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I sucked at the air, swiveling and drowning in the intensifying stimulation. “Yes.”

“Did you want to be found, little rebel?” he demanded huskily, his hips punctuating every word.

“Yes,” I breathed.

His hold on my throat tightened, and it was close to sending me over the edge. “Who knew my feisty minx was so desperate for this assassin’s cock?”

His breathless taunts and heady grunting only spurred me on. I swiveled and drove down on his cock like I couldn’t wait. Because I couldn’t. I wanted to feel that euphoric rush.

Silas sunk into me as deep as he could go, and the crash hit us both hard enough that it was nothing but curses leaving our mouths for nearly a minute. I clung to him, panting, and he kept me pressed against the tree with his hands spreading my legs wide open.

Liquid dribbled down my legs as I caught my breath. “All this so you could chase me through the woods, tear off a dress I’d only just got tonight, and fuck me with your mask on?” I taunted.

“Cheeky,” he panted.

He was careful as he let me get to my feet and removed his mask, but he didn’t stop there. He knelt down on one knee and wiped the white liquid sliding down my thigh. He dropped a kiss on my stomach. Smile on my lips, I slid my fingers through his hair, still shaking a bit after an intense quickie in the woods. Never guessed it was the exact thing I needed, but it was.

Silas’s eyes shot up to mine before he dug something out of his pocket. I stared down at him in confusion before seeing the thing he’d retrieved. It was a beautiful grey gem in a twisting circle of silver and gold branches. He lifted the ring, his jaw ticking and body shifting uncomfortably.

“It’s an old Fae tradition, yeah? Chase the bride through the woods, and she’ll be yours forever when you find her,” he mumbled cutely, fidgeting. “Bit sexist if you ask me…”

I giggled, but tears were already pouring down my face. “Says the shameless pervert.”

His silver eyes gleamed in amusement. “For fuck’s sake, love, you can’t be lovely and cheeky at me right now. I’m going to be stumbling and muttering like a sorry sod. I need to get this next bit right.”

I caught my lower lip between my teeth and stared at the ring. “Okay…”

My pulse raced as Silas exhaled a breath and clenched his jaw. Shedding his smile, his eyes burned into mine. “I have a list of reasons for why you should choose me. It doesn’t seem like enough. I’ll never deserve you, but I hope you’ll stay with me all the same, little rebel. I never understood this insistence on wearing rings and vowing yourself to someone until I met you. I want you to be mine in all the ways that matter. Say you’ll be mine forever, Nika.”

In that moment I knew, my purpose was to love this man.

I got on my knees and grabbed the hand holding the ring. “I’m yours forever, and you’re mine, Silas. Wherever you go, I’ll go, too. Always.”

I’d been the girl who’d spent her life believing that love happened to everyone else. I was never meant to have a happy ending, but Silas proved I was wrong. I’d never been so glad to be wrong about something in my entire life.

His smile was breathtakingly gorgeous as he slipped the ring on my finger and kissed me to seal our promise.

34

EPILOGUE

Nika

Iadjusted the mask on my face, tossing a look over my shoulder at the group behind us. Then I caught the silver gaze of the man I loved.

“Just a bit of fun this time, Rebel.”

“If you say so, Silver.”

“The Sexy Rebels, out to rule the mercenary world. The vigilantes of justice. Fighting for the little guys,” Ryker said from behind me. “I’m buying me something special after we get paid for this contract.”

Silas crossed his arms. “That bleeding name again. I’ve said it over and over, mutt. Don’t call us that. If you bark it on the job, it’ll catch on. A name lasts forever.”

“The Great Sparkles has spoken,” I teased.

Tometi grunted and took his place on my right side, as large and as opposing as ever.

He’d really embraced his scary vibes. Despite having the ability to change into a bear, Tometi often chose physical combat. He was insanely powerful, more so than most using magic to strengthen their hits. And the giant was much faster than anyone anticipated. It was fun to watch him clear a room like a bulldozer. Strong and deadly.