“Lolli,” I said between each ragged breath. “My Lolli.”
She kissed me again, and I felt her lips curve against mine. “My wildfire,” she whispered. “The flames I run to.”
My heart squeezed at the sound of my own words given back to me like a vow returned.
“I love you,” I said. “Gods, I love you.”
She settled on my lap, resting the side of her head on my shoulder. “I love you. I understand why you were so angry with me, both at the cave and at the square.” She turned her face to look at me, and I couldn’t stop myself from touching her. “I’m sorry for betraying you.”
My fingers skimmed across her cheek, her jaw, her lips. I touched everywhere, mapping her pretty features beneath my fingertips.
“I’m done giving pieces of myself to Zaicha,” she said, her attentive gaze on me. “I’m done running. Etienne reminded me that this is my magic. Mine, and she doesn’t get to dictate the cost. I’m going to fight for all of me now. For you. For us.”
“I didn’t realize your intended was such an intelligent male,” I teased, letting the words roll out enough to make her snort.
She laughed exactly the way I wanted her to.
“We’ll fight her together,” I said. “For all of you and for us.”
My fingers slid down the back of her head, into the soft ends of her hair. It was shorter now, a little choppy from Everly’s job, but still her. “You look fierce. Still beautiful. Always beautiful.”
Her cheeks brightened, but her smile grew. “Kassidy and I had a bit of a sword fight. She grabbed my hair,” she said. “I used my sword to get away.”
I froze for half a beat before I barked out a laugh. “You chopped your hair mid-fight?”
She shrugged, smug and defiant.
I answered with a low, rumbling laugh and tucked a stray strand behind her ear. “My fierce, beautiful Lolli.” My amusement faltered. “Is Kassidy a threat we need to deal with?”
Finley tilted her head, her eyes sparkling. “I can handle Kassidy.”
I knew she could. I’d seen her fight. Seen her burn and rise again and again. She didn’t need me to fight her battles.
“Do you remember when I gave myself a terrible haircut because you were upset with yours?” Finley’s eyes lit with mischief as she slid her fingers in my hair and tugged lightly at the ends.
“What?” I laughed. “Do you expect me to do the same now?”
She pressed her lips together, failing to hide her smug little smile. “Maybe.”
I leaned in and brushed my nose against hers. “I’d do worse than a bad haircut for you.”
“Always such a romantic.” She inched closer, her breath warm on my mouth, ready to press her lips against mine, when . . .
Luana barreled in, wedging all sixty pounds of her cute but stubborn body between us.
Finley laughed against the sudden, wiggling wall of fur, and I let out a groan. But Luana planted herself in the middle, tail thumping as if she’d done both of us a favor. Finley ran her hand through Luana’s fur when she looked back at her house.
“Etienne’s waking up.” Her lips tilted down in a small frown as she rose to her feet.
When I shifted, she reached down to help me up. I took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “My warrior goddess.”
She smiled. “My damsel in distress.” Then her voice quieted as her attention darted back to the house. “I want to stay withyou tonight. Every night, but I don’t want to leave him alone again.”
I ran my thumb against the back of her hand. “Then we don’t.” A plan quickly took shape, almost without thinking. “Humans have this thing called slumber parties that we’ve adopted. Everyone sleeps in the living room. There are piles of blankets, bed mats, and pillows everywhere. A movie and tons of snacks. We could do the same here. Tonight.”
Finley tilted her head, her eyes brightening. “You’re serious?”
“Very,” I said. “Fair warning, Luana will end up hogging the couch. If you and Etienne don’t mind her here, that is.”
