“It’s freezing out here. Why are we always doing things in the cold?”
I laughed and helped him to sit up, hardly waiting to wrap my arms around him. I kissed his face, his forehead, his scars, and finally, his mouth. He crushed me against him, dragging me into his lap, and returned the kiss.
“The crossbow is ruined,” I murmured against his lips. “I’ll make you another. I’ll make you a hundred more. I’m just so happy you didn’t die.”
He captured my face in his hands. “You either.”
Digging my fingers into his shoulders, I squeezed until he winced. “I can’t believe you did that! What is wrong with you? If I hadn’t just brought you back to life, I would seriously stab you right now.”
A cocky grin spread across his features. “That’s right. Never trust an angry woman with a sword.”
“I’m serious! You almost died. What were you thinking?”
The grin slipped from his face, and his thumbs brushed against my temple. “I’d already decided to volunteer before we ever stepped foot into the woods. I knew you’d never use the children to transfer the magic, and I wasn’t going to let you lose your brother again. No matter the cost.”
“Bowen...I don’t know how to thank you.”
His gaze held mine, and there was something in his eyes that made my heart pound. “I’ll think of what I want.” He wrapped his arms around me, lips finding mine, and drew me closer.
Hendrik cleared his throat. “Sorry to break this up, but there are some kids over there who want to make sure he’s okay. And I don’t know about you, but I really want to get out of these woods.”
Leaning back in Bowen’s arms, I gazed at the cabin. “What should we do about the witch?”
“Leave it to me. I think I’ve earned this.” Hendrik strode toward the house. He was gone for a few minutes until smoke billowed out the front door and flames began to lick up the sides of the windows. Hendrik returned, crossing over the threshold, and turned to face the house.
We watched it burn.
Bowen tightened his arms around me as the house from my nightmares caved in, the flames shooting into the clearing and the darkening sky.
“Let’s go home,” he whispered.
“Together. Let’s all go home together.”
The five of us followed the path out of the woods, and nobody looked back.
Chapter 27
Liana
The ship crested another wave and sent mist spraying into the air. I held onto the railing and stared at the approaching coastline. From this vantage point, the village where I’d spent the past few years of my life looked exactly the same, and yet I felt like a completely different person.
The witch was dead, Hendrik was released from her spell, Annie and Ethan were free, and now it was time I returned home. Sarah and Thomas would be waiting for us on the docks. I’d written to them detailing our arrival and the fact I wasn’t returning alone.
A pair of arms wrapped around my middle, and I leaned my head back against a broad chest. Bowen nuzzled my neck and said, “Have I told you lately how terrible this idea is?”
“It’s been a few minutes. Tell me again.”
“Your parents are going to skewer me with a fireplace poker.”
I scoffed and lifted my hand to rub his cheek. “Don’t be ridiculous. We have perfectly good daggers inside my workshop—they won’t bother with the poker.”
“Your words bring me comfort.”
Turning in his arms, I linked my hands around his waist. “Stop worrying. My parents will be so busy meeting the other three they probably won’t even remember you framed my father, had him sent to prison, then essentially blackmailed their daughter into working for a disreputable beast.”
“Well, when you put it that way…”
“And if they do remember—which they won’t—I’ll simply remind them how you helped me find Hendrik, saved two young orphans, aided me in killing a witch, and nearly died.”
