Page 122 of Beauty

Nothing. The connection burned out as it did before.

Or is it something worse? Minutes pass and I struggleagainst the bonds. I need to get to them. What if it was all for nothing andthey’re dead and gone and I am left alone?

I love them. Unabashedly, unashamedly, and now that I servedmy purpose I want nothing more than the life they promised me. Our own kingdomand children to love, a lifetime to know my soul’s mates.

I need that lifetime. I need my forever.

Bootsteps hurry along the floor, echoing through thehallways. “Bronwyn?”

“Lach!” My voice is hoarse, but I call out anyway. I knowhis voice. I open myself and there it is. The connection is tenuous, but it isthere. It will grow again. We will nurture the bond between us, and it will bestrong again.

His face comes into view, his gorgeous, imperfectly perfectface, and then Shim is beside him, his eyes tired, but his lips smiling.

They hold me, their arms encasing me and lifting me up.

“It was a close thing, love,” Shim says.

“Shim passed out again. You have to remind me that Shimpasses out every time you reach into his head and pull his power out. He damnnear killed me.” Lach kisses me.

Joy wells inside me. It worked. I’m alive and whole andready to live past this. “Get me out of here.”

Lach shakes his head. “Not a chance. We like you just theway you are, love. Bound and safe.”

“We’ve decided locking you up will keep you out of trouble.”But he’s smiling and winking as he says it.

I grin. They think I’m trouble now. Wait until they meet ourchildren. I am sure there is lots of glorious, amazing trouble to come.

ChapterForty-One

Lachlan

I sit back and watch as Bronwyn bonds with her newsister-in-law. After a joyous reunion with her brothers, Bron and Meg walk armin arm, aiding all those who survived. The vampires brought tools and DonaldDellacourt is already arguing with his son over how this current political statewill affect the stock market back on the Vampire plane. The group fromAoibhneas put up tents and began tending to the wounded under the direction ofa red-haired Fae healer with the worst disposition I’ve ever seen. Queen Meg isdoing her best to make everyone feel comfortable, but it will take a while toget the palace back in order. After all, my bride torched a good portion of it.

And Gillian. Gillian is gone again. She kissed me on thecheek and disappeared.

Roan and Harry are hot on her trail.

Bron laughs at something the queen says, the throaty soundmaking my cock jump.

“We should never have found her new clothes,” Shim says witha sigh.

I can’t help but laugh. “She’s going to be a queen when ourfather heads off to the after. She can’t walk around the Dark Palace withoutclothes on.”

“It’s a terrible shame and a waste of such beautiful flesh.”Shim sighs as Bron looks over and waves.

“I’m going to absolutely forget everything I just heard yousay about my sweet sister,” Cian Finn says, looking very much the king.Everyone is busy cleaning up and burying the dead, but there’s a general buzzthat sweeps up every worker. Though there is mourning, there is also hope. Ciansmiles as he watches his sister with his wife. “I can’t thank you enough forfinding her and for loving her. She tells me she’s very happy and intends toput the Dark Palace to rights.”

She certainly charmed my father. King Fergus took to hisdaughter-in-law immediately, declaring his sons not good enough for her, but hesaid it with a smile and wink. “I think you’ll find everyone in our kingdomwill be eager to accommodate her.”

Cian raises a brow. “And if they’re not?”

Shim shows off a hint of fangs. “We’re Unseelie, YourMajesty. We know how to deal with difficult subjects.”

Well, we will certainly know how to deal with anyone whofucks with our wife.

The warrior king joins his brother. “Lachlan, we werewondering about something.”

Wondering about how well I pleased their sister the nightbefore? Wondering how many times me and Shim made her come?