The house smelled faintly of herbs, old wood, and ozone.
Tani—pale, furious, and muttering under her breath—had shrunk back to her smaller form and vanished into the greenhouse with a promise of vengeance and healing salves.The Red Queen remained barricaded in the upstairs guest room under strict orders not to wander, sulking loudly enough to be heard through the ceiling.Willow perched regally on the arm of a chair, tail wrapped around her paws, golden eyes tracking Owen as he swept shattered glass into a dustpan.
I sat curled at one end of the sofa, one leg tucked beneath me, bandages snug around my palms.Every muscle felt hollowed out, wrung thin.
“Thanks for doing that,” I said quietly.
Owen glanced up.“Of course.”
He tipped the last of the broken glass into the trash and leaned on the broom, shoulders sagging now that the danger had passed.
“Piper… I’m sorry.”
I frowned.“Sorry for what?”
“For not stopping it sooner.At the shop.In the woods.”His jaw tightened.“I should’ve bound that demon the second I saw it.I hesitated.”
“You didn’t hesitate,” I said firmly, pushing myself to my feet.Crossing the room felt like walking through water.“You protected me.”
He shook his head.“Not fast enough.My father wouldn’t have waited.”
I took the broom from his hands and let it fall to the floor.Then I threaded my fingers through his, careful of the bandages.“You’re not your father.And I’m alive because of you.”
He searched my face, something raw slipping through the careful control he usually wore.
“I’ve wanted you safe for a long time,” he said quietly.“Longer than I ever admitted to myself.”
The words landed heavier than a declaration ever could.My chest tightened and my breath caught.
“Owen—”
“It’s all right,” he said quickly, already retreating half a step.“You don’t have to answer that.I’ll wait.However long you need.”
No one had ever said that to me.
The realization hit harder than fear.
Emotion surged up fast and unmanageable.I stepped into him instead, pressing my forehead to his chest.His heart beat steady beneath my ear.He didn’t kiss me.He didn’t rush me.He wrapped his arms around me and held on, solid and unmovable, until the shaking eased.
Only then did he tip my chin up.
He kissed me like he’d been waiting—patient, careful, but unable to deny it any longer.His lips were warm and sure, fitting to mine as if they’d always known how.The world softened around us, the noise and fear falling away until there was only the quiet press of his mouth and the steady strength of his arms holding me in place.
It wasn’t hurried.It wasn’t asking for more.It was a promise made without words.
When I pulled back, breathless, it was only because I needed air.
“There’s something you need to know.”
His expression sharpened instantly.“Okay.”
“When the demon spoke…” My voice wavered.“It didn’t scare me.It did something.Like it reached inside my head.Tried to convince me I’d never be alone if I went to him.Made me want to believe his lies.”
His grip tightened, careful of my hands.“But you didn’t choose it.”
“No.And every time you spoke, it stopped.”I swallowed.“If you hadn’t been there…”
“Then I’m not going anywhere,” he said without hesitation.“Not tonight.”
