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I look him in the eyes. “Can I trust you?”
“You can trust me not to hurt you on purpose,” he says, stroking my hair. “But there may be times when I don’t understand your needs, and it will be your job to help me learn.”
“Okay,” I say. “That’s fair.”
“Truly?” he asks. “You will…how do the humans put it? Take me back?”
“I want to try. I missed you, and if you’re willing to learn more about human morals and how to treat me, then I’m willing to give it a go.”
He cups my cheek and looks at me tenderly. It’s an expression I’ve never seen on him before. “I will do anything I can to protect you, Libra. To understand you, to comfort you, to keep you happy and safe. I may not have much experience with human emotions beyond fear, but I know what this is: I love you.”
My heart gives a thump so hard I feel it against my chest. Those are words Evan never felt and certainly never said. Words I never heard during any of my short flings, times when I was as unwilling to commit as they were. Words I’ve never felt myself.
But I do now.
“Oh, Callister,” I say. “I’m not sure how it happened, but I love you too. I don’t want to lose you.”
He smiles. “You cannot. I am a king, and you are the strongest human I have ever encountered. Together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. We will find a way to make our love work.”
I cuddle close to him. I never, in my entire life, thought that I would find my own happily ever after. But now I have, and I’m never letting him go. Turns out that nightmares can be real, but dreams sometimes do come true.
Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
LIBRA
I can’t believe this house is mine.
The black-and-pink gingerbread house, with the wonderful architectural details, officially belongs to me. After everything that happened with Evan, not to mention with Callister, I decided to take charge of my life once and for all, proactive-style. The first thing I did once things were settled with the police was to call Laia and make an offer on the home.
I’ve been here for a few weeks now, and it’s perfect.
The rooms are spacious, the floors shine, and my bedroom fits a freaking canopy bed, which Callister and I have put to good use. To top it off, this is the kitchen of my dreams. Lemonade yellow walls and elaborate crown molding make everything feel grand, and with the vintage appliances and a ton of storage for my baking supplies, I can make anything in here.
Tonight, I’m making almond butter-maple brownies that I have high hopes for. I’ve found a way to make them vegan, so if they turn out the way I expect, they’ll be a permanent addition to Queen of Tarts for my plant-based customers. Callister has even agreed to try one, even though he’s never eaten anything in his eternal life. He feeds on human fear, of course, but he’s never tried actual food. These better be exceptional—I don’t want him to be disappointed by his first taste.
Callister is leaning on the counter behind me, arms crossed over his chest in a way that makes his impressive biceps bulge. He’s wearing a black t-shirt—I guess he shifted his shoulder spikes away—and dark jeans, but has kept mostly to his normal form, all horns and skin whorls and piercings.
His hair is pulled back, his face is like a sculpture, and he’s dressed like a badass.
Let’s call a spade a spade: He is really fucking hot.
He watches with one eyebrow raised as I mix maple syrup with cacao powder and almond butter. “You think this will be something I enjoy?” he asks.
I shoot him a grin. “I’m certain of it. If you don’t like it, then I don’t think there’s any hope for you and human food.”
“So this is the best there is?”
“In my opinion, at any rate. I suppose some people might suggest something else, but as far as I’m concerned, nothing beats baked goods. And in the world of baked goods, nothing beats chocolate.”
“It’s an interesting consistency,” he observes, leaning to inspect the batter. “Almost like paint, but thicker.”
I frown. “Paint? Not the most favorable comparison.”
He shoots me a smirk, his silvery eyes going black. “It is when I’m thinking about painting it on you and licking it off.”
A little shiver runs through me at the thought of it. I could get behind that little art project. “Wow, you’re really diving headfirst into trying human foods, huh?”
