49. Negal

After the storm had subsided and Margo drifted off on the wings of euphoria, Negal retracted his fangs and licked the puncture wounds closed.

Bracing on his forearms, he buried his nose in her silky hair and breathed her in. The connection that had been forming between them even before they had met had solidified with their joining, and the feeling of no longer being alone was incredible.

There was no more just Negal. From now on, it was Negal and Margo.

The two were one, a unit.

I love you, he murmured against her upturned lips.

The soft, blissed-out expression on her face made her look angelic.

My angel, he whispered before kissing her lightly and withdrawing gently.

As he padded to the bathroom to clean up, Negal wondered what Margo was seeing in her euphoric dream. Was she continuing the story they had started earlier? Was she lost in the Scottish Highlands, her mind continuing to weave the tale of him as a werewolf lord and her as the adventurous American? Or had their own story taken center stage, their real-life romance more captivating than the fictional narrative?

Stepping into the shower, Negal considered their future together. The cruise was drawing to a close, but their journey as a couple was only beginning, and even though he had to concede that nothing was guaranteed, he felt optimistic about the future.

Margo would transition, he was sure of that, and the only question was when.

Frankie and Gabi had both started transitioning after the first or second bite and so did Karen, so he hoped Margo would be the same despite what he had heard about other Dormants transitions that had taken weeks and many bites.

He and Margo did not have weeks.

They had days.

Returning to the bedroom, Negal slipped beneath the covers, careful not to disturb her even though there was no chance she would wake up, even if he purposely tried to rouse her.

She was knocked out, and given his experience with human females, she would keep soaring on the clouds of euphoria for many more hours. If he could quiet his mind, he might be able to catch a few hours of sleep before she woke up.

As Negal gathered Margo into his arms, he relished the feel of her soft skin against his and the way her body molded perfectly to his own.

Holding her close, he allowed himself to dream of a shared life, where they embarked on missions together with Aru and Gabi, Frankie and Dagor.

He was excited by the prospect, but he would have preferred to have more time alone with Margo so they could enjoy more moments like this—quiet, intimate, and in a comfortable bed. But life was full of compromises, and he would take being with Margo just about anywhere over being without her surrounded by luxury.

Pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, Negal whispered once more, I love you, my sweet angel.