“This is Switzerland. That’s not what we meant. These aren’t part of our hoard. They’re yours. ” Evander hands me some papers from a side table near the door. I flip through the ownership and authentication documents. My name is embedded at the top of all of them.
“I... I own five paintings by Monet?” There’s no way. I can’t afford rent in New York City, let alone the security it would take to keep them safe. I’m laughing internally. Where would I hang each of them? That one would fit next to Kate and Chanda’s bunk beds. And that one could hang by the key table. But that’s it. I don’t think we have wall space for the rest. Though I could lend them to museums.
No... no, what am I thinking? I can’t keep these. I turn away from Roark to Kieren. He’s the mastermind behind this, I know it. “I can’t keep these.” I hand the papers to him. “I have no way of keeping them safe. I don’t even own a wall. Taking possession of them would be irresponsible.”
Kieren smiles. “We thought of that already. Look at the last page.”
The last page in the folder is a trust, with my name at the top. A multi-million-dollar trust. “No... no. I can’t.” I hand him the papers back.
“Duchess, we want you to have them.”
“But I can’t accept it. Did you give this to all your past candidates?” Not that I like to think about them. Not that I’ve really asked about them.
“No, Raine. We’ve never... There’s never been anyone like you. We’ve never broken the rules before,” Kieren says.
“I’ve never told anyone I’ve loved them before. No female, not the way I love you.” Evander takes the folder and puts it back on the table. “We set this up before we realized that we don’t care about the lightning. You’re our mate. You’re part of our thunder. When we mate, the paintings will belong to all of us, if that makes you feel better.”
My chest fills with relief, though I can’t take my eyes off the paintings.
“Don’t sigh too quickly, Raine. Our hoard is your hoard,” Kieren says.
“But... you have commitments.” I’m reaching for him. Even as I’m calling out their duties, my chest hurts. And I wish I could be greedy, keep them all for myself.
“We do. And I don’t care about them anymore. You are our commitment. I’m committing to you.” Roark wraps his arm around me. He pulls me back to his chest and presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“We’ll find a way to do both. And there’s still time for the lightning to happen. It’s only October.” Evander winks at me. “And you’re planning a Halloween spectacular for the village children.”
“Spectacular? I got some decorations and candy.”
“Anything with your touch turns special.” Evander tilts my head and kisses my lips.He tastes ofcremira, the spicy chocolate drink.
Roark and Kieren step into us. I’m circled by them. Encompassed by them. I’ve never felt so loved, wanted, and treasured. I’m not part of the thunder, not yet. But I can feel it coming. It’s like an itch I can’t reach.
Kieren kisses me next, and I’m dizzy when he pulls back, his blue eyes glowing in the dim light. “I love you, and we’ll figure this out.”
I nod. Because there’s a lot to figure out but nothing that can be done but wait. My eyes flick to Roark, but he grabs me by the waist and throws me over his shoulder. “I want to see how fantastic you look naked on top of my hoard.”
I grip his sides, the ruby and diamond ring sparkling on my hand.
72
RAINE
I’ve got my witch’s hat on, and I’m placing more full-size candy bars from the chocolate shop in town into a cauldron for the trick-o-treaters, when Roark wraps an arm around me, pulling me into an alcove. “Duchess,” he growls. “You smell delicious.”
“It’s the chocolate.”
“It’s not the chocolate; it is you.” He takes the plastic cauldron from my hand and places it on the ground. My hat follows it, and he pushes me up against the wall. I’m laughing and panting at the same time.
“I need to pass out candy. Mary from the pub told her grandson’s class that they should come up here.”
“They will not come. There’s too much history.” Roark nibbles along my jawline. “I don’t want to disappoint you. We will just have to eat all the candy ourselves.” He crouches and scoops up one of the full-size bars. “This is much better than those half-bite plastic chocolate things.”
“Thank you for taking me to the village.” We had a nicetime, the two of us, though the villagers did give me a wide berth when Roark growled at them.
Roark straightens, and his eyes catch mine. “I am sorry.” His blue eyes flick down. I shouldn’t like his groveling so much. But he shouldn’t have scared Percy, either. The male was just trying to do his job. Roark eats a whole full-size bar in one bite. Fingers run down the side of my arm, and his fingers intertwine with mine. “I suppose we should welcome the tricksters with some candy.”
“I thought you said no one would be coming.”
