She tilted her head as he dragged his fingers through her hair.
“I love ye, too,” she confessed.
The words tumbled from her lips without any hindrance or resistance.
It felt as if the world had shifted. Theo’s smile beamed brighter than anything she had seen before and pulled her into a world where she knew she’d be safe forever.
But then his smile turned into a smirk, and he cleared his throat.
“What are ye smirkin’ about?” Lavina asked, trying to clear the awkwardness that had descended between them.
She wanted him to say something, anything that would cement their relationship.
“Nothin’. I’m sure Maisie is dyin’ to ask ye what ye think about our time together,” Theo said, rubbing the back of his neck.
“So ye brought me out here to tell me that ye love me? In a pile of ruins?” Lavina asked, glancing around at what remained of the old council chambers.
“Aye, well, I did, but then I had another reason for bringin’ ye here.”
“Is that right? How about ye tell me what ye need to say,” Lavina said, folding her arms over her chest.
Theo shook his head and pulled in a deep breath. “Nay, that’s all right. I’ll show ye tomorrow.”
“But what if I dinnae want to come out here tomorrow? What if I’m sick tomorrow and cannae get out of bed? Then ye’ll wish ye had brought me.”
Theo glared at her through narrowed eyes. “Alright, fine.”
Lavina tilted her head and watched as he turned into the nook. He tapped his finger on the tip of his chin before reaching for the torch.
“What…” Lavina trailed off when he stepped through the wall.
“It’s an optical illusion,” Theo explained with a grin. “I wanted ye to think ye had a place hidden from the world. Come here and see for yerself.”
Lavina took a cautious step forward as he held out his hand to her. His smile was always reassuring.
“What is this? Ye didnae…” She gasped as she stepped into the room she had always hoped she’d find.
The library was bigger than the old council chambers, and where the tunnel used to be was a stone hearth.
“Ye wanted a library.” Theo shrugged. “And I try to give ye everything ye want. Now, maybe ye can teach Amber the way ye want to.”
“Ye’re amazing, do ye ken that?” Lavina squealed, throwing her arms around his neck.
“I take it ye like it, then?”
“Aye, I do. And I love ye for it.”
“Is that so? But how could anyone love a beast?” Theo asked.
Lavina’s eyes flicked to the scars she barely saw anymore.
“Ye’re nae a beast,” she declared. “Ye’re the one who killed it.”
She rose on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips ever so lightly to his.
His arms curled around her. She didn’t have to ask where he was taking her as she felt the ground fall away from her feet.
He lowered her carefully onto the couch in front of the fire and stood back. Then, she watched him drop his garments one by one, until he stood before her as bare as the day he was born.
