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“Most definitely. At every opportunity.”

Her laugh was light, beautiful. “That was my plan.”

We walked through the gates of the field, and every part of her lit up. I’d been waiting to tell her something for a while, and now was the perfect time. She laughed and spun around as butterflies surrounded her, landing on her. Her breath hitched as her little familiars showered her with love and affection, and she gave them the same in return.

“I’ve missed you,” she said, then sat in the middle of the field, her arms outstretched, talking to them, her pleasure and joy infectious.

I watched her, couldn’t take my fucking eyes off her. She was the most exquisite creature I’d ever laid eyes on. She was everything I’d ever dared hope for and never thought I’d get.

Jasmine was my salvation. She’d saved me, by loving me. She saved the souls who’d been trapped with me. She’d helped me to finally set them free.

When she looked back at me, I walked over and sat on the ground beside her. “They missed you, and they didn’t even know you until now.”

“Yes,” she said. “And it’s the same for me.”

“I get it. When I finally let you in, it was like a part of me I didn’t even know was missing was returned to its rightful place.”

She moved, and her little familiars took flight, fluttering above her as she climbed onto my lap, straddling me. Her arms slid around my neck. “You’re the love of my life, Ren.”

“And you, butterfly, are mine.” She kissed me, and I held her tight and kissed her back. “I thought maybe we could have our mating ceremony here, what do you think?” I asked when we came up for air.

Her cheeks grew pink with delight. “I mean, it’d be perfect. This is one of my most favorite places, but wouldn’t we have to get permission from the owner?”

“I’m asking her now.”

Her chin jerked back, and a cute little frown shifted her features. “What?”

“The field’s yours, Jaz.”

“What?” she said again, her brows shooting up.

“I thought perhaps we could build a house here. Over there.” I pointed to a spot on the other side of the field. “We won’t disturb your butterflies over there or the other insects and animals who live here, what do you think?”

“You bought this field?” she whispered.

“Yeah.”

“When?”

“After I found you here sobbing, after…” I didn’t finish that sentence. Neither of us wanted to think about that time, or who did it. “I wanted to be able to protect it for you.”

A tear streaked down her cheek. “Thank you.” She kissed me again, then peppered more all over my face.

I swiped away her happy tears and grinned. “Is that a yes?”

She laughed. “That is most definitely a yes.” One of her hands cupped my face, the other gripped the side of my neck, right over the sigils she’d inked there. “Thank you for trusting me with your heart, Ren,” she whispered. “I promise I’ll protect it with everything I have.”

I cupped her beautiful face in return. “Thank you for trusting me with yours, butterfly, and I promise you, if anyone tries to hurt it, or take you from me again, I will burn their world to the ground until there’s nothing left but ash.”

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Epilogue

Jasmine

Four months later

Music drifted through the house, along with the sounds of my family’s laughter. The house had been built in record time, mainly because it was small, but it was truly everything I’d hoped for. We’d planned it carefully, neither one of us had wanted to disturb the little ecosystem here, and there was room to expand when the time came.