His grip on her tightened. “I love you too.”
There was so much she wanted to say as he set her down carefully and held her face in his hands, his gaze boring into her soul. Then all the words left her mind as he kissed her deeply. She clutched at him, and he ran his hands over her as if assuring himself she was truly all right. Scarlett never wanted to let him go again. The outside world faded away, and there was just him in her arms. His lips on hers. She wanted him with her every day for the rest of her life.
Someone whistled, bringing Scarlett back to reality. She reluctantly pulled away to find several people filming them or taking pictures with their phones. Brayden turned his body to try to block some of the cameras, but it was impossible to hide. Casswas having to actively work to keep some space between them and the onlookers.
Good for our public image, but bad for my life.
“Let’s go,” she said, taking his hand.
He picked up his bag. “Yeah, I want to get the fuck out of here.”
Hand in hand, they rushed outside to where Charlie was waiting in the Heroux speedboat, and soon they were on their way toward the Sapphire Canal as the midday sun sparkled on the water around them. Brayden yanked his sweatshirt over his head, revealing a white T-shirt underneath, and Scarlett brushed her fingertips over the short beard he’d grown in the several days he’d spent in jail.
As she drank in the man she adored, reality flooded back into her mind. “There’s so much I have to tell you about the past few days, but first, there’s something big you need to know. Evory declared war on Sigur Viður today.”
The light dimmed in his eyes. They both knew what it meant. He’d have to go home, and soon.
He pulled her into his lap. “Tell me some good news. Moira Ashworth was arrested, right?”
Grinning, Scarlett rested her head on his shoulder. “Yes, and Laylani. She’s gone. Probably for a long, long time, and if she ever gets out of prison, everyone she meets will know what she did.”
“Thank fuck for that.” He pressed his lips to hers as he held her.
“There’s more,” said Scarlett, running her hand over his warm chest and breathing in the scent of him for the first time in days. Even after a stint in jail, he still smelled like fir trees in the rain. “Elestine discovered Alastair hired the men who assaulted us at the National Theater.”
Brayden’s grip on her tightened. “You could havedied. I’ll fucking kill him.”
With a quick glance toward the front of the boat to confirm Charlie and Cass were still both facing away from the enclosed cabin, Scarlett rose to her knees, straddling Brayden so she could look him dead in the eye as she threaded her fingers through his hair. “You won’t. I just got you back, and he’s not worth it. I’m pressing charges. He’ll pay with his freedom and his reputation. And he’ll be banned from Parliament.”
He relaxed slightly, and Scarlett settled back in his lap as she relayed the full conversation with Elestine.
“Did I make the right decision?” she asked once she was finished.
“Undoubtedly. He deserves it. I can’t wait to see that prick get flogged publicly.”
“No more seeing him at work.” She gave him a small grin. “Do you think the public will turn on the border legislation because of this? Elestine is worried it’ll hurt our cause.”
“Even if it does, you’ll work through it. I’d bet on you every single time.” He sighed. “I wish I could be here to see him locked up.” He shifted Scarlett in his lap and ran a hand through his hair.
“Will you have to leave right away?” she asked.
“Soon,” he said. “I wish it weren’t so, but Lachlan will need me.”
“I know. And now I’m safe here. You won’t have to worry about me.” Images of Brayden in an active war zone burst into her thoughts. “But what if something happens to you? I can’t lose you again,” she whispered, her voice catching.
“I’m invincible, remember?” He stroked her back, soothing her.
“You’re hard to kill, not impossible to kill.” She met his gaze. “While you were in jail, I realized some things.”
“Like what?” He stared back at her, something that looked like uncertainty flickering across his face.
Her heart raced as she searched for the right words. Their marriage had been hasty, but she wanted all of him, forever. Scratch that—forever wasn’t enough. She needed the North Star runesandforever.
She swallowed. “Like, I can’t live without you. The North Star stuff was a lot when you first told me about it, but now I wish we’d gotten the runes when we had the chance.”
Light filled his eyes, and everything tumbled out of her in a rush.
“I hated not knowing what you were thinking and feeling, like maybe you were sitting there slowly growing to hate me for bringing you here—”
