“As if you’d be out of the action just because Asher told you to. But Grant…”
I glance down at him again. I cannot help it. “We… He will want to tell you when we get back.”
“Then I will act appropriately surprised. Paxton might not.”
Somewhere in the background, Paxton makes a sound of annoyance. I huff. This is not why I called.
“I want to apologise.”
“For what?”
“I should have told you what the Huntsman told me about our bonds. I was—It was a difficult thing for me to grasp, but that is no excuse. I knew what it would mean to you.”
Jeremiah hums. “Yes, well. You’re not wrong. Thank you for the apology. But what is waiting, really? We’ve managed a couple of decades, almost. We can handle a few more years.”
Can we? More importantly, can I? I do not want to. Yet, I am still a little concerned about Grant’s magic—though his healing me has dissuaded some of that fear.
“The Huntsman will be back here tomorrow,” Jeremiah says. “Moreau called. Seems big.”
“Will he be there too?”
“I don’t think so. What was the outcome, in the end?”
I grimace. “Another dead high fae.”
Jeremiah clicks his tongue against his teeth. “Seems like we’re singlehandedly paving the way for someone to take that throne once the queen has gone.”
“It was necessary.”
“Oh, no doubt.” Jeremiah sounds sincere. “It is not your motivations I am questioning.”
“You think…”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. Not really. Be prepared when you come back, is all. You’ve had something to lose for a while, but at least now you know how much.”
“I will defend him with everything I am.”
Jeremiah laughs. “That’s been true since the moment you set your eyes on him. Keep an eye out for him protecting you. I think that’s where the danger will be.”
He is not wrong, though I will not admit it. We say our goodbyes and I hang up feeling a little lighter, though that is not a weight I knew I was carrying until now.
I shuffle down the bed until Grant and I are face-to-face. He sleeps on, entirely relaxed, and I kiss his forehead before I wrapan arm around his waist and close my eyes. Tomorrow we must go back to the real world, but here and now, we just have each other.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Grant
VladstirswhenI’mputting on my shoes. I’m sitting on one of the stools, and I watch as he reaches out, then frowns, eyes still closed, when I’m not next to him.
My heart flutters. I’m already grinning when he opens his eyes.
“What are you doing?” he asks, voice rough. I know he didn’t fall asleep when I did. He still needs a few hours, but it’s only midday. He’s got plenty of time to rest.
“Asked Rachel to meet me, didn’t I? She texted about an hour ago.”
“Will you be gone long?” He drops his head back down onto the pillow, hair spilling behind him in an inky wave. My mouth waters. I woke earlier with no aches at all, though I’m sure the sun will do wonders for the quiet thrum of my magic, and I’m excited to remedy that.
Later, though. Later.
