At the sound of his voice, every ounce of the stubborn willpower, the false confidence, the sheergrit… it all drained away until I had nothing left.
Nothing but exhausted hope that this wasn’t a dream. That I’d done it.
That he was alive.
I let out a sound, somewhere between a whimper and a sob, and Evie and Kyla each grabbed my arms, holding onto me. I ignored the relieved laughter surrounding me as I ugly cried.
And then he was there, holding me tight, his arms wrapped around me like he’d never let me go.
“Am I dreaming?” I managed to croak out, and Samael drew back far enough that he could smile down at me, but his eyes were serious.
“You were so brave,” he murmured, dropping kisses over every inch of my face. “You saved us both, Danica.”
* * *
DANICA
Things wrapped up quickly after that. Samael greeted everyone there, thanking each one personally. He’d refused to let me go, which I was just fine with, basking in the feel of his arm clamped around me.
Vas leaned close. “I’ve arranged for a new mattress for Samael’s bed in his penthouse. I figured you guys would need it.” He gave me a lewd wink, but the relief was obvious on his face.
“Thanks. Can you make sure Lia gets back to the apartment?”
“I’ll have to fight Bael for that little task. Consider it done.”
Hannah stepped up next to me and I turned to her. “There aren’t enough words–”
She snorted. “I didn’t do it for you, girl, I did it for myself. If Samael dies, the mages will immediately turn their attention to the black witches.”
I grinned. “Uh-huh. Well, I’m glad you’re so self-serving.”
Her mouth trembled with a hint of a smile, and then she turned to Sitri. “Well? What are you waiting for? I have things to do.”
She nodded at Samael, who nodded back, and then she was gone.
I socialized for as long as I could, drinking in the relief and elation. But my muscles began to ache, a steady tremble warning me that I’d pushed my body as far as it could go.
Samael’s arm tightened around me. “To bed, I think.”
I groaned as everyone started up with wolf whistles and lewd comments, and Vas sent me another filthy wink. Samael grinned at me, and then we were shooting into the sky, faster than he’d ever flown.
“Is it just me or are you–?”
“Stronger than I’ve been for some time? Yes. And I have plans…” he laughed, and I forced my eyes open, unaware I’d closed them.
His expression was tender. “Close your eyes, witchling. Rest.”
I nuzzled into him, burying my face in his neck. His arms tightened around me, and I breathed him in as we flew home.
* * *
SAMAEL
Danica did it. When others told her to move on, that there was no hope, she ignored them and traveled the realms to save my life.
If I hadn’t been sickeningly in love with her before this, I would have lost my heart to her the moment I saw her exhausted face and understood—truly understood—what she’d been through without me.
She would never be without me again.
