Chapter Thirty-Seven

The first thing he became aware of was the smell. He knew that scent. Something like honeysuckle and…summer? Wait. Yes, that was it. The best fragrance in the world – his mate. But it was strange. Overlaid with some kind of sweet, tropical kind of smell he didn't recognize. No, that wasn't right. He did recognize it. Kind of. What was it? He groaned with the effort of trying to focus his thoughts.

He coughed and his back burned like fire. And why was his throat so dry? It felt like he had been swallowing sand. He tried to unstick his tongue from the top of his mouth, but it was so much effort. Then he became aware of an oh so familiar voice in his ear.

"Min elskede! Jeg er her. Jeg er her, (My beloved! I am here. I am here,)" the sweet voice said, lips placing a kiss on his palm and then pulling it to a soft cheek.

His mate. He sighed at the sound. She was with him. Another thought drifted across his mind and had his heart starting to thump wildly in his chest. Was she safe? She soun