I crouch down beside him and rest my hand gently on his shoulder. “Do you think she meant to do the same to you?”
“She’s still holding out hope for her and me.” He twists his head and looks at me. His eyes are that beautiful amber, and they glow in the darkness of the room.
“But you know that would never be, Briony. You know I’m hopelessly and utterly in love with you. When I thought …” He trails off, his gaze falling to the floor. He swallows, then raises his eyes back to mine. “When I thought I’d never see you again, I gave up hope. I was ready to die out there, if only in the hope that you wouldn’t come and find me.” He shakes his head in disbelief. “I still can’t believe you risked everything to come out here.”
“You’d do it for me, wouldn’t you, Fox?” I say. “In fact, that’s how she lured you out here.”
“I’d do anything for you, Briony. You know that.”
“So I don’t know why you believe you couldn’t live without me and yet, somehow, I could live without you, Fox. I need you in my life. I need you here with me, and I’m not about to lose you ever.”
“Fuck, Briony,” he says, his lips curving up into a slight smile. “You are incredible – and infuriatingly stubborn.”
“Yeah,” I say, grinning right back at him, “but I think that’s why you like me.”
“Probably. You know the brattish act drives me wild.”
I giggle.
He lifts his hand and cups the side of my face, sliding his thumb across my cheek.
“I still can’t believe you’re here,” he says in wonderment. “I assumed that you’d think …” He trails off.
“That I’d think you betrayed me? When you weren’t there to help me in the trial, when you were missing, when she took you with her and fled?”
“I assumed you’d think the worst of me, Briony. And maybe you’d have been right to.”
“You may think you’re a monster, Fox, but I’ve never believed that. You’re a good man. And I trust you with all my heart – even if some people had their doubts.”
“Some people?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.
“It doesn’t matter what other people think. It matters what I think. And I know the truth. I’ve seen it in your eyes often enough, Fox. I know where your loyalty lies, and I know it’s with me.”
“Always,” he says, holding my gaze and peering right down into my eyes. Then he leans forward and kisses me, and I can’t help it – the tears begin to roll down my cheeks as he kisses me gently and reverently, like it’s been something he’s been dreaming of.
“Why are you crying, sweetheart?” he whispers against my mouth, wiping the tears away with his thumb.
“I just – for a moment, in that cave – I thought you were gone, Fox. I thought you were gone, and I really couldn’t bear it. I’m so pleased you’re here. I’m so pleased you’re with me.”
He kisses me again, and this time our kiss is seasoned with salt from my tears.
He rocks back. “I didn’t think I’d ever get to do that again.”
“Me too,” I sob.
He wraps his arms around me, rocking me gently, stroking his hand down my hair and shushing against my ear. For a long moment we simply hold each other, clinging to each other as if our lives depended on it, both unable to express how much we mean to each other.
“I’m never letting you go again, Fox,” I splutter through my tears.
“Good,” he whispers, “because I’m not leaving.”
Chapter Forty-Six
Beaufort
“What do you think?” Dray asks quietly as we pick our way through the valley of bones. In front of us, the dragon glides low to the ground, Tudor and Briony walking right behind the beast, her hand clasped in his. “Beaufort,” he says again when I don’t respond.
“Huh?” I say, pulled out of my thoughts momentarily.
