“Saving the world is more important than falling in love,” I say, though the words taste bitter in my mouth.
Dyfri’s eyes narrow, and something sharp and challenging flashes across his features. “Is it?”
My heart flutters. My mouth grows dry. The question hangs between us, loaded with implications I’m not sure I’m ready to face.
“Okay, fair point,” I manage after a moment. “Nothing is more important than falling in love. But there’s no time limit. No expiry date.” I take his hand, intertwining our fingers with deliberate care. “We can save the world, and then fall in love.”
“Can we?” The vulnerability in his voice nearly undoes me.
I study his face, seeing the fear beneath the question. The terror that this fragile thing between us might not survive the trials ahead. That the weight of responsibility and the choices we’ll have to make might transform us into strangers.
“Yes,” I say firmly, bringing his hand to my lips to press a soft kiss to his knuckles. “We can. We will. Because who I’m falling in love with isn’t just who you are right now, it’s who you are at your core. The man who chooses to protect Earth even when it means betraying everything he knows. The person who trusts me enough to let down hisguard, who’s brave enough to be vulnerable. That doesn’t change, Dyfri. That’s not going anywhere.”
His breath catches, and for a moment I see everything in his eyes. The hope and fear and desperate longing all tangled together.
“But I might be.”
He says it softly, gently, but the words are still sharp. They cut into me. A thousand internal paper cuts.
“If you choose to stay, I’d very much like to fall in love with you.” I breathe with all the passion of my soul.
His dark eyes widen. His hand trembles in mine.
“Promise me,” he whispers.
“I promise,” I tell him, meaning every word. “We’re going to save the world, and then, if you stay, we’re going to fall completely and utterly in love.”
He leans forward until our foreheads touch, and I can feel his breath against my lips. “I’m already halfway there.”
“Only halfway?” I tease gently.
His smile is soft and real and entirely mine. “Give me time. I’m still learning how to do this.”
“We can take all the time in the world,” I tell him. “After we save it.”
Chapter thirty-two
Dyfri
Ipush through the secret entrance into Laurie’s domain. The contrast between the dark passage and the light-filled art studio always takes a moment to adjust to.
The dire wolf wags her tail but doesn’t leave her place by Laurie’s side. Laurie whirls to face me, but instead of holding a paintbrush, he’s simply standing there waiting. His astonishingly blue eyes are bright with something that looks suspiciously like hope.
“Dyfri!” he exclaims, and there’s something different about his tone. Something more... expectant.
I narrow my eyes, studying his face. Where’s the canvas? Where are the paints? Where’s the comfortable domestic scene of artistic creation that usually greets me?
“You’re not painting.”
“No.” Laurie’s shy smile spreads across his face, and he rocks slightly on his feet with barely contained excitement. “You came! I was hoping you’d come with me to visit my brother and his found family.”
Of course. I should have known this invitation wasn’t for a social call. I was expecting a nice tea while watching Laurie paint. Perhaps interspersed with modelling for him.The sort of civilised afternoon that Laurie used to provide before everything went wrong. I scowl, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You mean, Selwyn is busy and you need someone to open a portal for you.”
Laurie’s face falls so suddenly and completely that it’s like watching sunlight drain from the room. His shoulders slump, and he looks away, suddenly fascinated by the paint-stained floor.
“I enjoy your company,” he says quietly, and the hurt in his voice hits me like a physical blow. “But I understand if you hate me now.”
