Milo’s bright smile and genuine joy helped me bury my fears, my concerns. Those big, beautiful blue eyes smiled, too, and I was grateful Wadsworth had preserved Milo’s vision.
Ben tensed, breathing hastening as he absorbed Milo’s appearance.
“Your arm…” Ben choked up, staring at the many scars running up Milo’s right arm.
Enchanter Kingston’s punch had shattered every bone in Milo’s arm, torn through flesh, and created severe nerve damage. While the bones had been mended and the nerve damage had mostly been repaired, a lot of the skin held the memories of the damage Milo had taken.
“Looks worse than it feels, buddy.” Milo reached out, extending his hand to Ben, who hesitated for a moment.
Soon, his trepidation fell away, and he walked over with his arms held out. Milo, in turn, picked him up.
I resisted the idea, but Milo insisted. He held Ben with his formerly injured arm, showing the young boy that nothing was wrong.
“Your face.” Ben ran his fingers over Milo’s scars, processing the damage, trying his best to sort his confused and anxious thoughts.
“I like ‘em,” Milo said with a big grin.
“Please don’t make light of these injuries.”
“I’d never.” Milo shot me a look. “But scars are sexy.”
“Seriously?”
Milo’s gaze lingered on my neck, staring at my scar. The one that’d nearly ended my life, the one that brought Milo and me back together. Okay, maybe scars weren’t the worst thing.
After speaking with the doctors and searching their minds for reassurance on all my follow-up questions, I left with Milo, Ben, and Sheamus. By the time we reached the car, Milo was winded. He hid it well, but the fatigue ran off him in waves.
I fastened Ben into his seat and ushered Sheamus into the back seat. Then, I turned to Milo and pressed a hand on his shoulder.
Part of me wanted to steady him, another part of me wanted to shake him, throttle him.
“I know, I owe you a long conversation,” Milo said with a solemn smile. “A lot happened, a lot I didn’t fully anticipate.”
He meant Caleb’s kidnapping. He’d prepared for Tara’s abduction and tried his best to ensure the Global Guild would prevent Amara from taking her divine goddess to be. Still, so much unraveled in ways no one could’ve prepared for, not even the world’s best clairvoyant.
The weight of death cracked Milo’s heart. I didn’t want to pick a battle with him, knowing he silently grieved Campbell’s loss, mourned the deaths of the other enchanters who put their lives on the line for Chicago.
“You could’ve told me about the top ten,” I said. “About your perfected roots. About—”
“Tell a worrywart like you that I planned to fight the top ten Global Guild witches?” Milo laughed it off, giving me a sassy scoff. “Please, you would’ve worried me into the grave.”
“Jerk.”
“You love it.”
“I do.” I pressed my forehead against his. “But I’m not the only one who worries about you now.”
I let my gaze drift in Ben’s direction, whose focus had shifted to Sheamus.
“I know.” Milo’s bottom lip trembled momentarily. “I’ll do better.”
“I love you.” I kissed him soft and sweet, just enough to steady his nerves.
It wasn’t a long kiss. More of a peck, something to express my affection. How I’d changed, lost in this love for Milo.
“Love you, too.” Milo kissed me back, savoring the taste of my mouth.
We took shallow breaths, holding this moment alone in the parking garage for a minute. I let everyone else’s thoughts in the city wash away, locking my mind onto Milo’s entirely. He was my everything.
