“No one’s watching.”Leaning forward, he brushed her lips with his.
“Apart from a dozen cameras, monitored twenty-four seven in your control room.”
“Ah, those.You care?”
“No,” she admitted.“You?”
He let out a huff of laughter.“I’ve got bigger things to worry about.I want normality too, not just for a day.That’s what I want for us, even if it’s a fight every step of the way.”
“Does that mean no arguing about who makes the first strike on the next mission?”
“Tempting,” he said, his lips tugging with amusement.“Let’s compromise.You stab; I interrogate.”
“Compromise?Wow.You really have changed.”Her laugh was low and real.“If you mess up, don’t expect a second chance.”
“Noted,” he said, grinning.“I’ll try not to die too quickly, then.”
* * *
When they were dressed and ready for the day, Sable was brushing out tangles in her hair when he came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist.Resting his chin on her head, he murmured, “Happy?”
“More than I can say.”Leaning into him, she whispered, “I love you.There, I’ve said it.I always have, and always will.It’s that simple, and that complicated.”
“I don’t know about complicated.I just know I’ve got the other half of me back.”
* * *
There was a lot to do, and they met only in passing.The rescued had been triaged and fed and were slowly coming around to the idea that safety was their new reality.There was even a gentle optimism aboard as the grand ramparts of the Grand Harbour came into view.
Thank goodness for that breakfast, Sable thought.Neither of them had a chance to eat for the rest of the day.By the time theSeraphimwas back in her berth and all the survivors safely delivered to a hostel where they would be well cared for, she and Elijah had no energy to join a boisterous Blood and Thunder team supper and chose to retire to Elijah’s stateroom instead.
Standing on his private deck as the horizon bled rose and amber while day moved into night was a reminder that, even with so much evil in the world, they lived on a beautiful planet where good people would always outnumber the bad.
“I thought about throwing this into the sea many times,” Elijah admitted, reaching for the ring around his neck.
“Same,” Sable admitted, thinking of the raw amethyst she kept in her pocket as a talisman.“I meant to get rid of the amethyst you gave me, but I never could.”
“Glad you kept it?”
“Very glad,” she confessed.
“I’ll keep my promise to have it polished and set.In the meantime, wear this.“May it always keep you safe.”
She let out a soft exclamation as he slipped the chain he always wore around her neck, holding the gold ring that meant so much to him.
Digging in her pocket, she found the rough purple stone.“Take this in return as a keepsake from me.”Rising on tiptoes, she looped her arms around his neck.
They kissed slow and deep.Elijah tasted of coffee and forever.“I love you,” she whispered.Then she shouted, “I love you!”as if the ocean could record her words and keep them safe for all time.
“I’m home,” Elijah said simply as he drew her back into his arms.Crushing her close as the sunset flared behind them, he pointed to the fiery sky.“Even Earth is celebrating our reunion.Shall we join the celestial celebrations?”
“It would be rude not to,” she said.
CHAPTERTWELVE
They woke the next day in a tangle, her back to his chest.His hand lay curled over her heart, as if even in sleep he needed proof she was there.Blinking against the morning light slanting through half-open shutters, she began to roll out of bed.
“Stay,” Elijah muttered, his voice gravelly with sleep.“I’ve got something for you—not that,” he scolded softly.“This…”
