Segreti had started to doze off again when Ezra’s quiet voice met his ear. He almost hadn’t heard him with how soft he murmured the words.
“I have never wished harm upon anyone, no matter how wicked, but him…” Ezra sniffed. When he next spoke, his voice was low and full of disdain. “Had I known what he’d done when he’d stepped foot in this castle, I would have torn his throat out with my own jaws.”
“There is no need for you to shed blood on my account, my Ezra. That foul beast is where he belongs.” Segreti kissed the top of Ezra’s head before releasing a heavy sigh. “I wish you’d never seen such repulsiveness. What you must think of me.”
“Of you?” Ezra pulled back, his frown deep.
“Knowing I… What I allowed him to do.” A tear managed to escape, and Segreti swiftly wiped it away. “I should’ve chosen death. It would’ve been more honorable, but I was a coward.”
The anger that filled Ezra’s gaze surprised Segreti. “There was no ‘allow’ in the horrors forced upon you. Pavoni stole your right to choose. The only coward in that cell was that repulsive beast.”
“I would’ve spared you, and you wouldn’t have seen me degrade myself in such a fashion. How can you bear to look at me?”
Ezra cupped Segreti’s face and gently lifted it to meet his gaze. The heartbreak in Ezra’s eyes took Segreti’s breath away. “Do you know what I see when I look at you?”
Segreti pressed his lips together in a thin line and shook his head. He didn’t deserve such tenderness.
“I see a beautiful warrior. A savior of many. I see an Orso general who sacrificed himself to save others. You knew Pavoni’s wrath would fall upon you, yet you spared those villagers because your good heart wouldn’t allow you to carry out such barbaric orders. I see before me the soul of a warrior whom I have come to admire and would be proud to call my mate, should he choose to have me.”
Segreti stared at him. “You… you would take me as your mate?”
“I would be honored, and humbled, to be the mate of such an honorable Orso.”
It was the happiest yet saddest day of Segreti’s life. “I have waited so long to hear those words, but I can’t in good faith allow you to bind yourself to me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s not you who’s drawn to me, but your gentle healer’s soul. You wish to heal the pain inside me, and I’m touched, but that’s not the reason I’d hoped you would give for taking me as your mate.”
Realization seemed to dawn on Ezra. “Love. You wish the reason to be love.”
Segreti nodded. It was a lot to ask of any creature. To love someone like him. Yet, with Ezra, he couldn’t imagine less.
“Do you love me?”
The matter-of-fact question caught Segreti off guard, but surprisingly, the answer didn’t elude him. “I find myself spiraling toward that sentiment with every smile you gift me.”
“I hold a deep affection for you, Segreti. Perhaps it’s too soon to call it love, but would you deny us the chance to explore the depths of our feelings for each other?” Ezra slipped his fingers into Segreti’s hair and smiled warmly. “In such a short time, I’ve come to see you as my champion. My general. You’ve ensnared me with very little effort. I believe it wouldn’t take much more for you to make off with my heart.”
“You truly believe that?”
“I do. It’s rather frightening.”
His conviction squeezed at Segreti’s heart. “Oh?”
A teasing light came into Ezra’s eyes, and it spread a beautiful light through Segreti, one he felt down to his core. Was it coming from Ezra? How was this possible?
“I’ve never had my heart stolen before. What would you do with it?”
“Cherish it,” Segreti replied without hesitation. He swept Ezra’s hair away from his face.
Ezra smiled brightly. “Then it’s yours.”
“And what would you do with mine? I fear it’s stitched together quite roughly.” Segreti took hold of Ezra’s hand and placed it over his heart. “Do you think you could mend it?”
Ezra nodded. “But not through magic.”
“Then how?”
Ezra leaned in to place a tender kiss to Segreti’s jaw, followed by another, and then another. He trailed butterfly kisses over his cheeks, nose, and chin.
“I think I rather enjoy this form of healing.”
Ezra laughed softly. “Despite what you may believe, it is not merely my soul which is drawn to you, but my mind, my heart, and… my body.”
Segreti met Ezra’s gaze, and he was struck by what was reflected in his eyes. Genuine affection shone through that brilliant blue. Ezra was nothing but sincere. He didn’t know how to be any other way. Some might think him brash, or perhaps insensitive, but Ezra saw no purpose in playing games or being untruthful.
“You truly wish to be my mate?” If Segreti sounded a little awed, he was.
“I’ve never been more certain. You’ve pledged your fealty to Khalon and have been invited to live in our kingdom.” Ezra lovingly stroked Segreti’s hair. “It would bring me great joy to have you at my side. To see your handsome face every morning and night. If you don’t mind my sharing my heart with another.”
Segreti peered at him. “Another?”
Ezra motioned to the wall of books behind him. Segreti threw his head back and laughed. He kissed Ezra’s cheek, loving the flush he brought on.
“I would never think to come between you and your beloved books.”
“See? You’re the perfect mate for me.”
“On one condition,” Segreti said, his expression mockingly stern.
“And what’s that?”
“That when you sit to read your book, you allow me to rest near you. As an Orso, we do enjoy a good nap, especially in the winter. Your lap is far more comfortable than any den.”
It was Ezra’s turn to bark out a laugh. Joy filled his eyes, and Segreti’s heart overflowed with emotion, knowing he was the cause of it.
“My lap and I accept,” Ezra replied, snuggling close.
As Segreti wrapped his arms around Ezra and kissed the top of his head, he committed this moment to memory, from the crackling sounds of the fire to the soft breaths of slumber exhaled by his beloved. His mate. Segreti had never felt so blessed. Ezra sighed quietly, his face nuzzled against Segreti’s neck.
One threat remained—the Orso who plotted to destroy everything around him, including his beautiful mate. He prayed to the Goddess that Ezra might forgive him, for the task that lay ahead would be hard to face. He’d finally been blessed with a mate. He couldn’t lose him.
Chapter Seven
Ezra had never felt so unsettled.
As the Soldati Summer Solstice Festival continued, the time of Riley’s prophecy grew nearer. Although they didn’t know exactly when the attempt would occur, it was to happen during the full moon while Khalon was vulnerable. Segreti had left Ezra’s chambers early that morning, determined to find the traitor. Ezra had taken the Eye into the festival, all the while feeling a presence close by. Someone had been following him, watching him, all morning, though he hadn’t caught any one scent that had been constant, which was odd. The Eye had offered no insight, much to Ezra’s growing frustration. None of it made sense, and with each hour gone by, his unease grew. Khalon was unusually elusive, and the Eye took off without notice far more often than Ezra liked. They were running out of time, and he was no closer to unearthing the conspirators. He hoped Segreti was having better luck than he was.