“I see,” I say flatly.
She elbows me in the side. “Stop deflecting and answer the question. Did you do it?”
I scrub my hand over my face, but when I pull it away, I can’t help but grin. “Yes, okay. We did.”
She squeals and pumps her arm in the air. “I knew it!”
“Hush.” I slap my hand over her mouth, and she chuckles. “We had sex, and it was amazing.”
If I’m being honest, it was far more than I ever could’ve hoped for. Even the soreness between my legs doesn’t detract from the way I feel inside. Like a piece of me has been finally put to rights.
I’m not sure if it’s our fledgling bond or something else. I make a mental note to visit the seer and ask her for more information about the connection Gabriel and I share.
A garbled sound comes from Skyler, and I pull my hand away. “I knew it! I could see it on your face.” She does a little dance, clapping. “You waited for so long, I felt like you’d never get there. How was it? Was he good to you? Tell meeverything.”
I can’t help it, I laugh. Her eagerness is contagious, and it’s nice to get to talk about this with someone.
“First, it wasn’tthatlong. Gabriel and I had some... problems to deal with first.”
“Yeah, I get it. He was hunting you, and that sucked.” Skyler rolls her eyes. “Not his finest moment.”
“I agree, but let’s just say that he’s made up for that.” Many, many times over.
“Well, that’s good. It’s so obvious to everyone that your Hunter is obsessed with you. If you aren’t together—which doesn’t happen often—he’s always looking for you. Gravitating towards you. Honestly, if I weren’t so happy for you, I’d find it disgusting.”
I grimace. “‘Obsessed’ is a strong word . . .”
“But it’s the right one.” Skyler takes my hand and tugs it, guiding me to a large log under an evergreen tree, where we both sit. “Nowspill. Start from the beginning. I want to hear about everything.”
And maybe it’s her persuasiveness, or maybe it’s because talking with Skyler is easy, but it isn’t long before she’s pulled the whole story from me. I keep some of the personal details to myself—no one else needs to know about Gabriel’s scars or hisconnection to the king—but it feels good to share with someone who cares.
By the time Gabriel finds us, his arms laden with breakfast, my grin is a permanent fixture on my face and I’m relaxed on the log, chatting with Skyler. She leaves for work, and eventually, Gabriel and I meet up with Soren and Jasper so I can keep working on my magic.
That night, holding hands and leaning against each other, exchanging light kisses and fleeting touches, Gabriel and I return to our cabin. My heart is light, and my soul is singing.
Is this what peace feels like?
The next few weeks pass with relative ease. The days grow longer, the air warms, plants sprout. Children’s laughter accompanies birdsong as the younglings take their lessons outside. Here, everyone is taught how to read and write regardless of gender and station.
During the lengthening days, I spend more time with Soren and Jasper while Gabriel trains with the rebel soldiers.
Thanks to the brothers’ help, my control over my magic is growing stronger every day. I’m able to call it easily, and I’m getting better at shaping it. I’ve filled several more objects with my magic, although I haven’t tried to create anything as ambitious as the net covering the rebel camp.
Today, Jasper and Soren are taking part in the monthly task of replenishing the net’s magic, ensuring we are still hidden from the king, so Gabriel and I are alone. The Hunter is sitting next to me in our bed, shirtless. These days, that’s been his regular state when we’re alone, and suns, I amnotcomplaining.A thin silver chain is hanging around his neck, but the amulet that usually dangles from it is sitting in the center of my palm.
“You’re sure you’re okay with me trying this?” I drag my bottom lip between my teeth, gnawing on it.
The amulet belonged to Gabriel’s grandmother, and from what I can gather from his stories, she was his only family member to ever have shown him any kindness.
I don’t want to accidentally ruin the last gift Gabriel got from her.
When he doesn’t reply, I add, “We could ask Jasper to do it tomorrow; I’m sure he’d be willing to help. He’s more skilled than I am, and he’s definitely had more practice.”
Doubt spirals inside me the more I think about this. I don’t know if I should be the one doing this. Yes, the amulet needs to be refilled since its hum has been steadily growing quieter, but there are others who are more skilled...
A hand wraps around mine, closing my fingers around the token.
“Look at me, Wren.” Gabriel’s deep voice sends tremors coursing down my spine.
