“You married a man who deals in the dark shadows of the world, my princess,” I remind her. “And not only deals in them, butthrivesin them. It would be the greatest gift for you to take the darkest threads of emotion within you and give them to me. In exchange, I will give you every sweet, precious thing I’m capable of producing. All my love, all my joy, and all myhappiness—it’s yours. Take my light, wife, and give me your darkness.”
Her ragged breaths warm the skin of my neck as she tucks her face into it. “That feels rather selfish,” she comments.
“Indeed, it is, but I am a selfish creature, begging for whatever scraps you may throw my way.” I sigh, long and dramatic. “Fine, though, I suppose if you wish to cling to darkness, I will simply offer my arm, instead, so that I can stand in it with you.” I brush my mouth over her temple. “Whatever you wish, my angel. Whatever brings you peace. These are the things that I will give to you always.”
She shifts until her starry hazel eyes meet mine with wonder. “How is it that you always manage to say the perfect thing?” she asks. “How is it that you always manage to be exactly what I need?
I tuck a lock of long, silky hair behind her ear and smile. “Because,” I murmur, “you are my princess, and I am your knight.”
Her eyes soften.
“Yeah,” she agrees. “I am your princess, and you are my knight.”
Epilogue
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Archie
Three Months Later
TRIGGER WARNING: PREGNANCY
“We should’ve taken off from a private hangar,” Stryker grumbles, glaring at all of the Regular People as we pass them. “This is not secureat all.”
Millie rolls her eyes. “It’s anairport, Stryker, and we’ve already bypassed security, which means we’re in one of the most secure places we could possibly be.”
He scowls at her. “I don’t like it.”
“This is where the plane is,” Heidi says. “You gave me private plane budget. You did not give me private plane in a private hangar budget. So stop complaining.”
Stryker grunts. “Next time, we do a private hangar. I don’t care how much it costs.”
“What ‘next time?’” Millie asks. “It’s not like Archie’s going to have an excess of wedding receptions overseas. Sarelia’s a nervous flyer.”
Sarelia’s hand convulses in mine.
“She’d be a lot less nervous if everyone stopped reminding her that she’s nervous,” I point out. “And if everyone would stop jabbering and get to the plane so we can get take off—the only part she’s actually nervous about—over with.”
“I’m okay,” Sarelia lies. “Don’t rush on my account.”
My nose wrinkles. “Ignore her,” I order. “Rush.”
Stryker glares at me. “We will get there in whatever manner I deem safest.”
Goodness gracious. “Millie’s pregnant, Stryker, not invalid. She can walk a little faster. Not to mention, the faster we move, the faster she’s out of all this danger you think she’s in.”
“You can have an opinion on this whenyourwife is pregnant,” he declares. “And not a second sooner.”
“My wife is pregnant,” Basil rumbles. “And I’d like us all to stop wasting time arguing about stupid stuff when we could be on the plane taking naps.”
“Hear, hear!” Heidi agrees, picking up her pace. She glances over her shoulder at Basil, eyes sparkling. “Why didn’t you mention the naps earlier?”
Millie matches stride with Heidi. “They never tell us anything that matters,” she complains. “It’s always murder this, torture that. But naps? They don’t mention them. Prioritieswhack.”
“So whack,” Heidi agrees.
Stryker scowls at Basil. “If anything happens to them, it’s on you.”
