Jack Meruvis came out, looking the part of a celebrity rancher with a fleece vest on and work boots. Several of his werewolf associates followed him into the front yard. “Coral. Willow. I’m glad you made it safely.”
To my surprise, Jack leaned in to hug me in greeting. I was so startled—this was a man who had kidnapped me and turned me over to a fae crime boss—that I was about to pull away when he whispered quick and low in my ear.
“I have information on your mother,” he said. “We’ll discuss it tonight—not now.” He released me and turned away smoothly as though he’d simply been offering a warm welcome.
My eyes nervously shifted to Coral and the other LA fae who had accompanied us. But Coral didn’t seem to think anything was suspicious about the hug, perhaps chalking it up to illogical human behavior. Instead, she looked over the house and said, “Everyone is here?”
Jack rubbed his hands together and nodded. “Severn flew in from New York about an hour ago. Black Ember and his entourage arrived from Canada just a few minutes ago. You’re the last to arrive. I set them up in the guest houses near the—”
And then Jack’s words fell away.Everythingfell away. I forgot about the breathtaking view, the mansion, the danger.
Severn stepped out of the front door.
I sucked in a breath. He wasn’t glamoured. He wore his mist-gray cloak, his hair spilling down over his shoulders, tousled like he’d recently run agitated fingers through it. He towered over the werewolves flanking the door, who gave him one look and shied away from him.
For a split second, I saw Severn as they must have: a powerful ruler with the world at his fingertips, capable of great destruction as well as great beauty. Then, his fierce turquoise eyes found me, and he instantly changed from the notoriously cruel fae prince into the man I loved.
My heart pattered wildly in my chest as tears threatened to spill from my eyes. He took a few strides down from the porch, and I raced up to meet him, letting myself fall into the embrace of his arms.
ChapterThirty-Four
I was with Severn again.
Now that I was safe in his arms, I never wanted to be anywhere else. I buried my face in his chest, breathing in his herbal scent mixed with the slightly metallic smell of his fine clothes. The scent brought back a rush of memory: of the first time we’d kissed beneath the cherry tree in Central Park, of making love on the rooftop, of dancing in his arms at the gala, all the times we’d laughingly and joyfully played with Puck or the children.
Thinking of the gala gave me a flush of guilt. I pulled back slightly, still clutching him around the neck, afraid to let go completely as I bit my lip.
“I’m so sorry about what I said at the gala,” I breathed in a rush, searching his eyes for any sign that he was angry with me. “I was wrong. I was…afraid.”
He gently ran the back of his fingers down my temple, making ashhhsound. “No, Willow, I was the wrong one. I let my emotions get the better of me, and I don’t blame you for never wanting to be with me again.”
“But I do,” I insisted. “I do want to be with you. Now and always.” I thought back to Helena sitting at the lounge table at the Deep, the candle wax that stubbornly wouldn’t harden in my palm. Then, swallowing hard, I whispered, “I love you, Severn.”
His turquoise eyes darkened as his gaze raked over my face, settling at last on my lips. For a few moments, it felt like it was only the two of us in the entire world. “I love you, too, Willow. More than I thought a fae heart was capable of.”
Even though Helena’s spell had already foretold that Severn shared my sentiments, it was different to hear it on his lips. My heart squeezed with a swell of love for this man. We’d been through hell and back. Overcome so many challenges. A few days ago, I’d even ended things completely, afraid of what a future would hold with someone like him.
And now I couldn’t imagine another day without him.
He touched my chin, tipping it up so his lips could meet mine. I slowly became aware that we had a less-than-friendly audience: Jack and his werewolves, who were loyal to no one but themselves; Coral and the other fae from Los Angeles, who had come with me on the plane. I didn’t recognize several other fae in the doorway—others from the Sun Court who must have accompanied Black Ember on his trip to Canada.
But I didn’t care who saw us together. Everyone already assumed we were married, so there was no reason to hide our feelings.
Severn anchored his hand at the small of my back and pressed me closer, deepening the kiss. He tasted like pastries from New York, the magic of the city.I’ll be back there soon.His lips quickened over mine, conveying the depth of his desire. I felt myself melting into his body, our curves becoming flush. His other hand ran through my hair, down the length of my back, and then up my side as though reassuring himself that I wasn’t a dream.
A soft sigh slipped out of my lips as he cupped my cheek in his hand. “Willow,” he whispered low enough so the others didn’t overhear us. “I’ve never felt as afraid as when I heard you’d been taken.” His hand hardened as an edge cut across his features.
“Henry and May?” I asked nervously.
“They’re fine. Kell and your friend Zara brought them home from the airport and explained what had happened.” His hand grazed my arm, still a little red from where the demon’s touch burned me, and he stopped and stared at the wound. “Did theyhurtyou?”
I could feel rage coiling in him. It simmered in his eyes and the angry set of his lips, pulling back over his teeth like an animal. I knew what a beast Severn could be when he was angry, and I quickly rested a hand on his chest.
“I’m fine.” I’d eventually tell him about the demon at the club, but that could wait. If he learned here, now, then the whole hostage negotiations might fall through. “Really. The Sun Court treated me well, kept me fed, and gave me everything I needed.”
His eyelids suddenly narrowed. “Fed? You didn’t drink their wine, did you?”
“Of course not. I was careful.”
