“It's in being allowed to witness. To learn. To understand the small sacred things that make your lover who they are." I pulled her into a kiss.
Her lips met mine with a softness that was as luxuriant and intricate as the ritual I'd just witnessed.
My fingers twined around the ends of her freshly braided hair, pulling her into me as warmth spread between our bodies.
There was an intensity in the way we kissed, a depth that was matching our rising devotion.
I felt myself drowning in her.
Fully submerged.
Engulfed in her overwhelming love.
Lost in her embrace.
And in that moment, everything crystallized.
Yeah. I’m not just going to give her a baby before the war ends. . .I’m going to give her a ring.
This morning, I couldn't bear an hour without her.
Now, I couldn't bear a lifetime.
The only questions now were. . .when I would propose, where, and if she would say yes.
Chapter twenty
The Hidden Island
Kenji
An hour later, the helicopter’s blades cut through the air, carrying us away from the main island and toward a smaller piece of paradise I'd kept hidden for years.
Nyomi sat beside me, her hand in mine, her eyes wide as she took in the view through the window.
The helicopter's cabin hummed with mechanical rhythm—a low throb that vibrated through the seats and into our bones. It was loud enough that we'd had to lean close to speak, intimate enough that her breath warmed my neck when she turned to ask questions.
The air inside carried the faint smell of aviation fuel mixed with her scent—black amber and ripe plum cutting through everything else.
She'd changed into island clothes before we left—a loose linen dress in cream that fell just above her knees, the fabric so light it shifted with every breath. Underneath, I could see the thin straps of her swimsuit at her shoulders, burnt orange against her skin. Her braids framed her face.
I'd dressed similarly casual—white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled to my elbows, lightweight khaki pants, and my own swim trunks underneath.
No tie.
No cufflinks.
No dragon armor.
The ocean stretched below us, impossibly blue, dotted with small islands like emeralds scattered across silk.
"Where are we going?" she asked over the noise of the rotors.
"Somewhere safe." I brought her hand to my lips and then placed it in my lap, holding it firmly. "Somewhere the spy can't reach us."
Understanding dawned in her eyes, followed by tenderness.
I needed this.
