Agitated, she waited. Mison drew abreast of Jetr, and Jetr stepped forward as A'Ran stopped a safe distance away. She gazed at him in the moons' light, tears building again. Everything from his unshaven jaw to his crooked nose drew her hungry gaze, and she took him in, feeling as if she'd never truly seen him before. His fierceness took her breath away, and the dark circles beneath his eyes drew her sympathy.
"You both know how agreements are recorded," Jetr said, holding out his arm with the armband. Mison did so as well. "You both must agree to the terms you made, and I will agree on behalf of the Council."
A'Ran held out his arm as well, saying, "I agree." Mison echoed his words, as did Jetr. The three bands lit up and faded, and all three men dropped their arms. Jetr stood aside. A'Ran's gaze turned to her. Despite the piercing gaze she'd never quite gotten used to, she stepped past Jetr and looked up at her mate, taking him in breathlessly once again. She doubted she'd ever get used to his towering size or strength. He was beautiful in the moonlight, with the gentle light of the moons clashing with his ferocious warrior body. His large frame radiated heat. She couldn't quell the deep ache within her that longed for his touch.
They gazed at each other for a long moment, each taking the other in.
"I made my choice," she whispered. "Thought you might want to know."
"I do," he replied in a tone just as quiet.
"Anshan is mine. You can come with me, if you want," she joked.
He touched her face gently, the slightest smile crossing his features. The hot energy of Anshan branded her from the inside out, and she shuddered. She needed him too much to wait and closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around him. His heat and the charged Anshan life force washed over her, through her.
She was home.
"Did you really blow up Anshan?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Wasn't that a little brash?"
"It was a high-risk, strategic choice, like kidnapping my lifemate from the Qatwali," he replied, wrapping his arms securely around her. A laugh bubbled from within her, along with tears. Her gaze blurred, and hot moisture burned down her cheeks.
"Nishani … Kiera … " he said softly. She pulled away enough to look at him. He wiped the tears from her cheeks with a large thumb. "Forgive me. I've been a warrior for too long to understand how to be the lifemate you deserve. It should not have taken this to make me appreciate what I have."