Page 121

Story: Destined Desires

His love’s home, restored.

A gentle breeze kicked up, bringing the sweet scent of flowers across the field.

And a quiet whisper.

Bryce strained to catch the words, but missed them. He looked down at Rihanna, who had tilted her head to the side, a faint crease forming over her brows.

Another brush of the breeze.

“Beannaithe badia.”

He glanced at Shaye, who’d gone utterly still. As had Moira. Then the two looked at each other.

“Goddess-blessed,” Shaye translated.

“Spirit-protected,” Moira added. “That’s what the spirits said to me. When Horano put us in the basement of his shop.” She turned to Bryce. “When you saw me fall out of the wall. They’d spoken to me. Showed me the devastation. Told me that victory would be achieved only with us working together.”

Facing the castle, she released Chase’s hand and pointed. “Here is the proof that we’re Goddess-blessed, spirit-protected.” She spread her arm to a land that had been covered with the bodies of the fallen Seelie warriors. “We protect them and they, in turn, protect us.”

Shaye shook his head like he was shaking off the shock of seeing his home in pristine condition. His eyes narrowed on his wife.

“The spirits of this landspoketo you? And you didn’t mention it to me?”

Moira flashed a smile. “Maybe because I’m the more reasonable of the two of us and we were a little busy last night. You kinda made it slip my mind.”

Bryce laughed, earning a lethal glare from Shaye, which only made him laugh harder. Rihanna joined in, twisting around to throw her arms about his neck. Moira winked at him before nudging Shaye in the ribs, earning his focused attention.

“Guess we weren’t the only ones,” Bryce said.

“It’s that soul mate bond,” Rihanna said.

Moira sidled close to Shaye. Bryce could only imagine how she looked up at heranam carato soften the stubborn man. Shaye’s hard expression washed away before their eyes as he pulled Moira and the baby close on one side, Chase on the other, and beheld the castle.

“The Talaenian people are a people of peace, and peaceful we shall remain. We’ll continue to strive to earn the blessingsthe spirits and the Goddess have given us.” Shaye pressed a kiss to the top of Moira’s head and caught Bryce’s gaze. A small grin tipped the corner of his mouth. “For we are trulybeannaithe badia.”

THE END