Should he tell her he felt the same? Would she understand that he more than cared for her? That he loved her?
Cedar held his breath. Then, “From the moment I first set eyes on you,” he said, “I have cared for you a very great deal. I can’t bear to leave you behind. But I can’t bear to see you hurt either. It’s safe here.”
She crossed the room, her deep brown eyes searching his.
She stopped so close, he could feel the heat of her. But she was not touching him. Not yet.
“I’m not looking for safety.” Mae reached up on tiptoe, her hand brushing his face. “I’m looking to live.”
Cedar leaned down. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her close. He kissed her slowly, passionately, making promises with his touch that no words could convey.
“If you two are done sealing the deal,” Alun Madder said from the door, “then we need to be leaving now.”
Cedar pulled away and smiled at Mae, who smiled right back at him.
She stepped out of his arms and retrieved her luggage.
Cedar turned to Alun. Miss Dupuis stood beside him, wearing a lovely blue dress and politely studying the fingertips of her gloves as if they were the most fascinating thing in the world.
“Morning,” Cedar said to Miss Dupuis.
“Good morning,” she said, glancing up with a faint smile. “Will you and Mae be traveling with us, then?”
“Us?” Cedar asked.
“Miss Dupuis will accompany us for the first leg of the trip,” Alun said. “See that the Holder gets stashed away safely.”
“Where, exactly, are we headed?” Cedar asked.
“Exactly? Why, to find the Holder, Mr. Hunt,” Alun said with a wide grin. “And to save the world.” He spun on his heel and held out his arm for Miss Dupuis. “I thought you’d know that by now.”
Cedar turned to Mae. She was smiling, her luggage in one hand, her satchel over her shoulder.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“I am.” Her smile grew wider. “Are you going to save the world, Mr. Hunt?”
Cedar glanced over his shoulder. Alun and Miss Dupuis were headed toward the brothers’ airship, where Wil waited in the grass. Then he looked back at Mae.
“I certainly intend to do what I can,” he said.
Cedar held his hand out for her, and she took it. Then he walked with Mae into the sunlight of a new day, the ship ready before him, his brother and Mae at his side, and his heart beating with newfound joy.
Devon Monk writes the Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy series, the Age of Steam steampunk series, and the occasional short story. She has one husband, two sons, and a dog named Mojo. Surrounded by numerous and colorful family members, she lives, writes, and knits in Oregon. For excerpts, information, and news, please visit her Web site at www.devonmonk.com.
THE AGE OF STEAM
THE ALLIE BECKSTROM SERIES
