“But the contract. Catalina. All of it. It’s dependent on you holding the leadership position. You’regoodat leading.” Embry doesn’t exactly sound like ze wants to convince Thane not to step down, more like ze wants to ensure he isn’t doing it for the wrong reasons.
“I’m not what we need now. You are.” Thane’s voice warms. “It always should have been you.”
Ze snorts. “I see you’re serious, so I won’t keep questioning it. If this is truly what you want, then I’m happy for you.” Ze hesitates. “But if she’d stayed pregnant...”
“That’s enough.” He doesn’t snap, but there’s no give. “I’m done letting people I love be hurt for the sake of the territory. If you would like a human partner, you’re more than welcome to approach Azazel and make your own contract.”
“Maybe I will.”
I don’t have siblings, but even I recognize the stubborn lilt to zir voice. I don’t know if ze will actually do it, but Thane could probably egg zir into it the way older siblings always seem to manage.
Of course, he doesn’t. “Thank you, Embry. I know this hasn’t been easy to balance in the past five years, and I doubt I’d still be here without you holding me in place.”
“You would have recovered just fine,” ze snaps. “You just needed a kick in the ass.” Zir tone warms. “Catalina is quite the kick in the ass, isn’t she?”
“Yes.” He’s smiling. I can hear it in his voice. “Now, she’s been through a lot, so it’s best you leave before she wakes.”
“So nurturing,” Embry teases. “You’re such a softy when you’re in love. I’m happy for you, Thane. Truly.”
“Thank you. I’ll be available for anything you need during the transition of power, but I think we both know you’re the leader in all but name right now, so I don’t expect much friction.”
“Stay well.”
“You, too.”
Then Embry is gone, with only a faint sound to indicate ze slipped into the water. I feel Thane approach more than I hear him, and I open my eyes as he stops next to the bed. He smiles a little. “You heard all that?”
“I didn’t expect you to move so fast with resigning.”
“It was time.” He shrugs and eyes me. “How are you feeling?”
That’s the question, isn’t it? I wet my lips, trying for honesty instead of humor. “I’m sore and feeling a little brittle, but I’m relieved. No regrets.”
“Okay.” His shoulders dip a little in something like relief of his own. “Embry brought some food, and if you’re up for it, I thought maybe we could play for a bit.”
My chest feels like it’s expanding, my heart growing to a truly absurd size. “Is there bread in that meal?”
His grin is wide and happy. “Of course.”
“You have yourself a deal.”
EPILOGUE
CATALINA
Three weeks later, we send Della and Annis to new positions in the keep and move into a new home. It’s on one of the small outskirt islands that pepper the sea Thane’s people call home. There’s only a single entrance—at Thane’s insistence for security reasons—and it’s deep below the surface. The tunnel leads up into a space that’s remarkably like his private rooms in the tower. The walls curve upward to a high ceiling that he has lighting installed in. There is a full kitchen with plenty of small windows that overlook the coast.
My favorite part, though, is the bedroom. The whole ceiling is open to the sky above—warded and shielded, of course, so the elements don’t actually get in. I can lie in our bed and watch the stars, which brings me more joy than I could have ever anticipated.
Thane brings me more joy too. We still stumble over communication regularly, but we’ve both learned to pause a conversation before it spirals out of control. Most of the time. It’s amazing to be with someone I feel safe enough with, someone I can navigate bumps with, without being afraid he will drop me like yesterday’s trash because I’m not perfect. We’re already growing together, and it makes me downright giddy to think of spending years and years with him.
And today we’re taking our relationship to a new level.
“Are you sure I look okay?”
“You look amazing.” Thane takes my hand and lifts me out of the water. I haven’t been back to the keep since that first week, and I can’t help a little thrill of anxiety.
Today, he presents me to the kraken court.