The Mark of Fate: Book 3 of The Marked series by Ford, Rinna (romantic love story reading .TXT) 📕

muscles that my fingers ached to touch. I didn’t have to wait long for him to come back to me. He kissed me like I was the only woman in the world and in that moment, I believed I was. It was everything.

But then his kisses slowed and he slightly pulled away. Ronan ran his fingers over my cheek and down to the column of my throat, making me shiver with anticipation. My fingertips sparked again in between us making him jump.

“My magic wants you almost as much as I do,” I smiled, jokingly.

“How did you do that?” he questioned. “I thought your magic was taken like mine.”

I shook my head slowly. “When I was captured, I was suppressing my magic all on my own with a potion. Only a few people knew the truth, but most thought my magic was snuffed out because my shifter and vampire sides were too strong. Alec didn’t feel the need to cover my caster side when he covered the other two parts of me because he couldn’t find it.”

“So that was what that potion was, then? It was suppressing your natural magic? Why? Why would you deny that part of yourself?”

He looked sad, almost distraught at the thought of it. I reached up and smoothed down the lines on his forehead that formed when he frowned and took in a deep breath.

“My magic worked like it was supposed to until I met Matias,” I began to explain. “It started with little things going wrong but then when we mated, my caster side went haywire. I think it needed you, my caster mate, to fix it, to make it stable and I couldn’t find you… it nearly got me killed.” His frown became hardened, almost angry. “When I faced off against Ironshot at the cabin, I couldn’t call for my caster’s blade and he stabbed me. It just didn’t come to me. I couldn’t control it anymore.” I took in another deep breath. “So my uncle and a friend of his made a potion for me to take to hide my caster side away, temporarily, just so we could find a way to fix it...but I knew what I needed to do. I needed to find you.”

“You need to bond with me.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes, I do. But if…”

He put a finger on my lips, making me stop talking and shifted his body slightly, settling in and getting more comfortable.

“The moment I felt you for the first time, I was so fucking excited, but not because I ever wanted a mate. I never wanted commitment and a picket fence, but with a mate, I had more power at my fingertips. All I had to do was find you and bond with you. But then, my beautiful Millie, I found you. When I saw you, I realized I wanted something else. I needed you and not because of what you could give me, but I wanted you with me always. I have to admit, it scared the shit out of me and confused me to no end.” He chuckled a laugh and smoothed my hair back. “I didn’t know what to make of it, and looking back, I’m grateful you didn’t give in and go with me. They would’ve killed you. I was so fucking stupid to believe I could keep you safe.”

“You were such an asshole,” I grinned.

He gently pinched my side in mock annoyance but quietly laughed with me. “Yeah, I was. I’m sorry. But you have to admit, I’ve redeemed myself.”

I nodded my head in agreement. We met two more times after that and both times, he saved me. He fought his friends for me to help me. He’d definitely redeemed himself in my eyes and that was why I continued to lay underneath him, letting him caress my face lovingly because I loved him too. Not just because I was someone Fate chose for him to love but because after everything, he chose me.

He chose me over fame and power, over his friends and his beliefs. He chose me. Looking into his eyes, I knew he’d do it over and over again without question, forever, and that I’d do the same.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Make love to me.”

I never thought those words would come from my mouth, but I couldn’t find better words to express what I wanted from him. He raised his eyebrows in surprise and I felt the need to try and explain it better. I didn’t want him because it would be the answer to one of my problems. “I don’t want you to fuck me because it’ll help my magic…”

His lips crushed mine in a searing kiss, cutting off my flubbed up excuse and pulled the long fabric of my skirt, letting his hand run up my thigh.

“But, Ronan...”

“Hush,” he gently commanded. “You will never have to ask me for that, ever. I’ll give it to you gladly, even if it were only to bring your magic back. I’d do anything you’d ask of me.”

His nimble fingers slid down between us and through my slick heat. I wasn’t wearing any panties only because I wasn’t given any, but as I lay there beneath my caster mate, I was so damn glad. He pushed through my folds expertly and all I could do was sigh.

“Besides,” he murmured against my jaw, “even if this is to get your magic back and nothing more, you’ll be stuck with me. I’ll have eternity to make you need me as much as I need you.”

His tone was light and joking but I could tell it was a worry of his. I put both of my hands on his face so he was looking dead in my eyes.

“You don’t need eternity for that. You already have me too.”

I kissed him again, showing him there was nothing to doubt, not when it came to me and how I felt. I’d want him, I’d need him even if he wasn’t Fate’s chosen