Page 192 of Winds of Ruin
With Caym’s curse broken, Krait’s immortality had returned along with his Shadows. He and Sybilla had bound their lives to one another. He would age on; he’d given up eternal life to find whatever came next with her and to never have to live a day without her.
I knew that, despite his grumbling, Krait was happy for Lark to have a partner who would be there for her when she lost the both of them.
We sat with our shoulders and elbows bumping around our meal—a mouthwatering, decadent culinary experience, as always.
Emmerick tipped his chair back on two legs, stretching. “He’s caught on quicker than I ever had hopes of,” Emmerick added. “Elsedora has been an incredible mentor.”
My cheeks heated. Something about Em’s praise never ceased to warm me.
Leo smiled. “Well, next time you see him, let him know I could use some help to turn over the garden beds for spring.”
“I’ll be here tomorrow,” someone else called from the doorway. Dritan’s fingers were laced with Lark’s as he tugged her into the crowded cottage. “Room for two more?”
There wasn’t. But we always made it work.
We shuffled about to find makeshift seating for everyone.
“Not too long now and there will be… one more to seat,” Lark squeaked out with a smile. I gasped in delight as her meaning dawned on me.
It took her rubbing her stomach once for Emmerick to understand, and when he did, the stool toppled over beneath him as he rose to embrace them.
Em and I walked hand in hand down the hallway of a thousand doors, from the Egress.
“You think Dritan’s ready to take on more in Helos?” Emmerick asked me.
I smirked. “Do you doubt my ability to be an excellent advisor?”
“I never doubt you. But… it won’t be too much pressure for Dritan with news of an heir on the way?” he pressed.
“He is young and driven, and has the help of all of us. He’s doing well—they both are. What are you so concerned about, puppy?”
His brow quirked up before he lifted me off my feet. I squeaked and wrapped myself around him as he carried me to the parlor. I had a sneaking suspicion he was avoiding something and was trying to distract me.
“I’m not worried,” he answered, lowering me down by the blazing fire onto a pile of furs and blankets that the estate had set up for us. It recognized our habits.
On the fireplace mantel, tiny trinkets from Fen and Asterie’s travels lined the shelf, mixed with Emmerick’s collection of wood carvings from Leo. I loved seeing our lives mingle in such a simple way—loved the things that he held dear in my space.
The painting Angeline had gifted me of the orchard hung just above the shelf.
This little life I’d rebuilt with him, these quiet memories, I’d go through it all again to get here.
The intense way Em eyed my lips had my core tightening in anticipation as his knee pressed between my legs, and I opened for him with a small whimper of impatience.
Most things had slowed down—but my insatiable need for him had only barreled on. I craved him inside of me.Quickly. Now.
“What does my wildflower have planned for this evening?” he asked, leaning down to trail kisses from my earlobe to my collarbone.
I contemplated where I’d like him to take me… We were running low on new surfaces in the estate.
“Something that requires we get out of these heavy clothes,” I huffed in the most sultry tone I could manage with a full stomach.
He muffled a laugh into my neck. “Well, good. I had the same idea, but we have something important to discuss first.”
I stiffened below him, and my eyes shot open to meet his. Propped up on my elbows, with him hovering just inches over me, I nearly lost focus.
A year had passed, yet my love for him hadn’t waned. Instead, it had snowballed into something unruly and terrifyingly perfect.
“Is everything alright?” I asked.
