “You are, and this is my home.”

“I just don’t ever want you to feel alone here, or regret making the

decision to stay.” He turned back to her, settling his hands on her hips as

he searched her eyes. “I couldn’t bear for you to be unhappy, dove.”

There would be challenges, and she’d miss some things from home,

like coffee and chocolate. She’d never regret choosing to love Kai,

though. Cuddling Hamlet to her chest, she pressed her palm against her

belly and stretched up to give her mate a gentle kiss.

“I’m not going anywhere. I have everything I need right here.”

THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

[email protected]

Born with a silver tongue and a pen in her hand, Kali spends her days

sleeping (she's part vampire) and her nights crafting scandalous

romances with larger-than-life heroes.

Self-proclaimed patron goddess of reclusiveness, Kali currently resides

in the Midwest with her oddly supportive family and tragically

misunderstood cat.

Seriously, though, the cat is evil.

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3013: MATED by Laurie Roma

3013: RENEGADE by Susan Hayes

3013: CLAIMED by Laurie Roma

3013: STOWAWAY by Susan Hayes

3013: SALVATION by Laurie Roma

3013: MENDED by Kali Argent

3013: TARGETED by Susan Hayes

3013: CHAOS by Laurie Roma

3013: ALTERED by Kali Argent