He frowned at me. “You are too. I know it. There’s a second sword, and you can see the marks.”
“Valens, it’s probably for Savannah.”
He paused, taking the time to seriously consider it. “While that’s possible, I don’t think so. Do you feel the pull?”
I shook my head sadly. “I don’t feel anything, Brute. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”
He rocked back on his heels and ran a hand over his beard. “Not yet. But that doesn’t mean you won’t when the time is right.”
I could see the determination written in every line of his body, etched into the dimple of his cheek. There was going to be no arguing with him, even if I seriously doubted that sword was for me.
For now, it didn’t matter. I already had a badass sword and a calling of my own.
“What do we do now?” I asked, hesitant for him to touch the sword again, but knowing he probably had to.
“I think we reload this chest and take it home. Then… we see what I can do.”
I nodded, seeing the logic in it. Standing around the attic wouldn’t change anything. “Let’s do it.”
I helped him repack the journals after he carefully closed the false bottom over the two broadswords without touching them again. I eyed the trunk and then the ladder we’d climbed up to get here, wondering how we were going to safely carry it down.
Valens had no such issue, though, bending down and scooping it up effortlessly, one hand on each handle.
His muscles bulged, but he took the stairs down two at a time, unburdened by the trunk’s heft.
I followed him more carefully, carrying both lanterns.
We packed the house back up exactly the way we found it, but his demeanor was completely different on the way out. He loaded the chest into the back of the SUV, then headed back to lock up. I waited by my door, knowing he’d want to open it for me. I watched as he settled one palm on the wooden door, glanced up at the home where he had such cherished memories. He took a moment as if saying goodbye.
But when he turned my way, I didn’t see the past or any regrets written on his face. Only the promise of a new future.
Chapter 42
Valens
When we got back to the house, I was glad to see that Savannah’s car was in the driveway. I wanted to show her what we’d found, see what she thought about the second sword.
Elodie seemed aloof since I’d woken up branded, and it bothered me. I wanted us to be in this together, on the same page. And I knew that was hard for her, knew she didn’t trust easily.
But I could feel the rightness of it all in mybones. Feel that the second sword was hers, same as I knew she was my mate, my other half, the one who held the missing piece of my soul.
I would just have to keep on knowing for both of us, until she was ready.
I opened Elodie’s door, pressing her back up against it to steal a kiss. I poured all my hopes for our future into that kiss, everything I couldn’t tell her with my words for fear of spooking her. She gave as good as she got, running her hands up my arms to twine them behind my neck and drag me deeper. I relished her passion, savored every second of her kiss. Still, eventually, we had to break apart, and when we did, I buried my nose in her hair.
I wanted to tell her I loved her. But it was too much, I could tell. It could wait.
I grabbed the trunk from the back of the car and carried it inside.
Savvy was sprawled out on the couch, wearing mismatched pajamas and a face mask, watching some chick flick on the TV.
But when she saw what I was carrying, she sat bolt upright.
“What did you do?” She shot to her feet, eyes wide with worry as she scanned me from head to toe, her gaze snagging on the hole in my shirt, the brand on my chest.
I lowered the trunk, standing tall so she could see me unimpeded.
“Holy shit. It wastrue?” She recognized it immediately, the same way I had.
