Owen helps me sit up, and I wrap my arms around him, feeling waves of pleasure flowing through me just through the small act of holding him close.
“I love you,” he says, his voice getting caught in his throat. “I’m sorry for the things I said, for everything I did. Trina, I’m so sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry,” I say, rubbing his back. “I cursed your people because my heart wasn’t true. It was my doubt that held back the cure. I couldn’t trust you… I couldn’t trust myself. I couldn’t trust in love.”
He pulls back and strokes my hair from my cheek, shaking his head. “I still think it was my fault. Trina, I did such terrible things to you. After what you’ve suffered, it was utterly unforgivable.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” I answer. “We’re together now. Let’s just focus on moving forward.”
As the words leave my lips, a darkness shadows his beautiful green eyes. “It’s not over, is it?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No. There is still one last seal to break. One last battle to fight.”
“I can feel it,” he says. “Am I magic, too?”
“You are to me,” I say, leaning in for a kiss. “But we don’t have to worry about it now. We’re safe. All I want is to be with you. Let’s go home.”
“Yes, my love,” he replies, kissing me softly. “Let’s go home.”
Epilogue - Owen
I’m jolted out of a sound sleep by the laughter of children nearby. Even though it’s the shrieking, excited kind of laughter instead of cute giggles, it brings a smile to my face. I’m pleased instead of annoyed.
Let them play. We’ve had too much grief.
“And just what do you think you’re doing?” Trina asks, nudging my hammock with her knee. “Didn’t I tell you not to fall asleep?”
“I’m not asleep,” I protest, not opening my eyes. “I’m fully awake. Can’t you tell?”
“No,” she giggles, nudging the hammock again. “If you don’t get up, I’m coming in there after you.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, no?”
I open one eye just in time to see Trina turn to the side and toss herself into the hammock on top of me. The thing swings wildly back and forth. I try to stabilize it by throwing my arms and legs out, but all I do is overbalance it, and the two of us fall into a heap on the grass.
“Ow,” I say, rubbing my head. “That was brutal.”
“You big baby,” she giggles, patting the top of my head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“What’s the big deal, anyway?” I ask. “Now that I’m up, I assume you want me for something.”
“You aren’t up,” she says. “And I always want you.”
Trina tackles me, and we go down in the grass, rolling over until she comes out on top, pinning my shoulders with her hands and kissing me.
“There are children nearby,” I mutter through the kiss.
“I’m being good,” she says.
“Tell that to the tentpole in my pants.”
“Oh?” she grins. “I would, but I think that would just make it worse.”
I grab her arms, pulling her down to me and kissing her. She playfully resists a little, then collapses against my chest, giving in to the kiss.
“Seriously, though,” she says in between kisses. “They are waiting for you.”
