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hone that skill. But if the Oracle is as wise as everyone says she is, she will know you are mine and that I am determined to have you.” He patted the seat next to him. “Now come and teach me how to guard my thoughts and I promise not to kiss you.”
    The journey to the Oracle’s Temple was accomplished in yet another form of a flying machine called an airplane. It skimmed through the skies at great speeds, and Aki spent most of his time looking out of the small window while below him the ground scrolled out like parchment. Seeing the tiny dwellings and roads beneath him, he imagined himself a hawk searching for his prey.
    He also appreciated the silence. There were only about a dozen people on the air ship, and thanks to Elli’s continuing lessons, he was able to block most of them from his mind and not project his thoughts outward. He couldn’t imagine mastering the skill of obstructing every thought except his bonded mate’s and his family, but Elli insisted he would soon learn.
    She was sitting beside him, her head on his shoulder as she slept, her hand securely in his. Einarr and Frey had vanished into one of the cabins and hadn’t reappeared yet. Aki was also relieved that he’d learned to block out at least some of Einarr’s thoughts, although it also made him sad not sharing everything with his twin.
    Ash was working near the front of the ship and Esca guarded the door. The evening before they’d left, Aki had met Soreya, the female who was mated to Ash and Esca. She was also a warrior and had been very kind to Aki, sharing her own struggles at adapting to Pavlovan culture. She’d given him hope that the future might not be as difficult as he’d feared.
    If only he could persuade Elli to believe that his need for her was true, his world would be even better. She was trustworthy, strong and very good at understanding how hard it was for him to adapt to his new life. She reminded him of the frozen lakes of his childhood with their smooth surfaces and immense hidden depths. She allowed little to disturb her calm exterior, but she felt deeply about things and beneath the surface lurked a passionate and complex woman.
    Einarr was right that in his past life Aki had chosen his bedmates with an eye to their beauty and stamina, but now he was older and wiser. He smiled to himself. Far older than he’d ever expected to be, and the things that called to him now—strength, steadiness and kindness—were encapsulated in Elli. She hid her hurts well, but he still wanted to kill anyone who had made her life difficult. Leaning closer, he inhaled her scent, willing her to wake up, take his hand and walk with him into one of the cabins…
    “ Stop right there, Aki. I don’t want to picture anymore.”
    Aki recognized Esca’s distinct voice in his mind and raised an eyebrow. “I apologize. I am working hard on my shields, but the occasional thought escapes me .”
    Esca beckoned to him. With a resigned sigh, Aki left Elli’s side and went to sit next to the formidable warrior.
    “ Are you serious about her ?” Esca demanded. “ Because if you aren’t…”
    “Ash has already warned me off.” Aki held Esca’s gaze. “ But I still want her and believe she is meant to be mine.”
    “She’s had a bad experience with mates.”
    Aki frowned. “ I knew someone had hurt her. She is reluctant to believe that I could want her . She keeps telling me that I must be certain and not make a mistake. What happened to her?”
    “It’s not my story to tell, but then I’ve never been known for my ability to hold my tongue. All I’m going to say is don’t hurt her, and don’t go public about how you feel about her unless you are one hundred percent certain you mean it.”
    Aki nodded. “ I understand.”
    “If you hurt her, Ash will be upset. And nothing is allowed to upset my First Male, so I’ll be coming for you and not in a good way,” Esca added.
    Aki frowned as he puzzled through what Esca had said,