I’ve waited centuries for this.
And now that I have her — now that she’s here, in my arms, remembering me the way I’ve always remembered her—
I’m never letting go.
Chapter 8
Torric
The Valkyrie hall is quiet when I push through the archway.
Kieran and Kaia are tangled together in the furs near the fire. Her head tucked against his chest. His arms wrapped around her like he’s afraid she’ll dissolve if he lets go.
She’s breathing slow. Deep. Peaceful.
For the first time in days — maybe weeks — she’s actuallyresting.
I stop a few feet away. Let myself look.
Kieran’s eyes are open. He meets my gaze over her head, and something passes between us.
Relief.
He nods once. I nod back.
Movement behind me. The others filing in. Aspen first, settling against the wall near the entrance. Darian a moment later, keeping his distance, that faint glow leaking from him the way it does when his emotions are running high. Malrik next, eyes red and worn, shoulders carrying too much. And Finn trailing behind him, already opening his mouth to say something stupid.
They spread out around the fire pit — close enough to talk, far enough to give Kieran and Kaia space.
Mouse is curled at the foot of the furs, tail wrapped around his paws. Walter bobs lazily near the ceiling, pulsing that faint violet light.
Finn’s mouth opens.
“Don’t,” Kieran says quietly.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I’ve known you for months. I absolutely know that.”
Finn’s grin spreads across his face. “Fine. I was going to say you look comfortable. Centuries of waiting and you finally got the girl. Literally. She’s on top of you.”
“She’s beside me.”
“Semantics.”
Kieran’s mouth twitches. Then he shifts carefully, one hand sliding beneath Kaia’s head to support it as he extracts himself from the furs. She makes a soft sound of protest, fingers curling into the blanket where his shirt used to be, but she doesn’t wake.
He freezes. We all freeze.
She settles. Sighs. Burrows deeper into the warmth he left behind.
Kieran exhales slowly and finishes extricating himself. He tucks the furs around her, brushes hair from her face, then stands and joins us by the fire.
He moves stiffly. Like his body hasn’t caught up with the fact that he’s allowed to relax now.
