He kept his distance across the room, just to stop himself from reaching for her. Her scent was unique, and one he’d always wondered about. A mixture of sweet lilacs and spicy oranges with a hint of the sea thrown in. Calming and peaceful. How odd that the one woman he’d loved, years ago, had been anything but peaceful. This one, the one he’d mated, had a gentleness to her that he would’ve liked to have known. In a different life.

“Well?” She crossed her arms and his shirt swallowed her up. “I am not promising to run from a fight if I can help.”

“I’m going to try to survive our mission, but if I don’t, promise me you won’t take the virus from the queen for at least a hundred years,” he responded. So far, that seemed to be the earliest anybody had taken it safely. “I need to know that you’ll be safe if I’m gone.”

She frowned and cocked her head. “You’re totally confusing me. We’ve mainly lived apart these five years, and now you’re worried about my safety?”

His chest heated. “I’ve watched out for you for five years, and I thought you’d be able to manage on your own when I was gone.” The last thing he wanted was to sound as if he was lecturing a toddler. “At every second since our mating, I’ve known where you are and what you’re doing. Did you honestly think otherwise?” By the surprise on her pale face, she definitely had. “After being in a coma and then being thrown unwillingly into immortal life, you needed some freedom, Grace. I owed you that.”

“You took every mission you could to give me freedom?” Her incredulity was a little insulting.

“No. I took every mission I could because it’s my job, and I’m good at it.” He was the team expert in shock and awe, since he rarely lost his head in a fight. “I made a vow when I underwent the Seven ritual. I knew the sacrifices I’d have to make. I’ve made them.” He waited a beat. “Now promise me.”

She took a deep breath and looked him in the eye, not moving. “I promise.”

Something inside him, deep and unfathomable, relaxed. “Good. Thank you.”

“Anything else?” Her voice was just flippant enough to speed up his heart rate.

“Aye. Promise you’ll learn how to heal yourself and that you’ll see the queen when she returns. Just to make sure everything is okay with you.” It wasn’t too much to ask.

She nodded. “I already have an appointment scheduled. No worries there.” She covered a yawn with her hand. “I can’t understand how you’re so casual about dying.”