“This is ours,” she says. “No more ghosts.”
Jace’s gaze meets mine over her shoulder.
And I see it—the fear that I’ll hate him for this. That I’ll leave. That I’ll see Riley instead of Bree.
But I don’t.
I see forgiveness.
The heat radiates off me in waves, and I feel Bree shiver against my chest—not from cold, but from anticipation.
My arms move without thinking, wrapping around her waist, holding her steady.
Jace kisses her, and she arches forward into it, her body moving against mine.
I see everything from this angle. The way Jace’s hands trace her scars. The way her breath catches. The way the Ether curls around them both—silver and alive.
“She’s beautiful,” I say, voice rough.
Jace glances up at me, and I see the gratitude in his eyes.
“Yeah,” he agrees. “She is.”
Bree turns her head slightly, pressing a kiss to my jaw. “So are you,” she whispers.
The words hit me harder than they should.
My hands move to her hips, steadying her as Jace settles between her thighs.
I watch as he pushes inside her, and she gasps—the sound vibrating through her body and into mine.
And this time, it doesn’t hurt.
It doesn’t feel like violation or cruelty or control.
It feels likebelonging.
The Ether pulses—brighter now, reacting to all three of us.
My fire stirs in response, low flames flickering along my forearms. The heat rolls through the room in waves, mixing with the cool drift of Jace’s air magic.
Bree’s hands find mine where they rest on her hips, threading our fingers together.
“You’re both here,” she whispers, and there’s wonder in her voice. Relief.
I lean forward, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. “We’re here.”
The magic responds—silver and gold and the faint shimmer of blue, weaving together in the space between us.
I feel Jace’s magic against my skin, cool and deliberate. Feel the way Bree’s Ether threads through everything, binding us together.
And I let myselffeelit.
Let myself be part of this.
Jace sets a rhythm—slow and deep—and I feel every movement through Bree’s body pressed against mine.
Her head falls back against my shoulder, eyes fluttering closed.
