Ilian and I are going inking, a term I’ve coined for traveling around the country and getting tats from certain artists.

Anymore, Ilian’s is the only ink I want on me, but we both will enjoy meeting all the owners and seeing their work.

I sigh, really drinking in the moment. “Thank you,” I whisper into Ilian’s fur as I wrap my arms around him as best as I can.

“For what?”

“For giving me a home, for spoiling me, for loving me.”

“Soyam, I told you, my money is yours. And have you not given me the very same things? You are my home, and you spoil me with your love.”

“We’re a regular match made in heaven—or in our case, a tattoo parlor.”

“Indeed. Now what do you say about consecrating our new home?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Sex in every room?”

“Sex on every surface?” I counter.

“Both?”

“Both,” we chime together.

He pushes me roughly against the wall, his skull diving into my neck while he nips at the sensitive flesh.

Over his shoulder, I spy the framed picture of my drawing that I entered for the Inked contest—the very one that started this whole thing. It’s the perfect reminder of our story.

And I can’t wait to see how our happily ever after ends.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Ilian

One Year Later

“Nervous?”

“Nope.”

I smirk down at Zhuliya, knowing that she’s lying—I can feel her anxiety through our bond.

“Breathe, soyam. You’ve got this.”

With steady hands, Zhuliya brings the irons to the patch of skin exposed on my upper thigh where I shaved away the fur.

The longer she works, the surer my mate becomes, and I watch in fascination as Zhuliya loses herself to the art blossoming onto my flesh.

Her eyes glaze over, and I note she’s going into a trance similar to what happens to me. I’m enthralled by the serene expression that softens her features.

A small smile curls her lips as she works, and I swear there are stars in her eyes. Zhuliya says she falls in love with me every time she watches me work.

And now I get it.

For over an hour, my mate labors until her hands cramp up and pull her back to the present. She jolts, blinking up at me until her gaze refocuses.

Zhuliya bends forward to inspect her art, careful not to disrupt the new ink. “Oh my gosh, Ilian, I think…I think it worked!”

“Of course it did, soyam. You’ve been taught by the best. I had no doubt you would be able to do it.”

“No, I mean, Aisyth gave me a map!”

Now it’s my turn to blink. I look from Zhuliya’s excited expression down to my tight. Sure enough, the swirling patterns bear the signature of my goddess.

Unease slithers through me, and I choose my words carefully. “Why did you want a map?”

Sensing my upset, Zhuliya quickly grabs my hand and kisses the tip of one claw. “It’s not what you think. I promise it’s not a map to her to sever our bond. It’s just something I asked her long ago.”

My mind goes back to that moment on the island when Zhuliya pulled Aisyth aside to talk to the goddess. Neither said anything about what Zhuliya wanted, and I had put it from my mind.

“What did you ask her?”

“For her help.”

“About?” I growl.

“I told her I wanted to learn to do tattoos like you and asked if she would give me directions to something special.”

Glancing at the ink on my thigh, I try to discern what my mate can possibly be talking about, but the beautiful white swoops reveal nothing.

“You’re purposely not answering me!”

Zhuliya shrugs.

“I enjoy driving you crazy.”

A laugh bursts from me. “Congratulations, you’ve succeeded. Now tell me, mate, what is this a map to?”

She stares deep into my gaze, her brown one misting with tears. “Ilian, it’s a cartogram to your people.”

For a moment, my mind blanks. Then, with a giant whoop, I pick up Zhuliya and twirl her around.

“Put me down, you beast, before you ruin your ink!”

I set her down, and she scowls at me primly while dressing the fresh tat. My stoyuk stirs at the sexy way Zhuliya silently reprimands me.