Mona let out a surprised laugh. “What? Where am I going?”
“I—Well—I assumed you would return to the Underworld. With Prue.”
Mona’s mouth opened and closed. “Iassumed I would be returning to the Underworld withyou. But if you must stay in the mortal realm, then I’ll stay, too.”
Evander’s brows furrowed with confusion. “I can’t ask you to leave your sister. You two have been through so much.”
“You’re not asking me at all. I’m telling you, my place is with you.”
“But it’sPrue,” he argued. “Prue hasalwayscome first.”
Mona’s heart dropped at the devastation on his face. Goddess above, he looked so forlorn and lost. Had he truly believed she had chosen Prue over him?
Her gut twisted with the realization that shehad.Every time, Prue had come first. Mona had given up her memories of Evander in order to rescue Prue from the Underworld. She had stayed by Prue’s side when the Titans had closed in, knowing it would result in her capture. And she had chosen to stay with the witches and fight with Prue instead of returning to the Undead Wilds with Evander.
Realization struck Mona like a bolt of lightning. She had urged Evander to rediscover himself, to find a purpose worth living for, somethingbesidesher…
But she needed to find herself, too. She needed to find who she was without Prue. Without Gaia.
And only now did she realize that, for the first time in her life, shewasn’tworried about her sister. Her thoughts were free of all worries or concerns for Prue. Mona had been overcome with self-pity and sorrow over her own losses.
But she hadn’t thought of Prue at all.
Mona’s ultimate sacrifice had guaranteed Prue’s safety. Mona had given up everything for her sister.
And she was finished. Finished with the sacrifices, with the loss. She was finished with worrying over someone who was already being looked after.
Prue would be fine. She would thrive as Queen of the Underworld alongside her powerful husband.
Mona took a deep breath and leaned closer, framing Evander’s face with her hands. She forced him to meet her gaze. His eyes were still filled with that broken confusion mingled with desperation.
“Not anymore,” Mona said softly. “Prue has Cyrus. And even if she didn’t, she is strong enough to take care of herself. I’ve given up my entire life for this cause. For my sister. For my mother. It’s time for me to live for myself. AndI choosea life with you, Evander. If you’ll have me.”
Evander’s mouth fell open, his face slack with shock. Clearly, this was the last thing he’d expected her to say.
Mona pressed the flat of her palm against his cheek, her thumb tracing circles along his chin. “Freeing Clotho will not be easy. I think you’ll need a clever witch by your side to help you. Don’t you agree?”
Evander huffed, but she wasn’t sure if it was an inhale or a breathy chuckle. “I—I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” Mona urged. “Say you’ll have me.”
“Oh gods, Mona,of courseI’ll have you. I’ll have every piece of you that you’re willing to give.” In a swift motion, he gathered her in his arms and lifted her against him, settling her on his lap. Mona yelped, then laughed in surprise,wrapping her legs around him and draping her arms over his shoulders. She let her fingers tangle in his black and silver hair, then pressed her forehead to his.
“I love you, Evander. My soul belongs toyou. I’m—I’m so sorry I caused you to doubt that. But I will spend the rest of my mortal life proving to you how much I love you.”
Evander’s hands slid along her waist, bunching up her tunic until his long fingers brushed her bare skin. She suppressed a shiver of pleasure from the tenderness of his touch.
“Perhaps we will both have to spend our lives worshipping one another,” he mused, tilting his head at her. His eyes had a predatory glint that made her toes curl. “To prove how we feel.”
Mona’s mouth went dry. Her heart raced as she gazed at him, her eyes dropping to his lips.
He leaned in, angling his head so their mouths aligned. His lips brushed against hers, the softest of touches. Jolts of awareness spiked through her body until she couldn’t take it anymore. She closed the distance between them, drawing his mouth to hers.
A noise of pleasure rumbled in his throat as her lips roved over his. He tasted deliciously warm. He tasted likehome.The kiss started off slow and exploratory, but as their mouths moved hungrily together, it became something urgent and desperate. His tongue slid between her lips, tasting her thoroughly. She welcomed it with her own, their tongues clashing with brutal intensity. Her legs tightened around him, feeling his hardness pressing against her thighs.
Goddess, she wanted him. It had been so long since she’d claimed his body. Since he’d claimedher.
Evander’s hands snaked up her back, and then he eased her backward until she lay on the cot. He pinned her there with his body, hips grinding against hers. She writhed, rubbing against his arousal until he growled in her mouth. She bit down on his lower lip, savoring the strangled sound of his groan. Her hands fumbled with his trousers, and he tugged at hers in turn. After some shifting, they managed to remove them both.
