"But he doesn't know that I plan to spend eternity with him." She leaned up to kiss his stubborn chin. "He'll have plenty of time to learn everything about me, and eventually I will tell him everything. At this moment, I just want to start my life with him."
21
"Life with me," he rasped, his voice breaking low. "You said for eternity?"
"Absolutely, Garreth." She laid her palm against his stubbled cheek. "I'm in love with you. And I can't lose you again."
His eyes were warming to that intense gold once more. "This is like the deal you offered in the jungle - the sex or secrets deal," he said. "Except now it's eternity or secrets?"
"Basically, yes. I need some happiness. I need you to help me find it."
"You will tell me everything? Every secret you hold?"
"I will, in time."
Yet he dropped his hands, sitting back against the wall. "You canna know how much I've wanted to hear you tellin' me you love me." He stared at the ground, looking lost. "And I want to make you happy, crave to. But now that I've gone under like this, it's possible I will again. If you were ever endangered... I've got to be more susceptible to reverting."
She clutched his shoulder. "Then I won't let you." He was still shaking his head when she said, "Garreth MacRieve, you've gotten your way with me again and again. Now it's my turn! I want you to be my man - you and no other. Are you going to deny me?"
After long moments, he exhaled and faced her once more. "Nay, I canna. I love you too bluidy much." He gazed at her with so much yearning in his eyes it staggered her - as if now he would no longer hide it. "Tell me you love me again," he said, pulling her into his lap, holding her against his chest.
"I love you, Garreth. With all my heart."
"Then I'll take your eternity. You're tae marry me in the morn."
She gave a wry grin. "I thought you'd never... dogmatically order it." Then her smile faded. To wed him without Regin there for the assist? "Wait, I-I can't. Not yet."
"Why the hell no'?"
"Garreth, my sister's missing." She bit her bottom lip. "Regin's been gone for days - it's not like her to disappear. And I can't get married without her there with me."
"If she's missing, then we'll find her." He tipped her face up, gazing down at her "Especially if you will no' wed me till then. Love, we'll get her back, I swear it." He gently brushed his lips against hers. "But first things first. Do you have a key to our cell?"
52
"What's happened here, lass?" Garreth asked the next morning when he returned to their suite after a half-hour-long absence. Earlier, Lucia had been in high spirits, optimistic about finding Regin. She'd wanted to fit in a quick visit with Emma - and a Valkyrie raid on the queen's notoriously extensive wardrobe - so Garreth had fled to share a farewell scotch with Lachlain:
"You're off again?"
"Aye, afraid so, brother."
"Garreth, one thing before you go... you marked her hard, no?"
Now, Garreth found Lucia pensive. "What's got you upset, love? Is it because you've seen how pitiably Lachlain spoils Emma? Know that I've planned the same for you," he said, studying her face.
The faint smudges under her eyes had vanished, erased after a single stretch of dreamless sleep. Last night, as soon as Lucia and Garreth had been released from their cell by a delighted Lachlain and Emma, they'd begun recuperating in Garreth's old rooms - talking about the future, soaking in a bath together, talking some more - then she'd slumbered in his arms.
With no nightmares....
"There's been news," Lucia said, beginning to pace. "I just talked to Annika." Also not one of Garreth's favorite Valkyrie. "She told me Regin's not the only one missing."
"What do you mean? I thought some berserker had her." Garreth and Lucia had planned to head out for New Orleans, interrogate Nïx for leads, and find the berserker. Then Garreth would teach the male how ill-advised his actions had been.
"All morning news has been flying in from every corner of the Lore," Lucia said. "Creatures from across all factions have been taken. Which means it's not Aidan the Fierce who'd abducted her."
"Who else got grabbed, then?"
"Who hasn't? So far there've been confirmed reports of a siren, one of the fey, an arch fury - "
"Arch? You doona mean..."
"Yes, the ones with wings. They don't often rise from their nests, but when they do..." She gave a mock shudder. "A witch called Carrow Graie, also known as Carrow the Incarcerated, was taken around the same time as Regin. Carrow's best friend to Mariketa the Awaited - and Mari is displeased. The entire House of Witches is up in arms, yet they can't locate Carrow or Regin through scrying."
"So it's some contingent taking out the Valkyrie and their allies?" Which now meant the Lykae as well. Over the past year, Lachlain had made sure that all Loreans understood his clan was a steadfast ally to the Valkyrie - whether the Valkyrie wanted them to be or not. All the Lykae were in full support of this, especially since their queen and princess were from that faction.
Lucia shook her head. "That's just it. We were accused of taking out players from the other side. A couple of Sorceri, some fire demons, a centaur viceroy, even one of the Invidia are all missing, too."
The Invidia were female embodiments of discord, purely evil. The centaurs and fire demons had warred against the Valkyrie in Accessions past. The Sorceri were unknown entities who could slide either way on the evil scale.
Lucia added, "There are rumors that even Lothaire has gone missing."
"Now, that vampire could've been tagged by La Dorada, looking for payback - and a thumb," he pointed out. "Does Nïx have any ideas?"
"She hasn't been lucid. Annika told me she'd screamed like a banshee right after I spoke with her last. She's been muttering gibberish for days."
"Doona worry. We'll unravel all this," Garreth said. "And we'll find your sister."
She bit her bottom lip. "We've just finished one mission, and now we have to go searching again." She crossed to the balcony that overlooked the gardens.
Garreth followed - he would always follow her, as any wolf would his mate. He joined her at the marble railing, savoring the scene. A light Highland fog was rolling in, carrying the tang of the nearby sea.
"You were right all along, Scot. I am high-maintenance." She sounded remorseful, which wouldn't do.