Because the thing she’d been truly lacking all these years wasn’t closure. It was love.
As the sobs began to choke her, Delaney reached up and pressed her palm to his cheek. “All I want is to be with you.”
“D.”
He swung her into his arms and laid her on the bed, following her down. The joy that flowed between their hearts, a joy mirrored in his eyes as he lowered his face and kissed her, filled her soul.
They were still kissing when a rap sounded at the door. Slowly Tighe pulled back, his eyes golden orange and shining with love. “That will be the Shaman. Anyone else, I’d let stand out there for a couple of hours while I made love to my mate.”
She threw him a saucy look. “Sure he can’t wait?”
Tighe grinned. “Hold that thought.” He vaulted off the bed and went to open the door as Delaney sat up and rearranged her shirt.
Kara had told her that though the Shaman looked to be about fifteen, thanks to a Mage attack in his youth which ended his growth, he was in fact thousands of years old. Apparently he could see no reason to pretend to be what he wasn’t. Which probably accounted for the long hair, tight black pants, and white ruffled shirt that made her think of an eighteenth-century swordsman.
He lifted an eyebrow as he saw her adjusting her clothes, a smile hovering at his youthful-looking mouth. “Shall I come back?”
“No.” Tighe ushered him into the room.
The Shaman winked at her. “Let’s have a look at you, young lady. Lie down for me.” For minute after minute, the Shaman touched her, passed his hands over her, and pressed his fingers into her skull. Finally, he stepped back.
“Well?” Tighe asked, his voice vibrating with concern.
The Shaman clasped his hands behind his back. “Well, it’s not what I expected.” Tension filled the room, hers and Tighe’s combined. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”
Tighe did, and by the time he was through, the Shaman was nodding, an odd smile playing around his mouth.
“He left no dark magic behind,” he said. “Nor any piece of his consciousness, now that I know what I’m looking for. I gravely apologize for missing that before.”
Tighe waved away the apology. “Tell us, Shaman.”
The Shaman turned to her. “You’re completely healthy, Delaney. As strong as any other immortal.”
Delaney jerked. “I’m not immortal.” She looked at Tighe and found him staring at the Shaman with an expression that was nothing short of stunned.
“What are you saying?” Tighe demanded.
The Shaman smiled fully. “Passing your soul through her did more than heal her. You’ve shared your own immortal essence with her.”
Tighe’s gaze swung to hers, filled with the same hope, the same joy swirling inside her shocked brain. “Are you sure?”
“Cut her and see for yourself.”
Tighe scowled. “I’m not cutting her.”
Delaney leaped off the bed and pulled down the closest of Tighe’s knives. “I’ll cut me.” She pricked her finger on the tip and watched, wide-eyed as the wound closed right up again.
Her gaze swung to the Shaman. “Are you sure this is permanent? It’s not going to wear off?”
The Shaman shook his head. “It’s not going to wear off. You’ve been altered, Delaney.” He lifted a brow. “I hope this is good news?”
Her heart stuttered as she turned to Tighe. “It won’t be seventy years. Are you sure you want me around forever?”
With a shout of triumph that shook every knife on the wall, Tighe lifted her into his arms and swung her around until she was dizzy with joy.
Slowly he let her feet slide to the floor as he loved her with his eyes.
“Even eternity won’t be long enough.”
As Tighe kissed her, she felt his love wrap around her and blossom inside her in a bloom of color and life, filling her heart and mending her soul.
And through the link that bound them, she heard the unmistakable sound of a tiger’s satisfied roar.
An hour later, after the Shaman left and Tighe had made thorough love to his mate, he led her down the stairs to raid the refrigerator, the two of them grinning like a pair of guilty teenagers. Until he heard the rumble of Lyon’s voice and knew from the tone, there was trouble.
He squeezed Delaney’s hand. “The food may have to wait.” As they entered the dining room, he saw that the others were already there, sitting silently, their expressions grim as they watched their leader on his cell phone.
Tighe held Delaney against his side as they all waited. Finally, Lyon hung up.
“That was Foxx. Paenther’s missing. Somewhere in the Blue Ridge.”
“Mage?” Jag asked the question all of them feared.
Lyon nodded. “That’s what it looks like. Foxx sounds…disoriented. More than a little confused. I think he may have fallen under an enchantment as well. He’s near Winchester. I told him to stay there and wait for us.”
Lyon’s hard gaze swung to Delaney. “The Shaman says you’re no longer mortal.”
Tighe pulled her tighter against him as they both watched Lyon warily.
Delaney tensed within his hold. “Apparently not.” A smile flickered over her face as she glanced behind Lyon.
Kara was grinning at her with a double thumbs-up.
Lyon stepped toward them. “You’re a trained FBI agent.”
“I am.”
“Good. I need you to work this case, if you will, without involving the human authorities in any way. You’ll be accompanying Tighe and Jag. Can I count on you?”
Tighe felt her excitement, her pleasure, flowing down the link between them and grinned.
Delaney smiled. “Absolutely.”
As Lyon turned away to issue other orders, Tighe hugged her tight with both arms.
She looked up at him, excitement shining in her eyes. “Looks like we’re going to be partners.”
“Always,” he murmured, his eyes going hot.
In those shining dark eyes of hers he saw the warrior she would always be. His warrior.
His love.
His life.