Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
The Little pixie remained mostly still, but he suspected it was a challenge for her. She kept her hands clasped behind her back as was the custom, but she swayed a bit in both directions, and he was glad when they reached the part of the ceremony where he was supposed to set his palm on top of her head.
He hoped his touch steadied her somewhat, and he was still in that position when both sets of parents left the round ceremonial room. The two of them were finally alone.
Felix slid his hand around to cup her cheek. “They’re gone, Little one. You can stand now.”
Khloe rose to her feet, but she was trembling. He set his palms on her biceps to keep her from tipping to the side. She still had her hands behind her back, which made it difficult for her to keep her balance. It was surprising she’d been able to rise in that position.
“You may release your hands, Khloe.” He liked the way her name rolled off his tongue. He’d said it many times in the past year since he’d accidentally discovered her identity from her sister, Leah. He secretly liked that he’d known her name.
Leah’s mate, Elias, certainly hadn’t known hers. He’d been stubborn and hadn’t inquired about her at all before meeting her. Felix hadn’t chosen that path. He’d known several things about his Little mate even before he’d met her sister, but since then, he’d grilled Leah often to make sure he knew as much about Khloe as possible. Hopefully she would be pleased with his interest. He wished to impress her and make her transition as painless as possible.
As it was, she was in for a rude awakening. All new mates born with the mark of an Alpha Protector were blindsided when they arrived on the mountain. There was no way to avoid it. Life in the valley was not the same as life with the Alpha Protectors.
Khloe released the grip she had behind her back and let her hands come to the front where she began to fidget them together. Dainty hands that matched the rest of her. She was tiny. Not really any tinier than any other mate he knew, but having his own Little mate in front of him was not the same as seeing someone else’s.
He picked up her trembling hands with both of his and lifted them to his lips, smiling when she slowly tipped her head back to meet his gaze. He kissed her knuckles as he stared into her pretty brown eyes. “Hello.” It seemed like a funny thing to say, but after all, this was their first meeting.
She licked her full lips. “Hello,” she whispered.
He rubbed her knuckles over his lips, inhaling her intoxicating scent. “You are stunning, Little one.” It seemed prudent to compliment her; besides it was true. She took his breath away.
Felix finally lowered her hands. He continued to hold one while he lifted his other to ease his fingers through her hair. He wasn’t surprised by how long it was—past her bottom—because that was the custom among marked girls in the valley. They kept their hair long. He suspected she had never cut hers.
What was shocking was the color. “I never asked your sister what you looked like. I just assumed you would have red hair like hers. Your hair is like spun gold.” It was brown, but it caught every facet of the light and showed many shades of brown.
Khloe’s breath hitched, and her eyes popped wide. “You know my sister?”
Felix nodded. “I know her well. She is mated to one of my friends.”
Khloe beamed. “So, I can see her?”
“Of course. Probably not for a few weeks, but after we get settled you can see her as often as you want.”
“What happens for the next few weeks?” she asked with the most innocent expression on her face.
She didn’t know. He wasn’t surprised. Leah had told him her mother most likely wouldn’t have informed Khloe about much. In addition, citizens of the valley didn’t really know enough to properly inform their daughters what to expect when they mated an Alpha Protector. Life on the mountain was rather private.
Felix took a risk. He released his Little mate, pushed up the sleeve of his suit jacket, unbuttoned the cuff of his shirt at his wrist, and rolled up the sleeve a bit to expose his mark. He knew better than to let it touch her mark. That would presumably send them into a lustful frenzy that wasn’t appropriate for the ceremonial room. But he would at least touch her with his. Then she would understand without words what would be happening for the next few weeks.
Felix lifted his exposed mark and gently set it against her cheek. The wave of lust that consumed him nearly brought him to his knees. He should have kept it covered until they got home. It had seemed like the easiest way to answer her question. Probably not his best-laid plan.