She pushed against an invisible barrier, glancing back again, panic flashing in her eyes as she returned her gaze to me.
The facade flickered once more, briefer this time, and just when the cabin started to reappear, Merri tumbled forward, whatever barrier had been keeping her in place giving way. She fell with a look of shock, and I bolted forward on pure instinct, my hands clutching her hips and holding her steady.
“Oh fuck,” Sin gasped.
“Merri, no!” Malice shouted immediately after.
“Grim, put her down.” Chaos’s words were so forceful they might as well have been shot from a gun.
It was then I realized my dire mistake. She was still in my arms, her fingers lifelessly falling from the bare skin at the nape of my neck.
A roar filled my ears as panic unlike anything I’d ever known took over.
Oh no. No no no no no.
I’d killed her.
I finally got her back, and I killed her.
Clenching my eyes shut, I swallowed back a wail of denial.
But then she moved, burying her face in my chest.
“You came for me.”
My knees nearly gave out as I opened my eyes and looked into her beautiful blue irises. She reached up and moved to touch my cheek, but I flinched away on instinct, grabbing her wrist with my gloved hand.
“It’s okay, Grim. You’re not going to hurt me. I promise.”
“How can you know that?”
She looked at me as if it were the most obvious answer in the world. “Because you’re my mate.” Then she wrinkled her nose and held up a finger. “But if you need further proof, one: Ijusttouched you without issue.” A second finger joined the first. “Two: I am also part horseperson, ergo if you can touch them, you can touch me. Three: We touch just fine in the dream realm, and that’s our core-most selves.” She shrugged, dropping her hand. “So I really don’t see why it’s such?—”
I kissed her.
I kissed her like I’d been dreaming of kissing her since the moment Lilith threw her at us.
Her lips were as soft and pillowy as they had been in our dreams, but this, having her with me while we were awake, was more powerful than anything we’d ever experienced. I could be with her like this whenever I wanted. I could have her skin on mine every waking moment.
If she would truly forgive me.
I pulled away, chest heaving as my eyes bore into hers. “I am so fucking sorry, wildflower. I never should have doubted you. I know different now. I know the truth. You were right. About everything.”
Her lips twitched with the barest hint of a smile. “Took you long enough.”
It was a teasing answer, but I knew it was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to making reparations for the damage I’d caused.
“Merri,” Sin whispered, agonized and desperate.
My fingers dug into her hips. Selfishly, I didn’t want to let her go, but this wasn’t only about me. My brothers needed the reassurance that she was safe and whole as much as I did. So I released her and stepped away.
She fell into each of their embraces in turn, taking precious seconds to kiss and be held by them.
I listened as each of my brothers took time to let her know how important she was to them.
Sin held her face in his hands and said, “I knew you’d be trouble, but I never expected to ride through hell to get you back.”
“To be fair, it was just supposed to be Chicago.”
