Page 124 of Bound

Freya is helping me learn how to live with what I’ve done.

And what was done to me.

I hope you get your happy ending.

- Isobel

I read it twice. Then I hand it to Lucian.

He reads. No visible reaction. Then he snaps it closed.

“Do you want to keep it?” I ask, testing when I don’t mean to.

When I know I have no need to.

He gives it back. Not cruelly. Not dramatically.

He looks at me with a furrowed brow. “God no. Why?”

Just done.

Ready to move on.

I pretend I don’t need the sigh of relief his response brings me.

Maybe I’ll keep it as a reminder.

Women keep strange souvenirs from the wars they survive.

I fold the card and put it in my pocket.

I turn to Ryan, eyeing his sticky hands and face. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“Thanks, sis. I’ve got another tray to get in the oven.” Cass rolls back into the kitchen, Gregory right behind her to assist.

Rafe breaks his ‘the body is a temple’ crap and steals a pastry. The morning continues.

No alarms. No emergency exits. No enemies.

Just family arguing over baked goods.

Lucian and I walk back to our house. He takes my hand. He always does when we walk together.

I look down at our joined fingers.

At my ring.

At the gold sword against my throat.

At the cobblestones beneath our feet.

“We did it,” I say.

He looks at me.

“What?”

I gesture around us. “This.”