Lust exploded, followed by desperation.
“I need you, Rook.”
She giggled as I scooped her off her feet, holding her like my bride. The weight of her in my arms. The chill of her frosted skin. The feel of her heart thundering against mine.
She wasreal.
I’d achieved the impossible and brought her back to me. “I told you I would never let you die.”
Her eyes softened with adoration. “That’s because you’re the most stubborn fool I’ve ever met.”
“Yourfool.” I kissed her again, carrying her through Ashfall Cliff to my courtyard. Carp splashed in their ponds, moonlight dappled the flowers, and absolute peace reigned over everything.
All the staff were asleep in their beds, giving us privacy to kiss like the fools we were and stumble to bed.
Only after we’d spent a week (or five) reconnecting and recovering, would I throw the biggest banquet Ashfall Cliff had ever seen. I’d invite everyone: Dillon, Whisper, Uncle Wen, Auntie Mei, and all the villagers. We’d celebrate the end of Brimstone, the completion of my revenge, and the beginning of our real life together.
Kicking open the door to my courtyard, I stepped over the raised threshold and braced against blood stains and carnage. But...Auntie Mei must’ve been hard at work because everything was exactly how it should be. The gnarled tree cast a shadow over the stone pavers, the table and chairs were righted. No evidence of men invading or bullets being fired.
Another wave of absolute gratitude filled me.
I was so lucky.
Unbelievablylucky.
Climbing the steps, my foot smacked open the doors to my pavilion. Rook drove me mad, pressing the softest kisses on my throat as I carried her straight to bed.
The moment I laid her down, her clothes vanished with a flash of mist—just like they did in the dreamscape.
“Hi,” she murmured.
She was gorgeous and naked and...a flicker of unease tightened my chest.
“I want you, Lucien.” She bit her bottom lip like a seductress. “I’ve missed you so much.”
The unease vanished as quickly as it came.
It was natural not to trust something so sublime.
After all, I’d spent my entire life waiting for disaster.
But shewashere.
We were finally safe.
Everything’s perfect, you’ll see.
With a hungry growl, I fell on her, claiming her mouth in a deep, devouring kiss as my hands roamed over her cool skin. She arched into me, her fingers tangling in my hair, pulling me closer.
She moaned in impatience and I reached for the power that was now mine to rule.
I trusted that we’d ascended enough where a single, silent command wished my clothes away.
They vanished instantly.
I settled between her thighs, hard and aching.
I claimed her in one smooth, possessive thrust.
