“I’ll stay with you.”
“Stayis a generous word.”
“You have a dungeon?”
“If only.”
Luke faces me. “I’ll stay anywhere. Any condition. As long as you fulfill your vow.”
Well, I bound myself in blood, so it’s not like I can back out of it. “This Freya must be someone special.”
“She is.”
This arrangement doesn’t seem like it’s going to get figured out in the next few minutes, and other than needing to know where he ends up, I’m not part of this.
“I’m taking Clem home,” I announce, and Carl’s sigh of relief is audible. Meeting Luke’s eyes, I do my best to focus on the fact that he brought the cure to us and not how he was the reasonshe was in danger in the first place. “I will do everything I can to fulfill my vow.”
His jaw clenches, but then he nods. His gaze flicks to Clem. “I’m sorry you were hurt because of me.”
“Just keep away from me.” She stands on her own and walks under her own power to my truck, where Shrimp watches her with his head stuck out the window, tongue lolling. She presses her forehead to his, smiling as he sniffs her hair and cheeks before licking her face.
He and I have the same urge.
I stand by the door, making sure she’s able to climb in fine on her own, then circle around to the driver’s seat. As I back out, the view of The Council in the midst of what looks like a debate disappears from view. Relieved at being away from the political machinations, I turn the wheels toward home.
Is it home for her too?
Now that Clem is healed and the threat of the hunter has been dealt with, she’s truly free to do as she wants.
Will she stay, or will she go?
As we’re pulling up the driveway, Clem lets out a deep sigh, and I turn my head to find her smiling at me. My chest grows warm and heavy with hope.
“Your house is beautiful. I don’t know if I ever told you that.”
My throat is suddenly thick. “No. You haven’t mentioned it. You think so?”
She hums an affirmation. “You did good work.”
I raise a brow at her, and her smile grows.
“Carl might have listed off all the renovations you made to the place.” She leans across the console as I park. “My favorite is the master bath.”
“Oh, yeah? Mermaid likes the big bathtub?”
Clem nods, her eyes sparking with delight. “Plenty of room for two.”
Then she shoves open the door and sprints for the house. Shrimp jumps down, bounding after her, and my whole body shivers at the peal of laughter that drifts back to me.
After I reach over to shut the door she left open, I follow in her wake.
Ready to do anything to convince her to stay.
33
CLEMENTINE
The fixfor my wound is not a sure thing. Not in my mind anyway.
