Page 227 of Harbinger

His brows lift. “I doubt he’ll mind.”

“Bishop.”

He sighs, but instead of rolling off me, he raises a hand. The vestiges on his arm glow, and a second later, a blast of wind throws open the balcony door. The sounds of the sea below rush into the room, a cool spring breeze following.

“Go outside,” he orders the pup.

The pup lifts his head and blinks his wide blue eyes like he’s trying desperately to understand Bishop’s command.

“He’s scared,” I whisper.

Suddenly in a new place. His family gone. Unsure if he can trust the people who brought him here.

It’s a feeling I understand all too well.

But Bishop waves his hand toward the open door. “Go on. I want to make love to my woman.”

The pup’s eyes widen to saucers, and he lets out a soft whimper.

“Fine,” Bishop sighs. Apparently, even he isn’t immune to those eyes. He settles on his back and reaches for me.

I nestle into his arms, his body a warm cocoon from the ocean air drifting into the bedroom. “He tried to save me, too,” I whisper, and Bishop stills. “When Stefan killed his mother and came after me, he jumped between us.”

I would have died to protect that pup.

Bishop watches the pup settle back at the foot of the bed. “So, you’re a little hero, huh?” He groans. “He can stay for now.”

“Thank you.” I plant a kiss on his chest, right on the vestige that covers his heart. He pulls me closer, and for the first time in a very long time, it feels like everything is going to be okay.

Whatever magic is inside me, whatever the Stars have planned, I’m no longer afraid.

I’m not running anymore. I’m here. Alive. Surrounded by love.

And I’ll fight anyone who tries to take it away from me.

Epilogue

Shea twists my wrist, and my sword clatters to the ground. For the tenth time today.

But who’s counting?

“Yield,” she says, already stepping back. The command is more about practicing for her upcoming proving trials than anything else. We’ve been at it for hours, even though the test is still a week away.

I wave my hand in the air like a white flag. I’m beginning to think I took that scion out in the Cinderwald on willpower alone, especially since I haven’t felt even a tingle of magic since that night.

“I would like it noted that you just kicked my ass,” I pant, one hand on my knee as I try to catch my breath. And I thought Bishop was finally whipping me into shape.

Of course, he’s been too busy tracking down Laurel over the last few weeks for much training time. And when we are together, training is the last thing on our minds.

Taliesin claps once, signaling the end of the session. “Nice and clean. You’re ready.”

His smile is a little too warm. That’s not going to help Shea’s crush on him.

But Vessica snorts. “Your footwork still drifts left on the recovery.”

So much for moral support.

“I knew it.” Shea eyes the proving grounds again like she might go back out and work on that footwork until they fall off at the ankles.