Page 85 of Bound By Love
“It’s good to be back.”
And he meant it; returning here was like coming home. He’d always kept the Alliance at a distance, but he belonged here. They’d united against a common enemy and accepted him though he’d tried to keep them at arm’s length.
He didn’t know when that happened, probably years before he acknowledged it, but they considered him one of them… and he was. He’d sensed their sadness when they believed Caro was dead.
They’d mourned her loss and their perceived loss of him. They were his friends, and somewhere along the way, they became his family too.
But they’d accepted him years ago; he’d just been too closed off to realize it. After everything he’d done, he probably didn’t deserve any of this, but he intended to enjoy it. This was his life now, his family, and he’d been granted the miracles of Caro and Brie; he wouldn’t waste those miracles.
When Ronan and the others strode away, the four of them walked into the prison to discover Nathan, Logan, and Saxon sitting by the video monitors. The trio waved and smiled before rising and striding over to greet them.
They took turns clasping Saber on his shoulder as they welcomed him back. They greeted Caro with the same warmth and informed her they’d done their best to establish a forge outside, behind the prison, but said it wasn’t as nice as hers.
As Caro beamed at them, her happiness came across through their bond. Unlike him, she’d lostallher family, but she would find a new one here, amongst friends, as they welcomed her into their lives.
“I’m sure it’s great,” she told them.
Elena, Callie, and Elyse emerged from one of the hallways; they broke into bright smiles as they hurried over to join them.
“We just finished setting up your room with Vicky,” Callie said. “Considering this place was once a school, the walls are concrete, and the rooms don’t scream cozy, but we did our best to make it more inviting.”
“Thank you,” Caro said. “I’m sure we’ll love it.”
She and Saber had discussed their future before coming here. She was going to keep her family’s property, but they’d agreed it was best if, for now, they spent most of their time with the Alliance.
The demons seemed to be gone, but the Savages remained, and the demons had created a fair amount of damage they needed to handle. Once they believed everything was as controlled as possible, they would decide what to do afterward.
He’d promised to take her home at least once a month to visit, and she was happy with that. He hoped to get her home more, but it could be a few months or more before they got away that often.
“We’re working on finding another place to build a new compound,” Nathan said. “It’s going to take some time to find the land we require to rebuild, but we’ll eventually have homes, animals, and a place where our children can play freely again.”
As if she’d been listening, Vicky emerged from one of the hallways with her and Nathan’s son, Wyatt. After the Savages and demons destroyed the compound, Wyatt lived with Vicky’s parents while they faced the demons, but now he was home.
Saber was sure most of the other children had returned too; he looked forward to seeing them. No matter how lost in bloodlust and indifference he became, he’d never stopped loving children’s laughter.
Vicky smiled and waved to them as she strolled over to stand beside Nathan. Their hands entwined as Wyatt wrapped his arms around his dad’s legs.
“Do you want to see the forge or your room first?” Saxon inquired.
“The forge,” Caro said as she excitedly rubbed her hands together.
EPILOGUE
Saber cradledhis infant daughter in his arms while he pushed the rocking chair leisurely back and forth. His tiny bundle of joy slept peacefully with the little fingers of one hand curled around the edge of her blanket. The ones on her other hand clutched his index finger.
Her black lashes shadowed her pink face and hid the turquoise eyes that matched her mother’s. She was the most perfect creation he’d ever seen, and his heart was near bursting with the love filling it.
Behind him, Caro slept peacefully while he watched the night beyond the glass doors of her apartment. He’d promised to bring her back here every month, but it had been months since they last returned to her home.
Life, and Savages, had made it more difficult to find a way of escaping the duties binding him. The Savages had proven to be angrier and more united than they expected, but the Alliance was carving up their forces, and things had calmed over the past month.
Things still were far from perfect, but Caro wanted to come home for the birth of their child, and he wouldn’t deny her that. So, two weeks ago, they packed some of their things, and with Brie and Asher, they returned to the property.
A week later, their daughter, Mary Rose Amaral, who shared a name with Caro’s mom and had his last name, was born. He’d never thought he’d reclaim his last name or that part of his history, but his parents’ legacy should continue, and he couldn’t think of anyone more wonderful to carry it on than the precious child in his arms.
He’d reclaimed that part of himself too. He would never again be Gabriel, too much time and shit had happened from then until now for that to occur, but he wouldn’t completely shun who he once was anymore.
Saber stroked Mary Rose’s cheek as he smiled at the precious life in his arms. He would one day tell her about the choices he made; he wouldn’t burden her with them, but he’d never hide them from her, and she should know the perils of life.
