“There’s a lot to talk about, but let me take you to Erwan first.”
She could hardly wait.
He took her hand and led her upstairs to a guest bedroom on the first floor. Erwan sat up in the bed, a tray with soup and lobster balanced on his lap.
She hurried across the room to hug her grandfather, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.
“There now,” Erwan said, hugging her with one arm while holding the tray stable with a hand. “All is well.”
She pulled away. “I’m so sorry for everything.”
Erwan chuckled. “No need to waste good energy on regrets. You have nothing to be sorry about.”
“There’s so much to tell and so much to hear.”
Erwan smiled. “We have all the time in the world.”
“Are you tired? We can talk tomorrow if you wish.”
“A little,” Erwan said with a smile. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
She kissed his forehead. “I’m not far,” she whispered, the words laced with a deeper meaning. She’d never want to be too far away again, but the job she accepted came with frequent traveling.
When she walked back to Joss, peace dawned. The smile on her face was meant for him alone.
He drew her into the hallway and closed the door. “I want to show you something.”
She shot him a questioning look as he pulled her back downstairs and outside.
“Where are we going?” she asked, but he only smiled at her.
He led her through the neglected garden onto the jetty. Hugging her from behind, he rested his chin on the crown of her head. “If I weren’t so sure you’d say no, I would’ve asked you to marry me.” He added in a soft tone, “The proper way.”
“It’s never too late.”
“If I were to ask now, what would you say?” His chest expanded against her back with the breath he held.
“Yes.” Always yes.
He tightened his arms around her. “I’ll make you happy.” His words were urgent, the promise thick in his voice. “I swear it.”
She blew out a happy sigh. “I already am.”
“Good. I’ll make sure to keep it that way.”
She smiled. “You wanted to show me something?”
Turning her around, he placed something in her palm. His mother’s necklace. “It’s not a ring, but it’s the most precious thing I own.”
She rubbed a thumb over the sharp edges of the crystal. “Are you sure?”
“She would’ve wanted you to have it, as do I.” He fastened the necklace around her neck and traced the chain with a finger. “It’s perfect on you.”
She cupped the pendant where it rested, close to her heart. “Now it’s my most precious belonging.”
The sky rumbled, announcing a storm. Dead leaves spiralled in the wind. She took his hand to lead him back inside.
“Wait.” He hesitated. “Imagine how this place looked before it became ruined.” He gave her a moment for the words to sink in before saying, “We don’t have to leave France.”
Excitement sparked in her chest. “What about your home in New York?”
He kissed her lips. “This is home.”
Those words had never felt so right. She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I guess you came home after all.”
“To you,” he pressed against her ear.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled his scent, the smell of man and happiness. She didn’t have to look to know behind them the lake shone in the light of the moon, reflecting the castle that was his past and their future.
“I love you, little witch. I might not have said it the way you wanted to hear it, but I felt it all the same. I don’t want you to ever doubt that.”
She burrowed deeper against his chest. “Then I won’t.”
He’d shown it in all the ways that matter.
Epilogue
The small party that was made up of Bono, Lann, Maya, Erwan, Cain, Joss, and Clelia were gathered in the dining hall of the castle. Clelia was facing Cain at the far end of the hall.
“Do you promise to uphold our beliefs, to protect our own, and to fight for what we represent?” Cain asked.
Clelia glanced over her shoulder at her audience. Joss stared at her with so much heat her cheeks turned hot. She wore the dress he’d bought for the celebration, a red silk gown with a low neckline and back, narrow over her hips, and flaring out around her feet. He wore a black suit with a silver tie that highlighted the color of his eyes. Support and something deeper, something that looked a lot like love, shone in those eyes as he gave her an encouraging nod.
Erwan stood to her left. She’d never seen him in a suit before. Strangely, the navy double-breasted jacket and tailored pants suited him. He stood tall and proudly, his smile unwavering.
Bono stared straight ahead, his cream linen jacket making a striking contrast against his dark skin. When she caught his eye, he winked.
Lann looked indifferent, as usual, but he’d offered her a priceless gift—an antique handwritten book on the magic of firestarting from his private collection. The Russian had chosen a pinstriped suit and open-neck shirt for the occasion, looking like a walking advertisement for a men’s fashion magazine with his hair braided down his back.
Clelia’s gaze jumped to Maya. Blue organza crossed over her breasts and tied at her waist. Horizontal layers formed a body-hugging skirt. With one hip cocked, her stance was one of sexual allure. Clelia couldn’t help the thought that formed in her mind. It was a harmless thought, with no real damage intended, so the flame that set the hem of the blue dress alight was a small one. It scorched the fabric only minimally, just enough to ruin the creation.
Jumping, Maya raised her skirt, but the flames were already dead.
“Clelia,” Cain said, “what is your answer?”
As she turned back to Cain, Joss’s fingers brushed over hers. “I do.”
“Do you swear not to use your art, except for the good of mankind?”
Joss traced her knuckles with a finger. The touch held both a gentle and heated promise.
“I do,” she said again, a little breathless.
Cain smiled. “Welcome to our
