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Victoria’s smile was infused with such sadness, Lark’s chest tightened.

“Then let’s all hope that those two are never a contradiction of terms.” But before she could ask anything, before Lark could jump up and demand Victoria explain what she meant and why she was so affected by the words, Ceridwen spoke up.

“If what you were about to say a few seconds ago was that you would just leave, Lark, please… don’t. He has no power over you here. None. We will help you file for divorce. He can’t stop you.”

Lark swallowed around the massive baseball lodged suddenly in her throat.

“You don’t know him, Ceri. He can cause so much pain. He will cause so much pain. There is no guessing whether he will. There is only guessing the when. Dagmar might not be close to that branch of the family, but their family loyalty is really warped. If I were a betting woman, I’d wager she’s already been in touch with him. For all we know he’s on his way here, if not already on the island.”

Rhiannon’s face was thunderous.

“I seriously doubt there’s any family out there that can even come close to the Crowharts’ loyalty. And you are one of us, Lark. Even if Seren wasn’t totally gone over you, all swoony and smitten.” Seren blushed. The air in the kitchen lightened. Everyone was smiling. Lark felt warm all over. Rhiannon laid a hand on her shoulder. “You belong. You’re one of us. He can do his worst, but he won’t succeed.”

“As for him being on the island,” Paloma began and pulled her phone. “Not yet, he isn’t. There is no reservation for his name or anything similar at the resort. And even if he wants to forgo a property of mine and stay at a B&B, we will know. We will know right away. I’ll get in touch with the ferries. The company will report every ticket they sell. Every credit card transaction⁠—”

“That’s gotta be illegal,” Lark whispered.

“Oh, like I care, cariño.” Paloma’s hand landed right next to Rhiannon’s on Lark’s shoulder. “Didn’t you hear? Crowharts are very loyal. We will know the second he purchases a ticket for the ferry. And believe me, the local businesses will be on the lookout.”

“Why would they…”

“Because you are one of us. Yes, you are, Lark. A Dragonite. A Nester.” Prudence stood up from her chair and embraced Rhiannon while placing her hand right next to hers on Lark’s shoulder.

Lark shivered as all the eyes in the room centered on her, as every single person embraced her, propped her up. She closed her eyes and nodded. She did not know what she was agreeing to, just that as the comfort of them surrounded her, she gave in to her most sacred wish. Belonging. And while after years of running trust was hard to come by, wanting that trust was still something she couldn’t wring out of her body, and she grabbed that want with both hands and held tight.

Later, as dawn was breaking over the island, the cliffs resplendent in the orange and purple of sunrise, Lark reached for Seren. She felt small and tired and insignificant as life loomed large and full of fear in front of her, yet here, in this bed, she was powerful. All she had to do was touch, kiss, caress, and this woman who held oceans in the palm of her hand would break apart under her fingertips.

The rush of it, the blessing, the incredible fortune to be loved by Seren Crowhart meant everything to Lark. And so she touched and kissed and caressed and reveled in the freedom to do so. To be allowed.

And above all, to want. To want her. This woman, this love, this life. She had survived so much and yet, here she was in a place where nothing but Seren mattered.

Love filled Lark to the brim. As she licked into Seren’s mouth, as she tugged gently on that pouty lower lip. As she allowed her hands to roam over the taut muscles of the beautiful torso. As she took a pebbled nipple in her mouth. As she reveled in the moans and profanities coming from above her. As she twisted the other nipple in her fingers and let her thigh slide between Seren’s spread legs.

Skin on skin. Heart on heart. Lark felt the beating of Seren’s under her lips as she lay them gently over her chest, trailing lower to where Seren was wet and ready and clearly aching for her, judging by the restless thrusts against her thigh and the breathless whimpers coming from her mouth.

Lark did not make her wait. Not after the night they’d had. Not after everything they’d shared. Not after everything that was said. Not before all that was still to come their way. In the face of that uncertain future, Lark needed to stake her claim. And she needed to assure herself, if nobody else, that she was still free to do so. And so, she lowered her face and placed a gentle kiss on the soft, short, springy hair dewed with Seren’s essence, before letting her instinct take over.

No book. No research. No highlighter. Only Lark’s desire and Seren’s need. Only Lark’s tongue dancing over Seren’s lips, diving deeper, teasing and playing and making Seren gasp and moan and clutch the sheets. Only Lark’s lips sucking and claiming. Only Lark’s fingers thrusting deep and sure, in perfect rhythm, reaching for Seren’s very center, tender and yet merciless until both were breathless, until Seren’s legs shook, until her throat was hoarse, until the sheets were soaked, until she pushed weakly at Lark’s head, until the sun rose and they were cocooned in love and happiness amidst heavy breathing and the scent of them mingling together, becoming one, Lark and Seren, Seren and Lark. As they were meant to be.

The call came two days later. Paloma was at the Tavern for her usual lunch with the deputies and Lachlan when she picked up the ringing phone. As she lifted her amber gaze to Lark, who’d just brought in their appetizers, the impact was instant. An ice spike right through the middle of her heart. Lark swayed, the plates skidding perilously on the serving tray. Victoria’s calm touch and quick save, taking the load from her hands, were all that preserved the dishes.

As Paloma made her excuses and whirled her way through the kitchen doors, Lark found herself following her, only to be sitting on the floor again, in the same exact spot that she passed out on on her very first day of meeting the Crowharts.

Please, please, please…

She couldn’t have said what she was pleading for. The second Paloma kneeled by her side, she knew what would come out of the mayor’s mouth.

“He took the ferry five minutes ago. It’s the long route, so he won’t be on the island for the next hour and a half.”

Lark’s short fingernails were scoring her palms, and she was certain if she unclenched them, blood would pool at her feet.

“He booked Colm’s B&B. I have little respect for Colm and his bullshit subpar business practices, but he called me the second the reservation was made, so I guess I will have to be polite at the next Council meeting.” Ceridwen swept into the kitchen like a summer breeze, powerful and impatient. “Christian signed the restraining order. You won’t have to worry about that man getting anywhere near you.”

“Judge Astor—” Lark’s jaw dropped.

“Judge Astor is a good man, don’t worry about anything. He will find the bastard and serve the order himself. You won’t have to do a thing.” Ceridwen sat on the floor next to Lark, taking her hands in her own.

The doors swung open again, and Seren all but fell into the kitchen.