Sei pats Loska’s side between the harness straps. “Loska ate him.” Sei winces. “It was rather unpleasant.”
Marek stares at Sei, who looks green. Then he turns to stare at Loska, who peers innocently at the sky. Cold wind pricks at Marek’s various injuries. He’s smeared blood on Sei’s face and jacket. They both desperately need a bath.
“Well,” Marek says eventually. “I guess we’re covering up the death of Radovan Ark.”
“Do you think that’s best?” Sei asks.
“Everyone else in my family has stupid secrets.” Marek shrugs. “Why shouldn’t we cover up one extremely justified murder?”
See, I knew you would be fine with it!Loska chimes in, though his relief is audible.
“Why shouldn’t we,” Sei repeats, then bursts into watery laughter. He falls into Marek’s arms.
When Marek holds Sei close, the cold disappears. Especially when Sei rises up on one knee, looking down into Marek’s eyes.
“I don’t need another year.” Slim hands cradling Marek’s face, Sei asks, “Marek Helra Dire, will you marry me again?”
?
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Sei
“A real wedding this time,” Sei says, heart pounding. This seemed like a good idea when he started talking—but he’s asking for so much. “Not a pageant for everyone else. I want to marry you for myself, beneath the open sky.”
Marek’s face softens beneath the blood and grime. “You want a Helran wedding?”
Sei nods. “With Osric and Loska there.”
“You’re so fucking perfect.” Marek grins. “Yes, Sei. I’ll marry you again. I’ll marry you a hundred times.”
“What if a hundred isn’t enough?” Sei asks, giddy and breathless. “What if I want more?”
Marek’s hands slide up Sei’s thighs. “I’ll marry you as many times as you want. I wish I’d had the chance to claim you on my own terms. But now that I have you, I don’t want to let go. Are you free next week?”
Joy lifts Sei up, stronger than any magic. He flings his arms around Marek’s neck—but with a pained groan, Marek holds him back.
“Sorry,” Marek grits out, pale under the dirt and blood. “I think I broke a few ribs.”
“Were you going to mention that?” Sei demands. Now that the adrenaline is fading—yes, Marek looks very sexy and masculine, all disheveled like this.However. Sei’s husband obviously needs a healer. “Wedding planning can wait until we… can you even fly back to Talorna like this?”
Yavran swung by a few minutes ago, while you were occupied. I told her to fetch a blood-healer from the fortress.Loska’s voice turns wistful.Yavran is so beautiful. Perhaps she really is my soulmate. But Liliana is so charmingly violent too…
“Perfect.” Marek’s massive hands encircle Sei’s waist. “I’ll get patched up, then you two take me to the scene of Radovan’s…”
“Mysterious disappearance?” Sei supplies.
“Right. We can cover up any evidence of Radovan’s mysterious disappearance.”
I can clean up any leftovers while you wait for the healer,Loska offers.If my bonded thinks he can climb down.
Moving slowly and carefully, Marek manages to reach the ground. Sei follows, forcing himself not to rush. He’s far calmer than he expected given everything. The abduction. The solo flight. The wraiths.
Marek seizing his magic, combining them into something far more powerful than either of them on their own. Maybe that elation is carrying Sei through the stress.
Loska takes off, and Sei leans gingerly into Marek’s embrace. As dust and ash swirl around them, Marek’s hand pauses at the side of Sei’s jacket.
“What’s this?” Marek asks.
