Carefully, she makes her way down to the shoreline. A low growl rumbles my chest when I notice Henrick beside her and her arm looped through his.
She is dressed in a long, white gown that I recognize as the clothing that humans wear for their bonding ceremonies. My chest tightens for I fear that I am too late. That they are already wed.
Her long, silken red hair blows softly in the wind behind her. It is pinned up in an intricate series of twists and braids and secured with several pearls. My eyes widen as I take in her lovely form. She is even more beautiful, up close, than I had remembered.
Her steps are slow and a bit unsteady, but I smile as I notice the determination etched in her features as she releases her grip on Henrick and her brother, and continues across the beach on her own.
I swim close to the shore. The moment her eyes meet mine, she inhales sharply.
“Your eyes… I know them.”
“Please.” I swallow against the knot of worry in my stomach. “Tell me you are not yet married.”
“I’m not,” she replies.
Relief moves through me. I clasp my hand around the blue pearl and speak clearly. “Remember me, Halla. Remember our love. You are my heart, and I am yours.”
The pearl begins to glow in my palm. The soft blue light extending a long tendril toward Halla. I watch, stunned as it wraps around her form.
Her brother and Henrick start toward her but stop abruptly as it disappears. Her lips curve up in a stunning smile and she starts toward me. “Errik!”
I drag myself out of the water and she drops to her knees in the sand. I gather her in my arms and run my fingers through her long, scarlet hair as I stare deep into her lovely blue eyes. “Halla,” I breathe out her name like a prayer.
She cups my cheek. “What happened?”
I press a series of tender kisses to her cheeks, brow and nose. I’m so thankful to have her again in my arms. “My beautiful, Halla, you made a deal with a blood witch to save my life. In exchange, you sacrificed your memories and your love for me. But I have found a way to restore them.”
A tear slides down her cheek. “I remember now, my love.”
I crush my lips to hers in a branding kiss. “Oh, Halla,” I breathe between kisses. “I was so afraid I was too late. That you’d already bound yourself to another.”
“Errik,” she whispers against my lips. “I almost lost you, my love.”
Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them back. “You saved me, Halla.”
She traces her fingers along my torso, over the jagged scar of my injury. “I remember,” she whispers. “I went to the blood witch and made a bargain to save your life.” She looks back at Henrick. “Henrick helped me.”
He dips his chin in a subtle nod, and when his eyes meet mine, they narrow. “You best treat her well, or the two of us will have a problem.”
Gerold gives me a stern look as he gestures to Henrick. “I second what he said.”
Halla laughs softly—the sound light and airy, almost musical in quality. It has been so long since I’ve heard it.
Together, they start back up the beach, leaving us alone.
I pull her into my lap and cup her cheek as I capture her mouth again with my own. I cannot stop touching her. “I have missed you. So very much. You are my heart, and I love you, Halla. With all that I am. I desire more than anything to bind you to me. Please, my beloved, will you take me as your mate?”
A stunning smile curves her lips, and she kisses me passionately. She curls her tongue around mine, deepening our kiss. “Yes.” She smiles against my lips. “I will be yours, and you will be mine, Errik.”
I thread my fingers through her hair, gripping the long, soft red strands and tipping her head back as I seal my mouth over hers in a claiming kiss.
