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"--you need to secure the Connacht fortress so I can make sure my Gillian has a forever home."
"My Gillian." In a blur of motion, Puck was on his feet and punting William in the stomach. His grip on her never slipped. "Only ever mine. Never yours."
William held up his hands, palms out, in a show of innocence. "Your Gillian. Fine. Whatever. Consider your claim staked. Anyway. Let's go tell your people there's a new douchebag in charge."
Very well. Puck gave Gillian's knuckles another kiss before heading for the tree where they'd last made love, where William and company had tethered different chimeras. He glanced back once, twice, thrice to ensure Gillian hadn't ran off, and her heart soared.
He still loves me. I still love him.
This was going to work!
Hopeful, she mounted Peanut. William rode at her left, and Puck rode at her right, making her the meat in a beefcake sandwich. Winter led the charge, and Cameron remained in the rear.
One hour bled into another, conversation on hold. Was everyone else watching the suns as diligently as Gillian, waiting for them to set?
Winter kept up a steady conversation--with herself. Cameron counted trees. His new obsession, apparently. Gillian felt sorry for whatever woman he ended up falling for. His pursuit would be relentless. Until it wasn't.
Could the keeper of Obsession have a happily-ever-after?
Could Gillian? No happy ending meant a life without Puck. He still loves me. I still love him.
She would never tire of those words.
When they reached a dense thicket of trees, Puck dismounted, and everyone else followed suit. One after the other, they led their chimeras through the foliage.
"All right," William said, his voice drenched with exasperation. "I've been waiting forever for someone to question me about how I managed to pull off the greatest victory of all time. Since every member of my team is determined to be rude and freeze me out, I'll have to take my story to the grave. Not that I'll ever die."
Gillian arched a brow, purposely remaining mute. He'd crack in five, four, three, two--
"Fine. I'll tell you. Stop begging me with your eyes," he said. "The Red Queen had a premonition and, because she's a Curator, bound to the Earth, its seasons and even its other-realms, she was able to link with Amaranthia to create the portal below the clouds. Peanut and I fell through, along with Pandora and Galen, and we ended up in the underworld. Hades caught us with a stream of power and eased us down."
"How did you return to Amaranthia?" Puck asked. "And with so little time passing for us."
The timbre of his voice sent shivers of desire rushing through Gillian.
"No one keeps me from my best friend," William said. "As soon as Sin used magic to trap Gillian with the Oracle and pin you in place, the barrier he'd placed around Amaranthia weakened. I busted through, contacted Rathbone, and ta-da. Here I am. As for defying time itself." Shrug. "Let's just say my magic is better than your magic."
Friend. He'd called her friend. She reached over and patted his hand.
They led their chimeras over a dune, and the Connacht fortress came into view. Breath snagged in her throat. The structure reminded her of a giant sandcastle. The most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. Except for Puck, of course. The highest point disappeared in the clouds, and a tower loomed on each side, connected by a parapet where armed soldiers patrolled.
The suns had lowered just enough to create a golden aura around--
Wait. The suns were in the process of setting! William said he wouldn't protest if Gillian and Puck waited until sunset to bond a second time.
Should she ask for a ceremony now? Or wait until Puck had settled in? Or wait until Puck asked her?
"This is your home?" she asked Puck.
"Our home," he replied, his tone fierce.
She grinned. "Will the citizens put up a fight when you reveal your new, exalted status?"
"No. The one who wears the crown rules. No questions asked. Though they might complain behind our backs."
So. Her ex-husband was officially the Connacht king, and Gillian was going to be the Shawazon and Connacht queen, and help him unite all the clans.
Their group marched onward. One of the guards spotted them, and a battle cry rang out. Next, a bell clanged.
Someone shouted, "Wait! I think that is... Prince Neale?"
Neale? Gillian's brow furrowed. Then she remembered. Neale was the name his people used.
More shouts. "Prince Neale is prince no longer. He is king!" The shouters didn't sound overjoyed.
The soldiers sank to their knees. "All hail King Pukinn!" Nope, definitely not overjoyed. The words were grumbled.
"They expect me to be like Sin," Puck said, voice tight.
The front gate opened, revealing more kneeling people.
"You'll win them over," Gillian said. "We both will." Hint, hint. Ask me to marry you again, Pucky!
"All right. Before we part ways, I need to do a little disclosing." William pushed out a heavy sigh. "I kissed your wife, Puck. Now, now. Don't go getting that vengeful look in your eyes--yes, that one. She didn't kiss me back. And I'm glad. I felt like I was kissing my great-aunt Trudy. If I had a great-aunt Trudy." He shuddered.
"I know you kissed her," Puck replied through gritted teeth. "If you ever do it again, I'll kill you without a qualm."
William laughed--until a thorn vine shot from the ground, and tripped him. He hacked at the vine, then stood and spit out a mouthful of dirt.
Now Gillian laughed, a well of happiness springing up.
Happiness...
Realization struck with the force of a baseball bat. The prophecy was right! She wasn't getting a happy ending. Nope. Not her. She was getting a happy beginning. A bond forged because she and Puck had willingly chosen each other. And once they had their beginning, they would have their happily-ever-after.
They would have an eternity together!
"Don't worry, Lucky Pucky," she found herself teasing. "I won't let William kiss me again. I have better taste. I mean, I expected masterful skill from someone who spends the bulk of his time screwing anyone who breathes. Alas, William was..." In a stage whisper, she said, "Inept."
William gave a mock growl. "How dare you, poppet? I'm amazing." One second he was on her left, the next he stood in front of Puck, cupping the back of his neck and jerking him forward to plant a wet one on his lips.
Whooping and clapping, Winter danced around. Cameron hid a snicker behind his hand while Gillian didn't even try to mask hers.
/> "Better than I imagined," Gillian called, fist pumping the sky.
When William lifted his head, the corner of Puck's mouth twitched. Her ex-husband-soon-to-be-husband-again looked to her and said, "You were right, love. Inept."
William brushed an invisible piece of lint from his shirt. "I'll be sure to tell everyone Puck kisses--never mind. I won't say anything. I don't kiss and tell. I only shag and brag."
Gillian shoved William out of the way and launched herself against Puck. Forget waiting. "I love you, and I want to marry you in all ways."
"I love you, too. But I want you to be sure, because I'll never let you go again."
"I'm sure. I know I didn't get a happy ending because--"
"I don't care what the Oracles say," he interjected. "I will--"
"No, you didn't let me finish. I didn't get a happy ending because I got a happy beginning. We will bond again. Now. In front of everyone. We will be together forever. I thought about waiting for you to ask, but..."
His smile was slow, but wicked and oh so bright. "You choose me of your own free will."
"I choose you," she confirmed. "I will always choose you. And our people. And I agree to marry you in all ways, if I didn't make that clear. One day soon, I'd like to have a ceremony with the Connachts and the Shawazons together." Winter, Cameron, Johanna and Rosaleen would be bridesmaids. William would be her maid of honor. And yes, she would call him by the title for the rest of his life.
Their entourage cheered.
"I give you my heart, soul and body," Gillian said, remembering the vows they'd once spoken. "I tie my life to yours, and when you die, I die with you. This I say, this I do."
After he repeated the words, she added, "I will help you unite the clans. I will be a help, not a hindrance. I will love you, and support you, and build you up, never tear you down."
His grip on her tightened, an action she interpreted to mean I wasn't kidding; I will never let you go. "I will cherish you, all the days of my life. I will put your safety before my own and always welcome your wise counsel. I will love you forevermore and nothing--no one--will ever have the strength to rip me from your side."
Her heart overflowed with love and joy. She rose to her tiptoes as he lowered his head, and they met in the middle, sealing their promises with a kiss.
Long minutes passed before he lifted his head. Panting, he withdrew a dagger and made an incision in the center of his palm. Blood pooled. She accepted the dagger and made an incision of her own. Then they drank of each other.
