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The others whooped and hollered, and a smile was gracing Amiyah’s lips when my gaze landed on hers.

“Cheers to the resistance!” Nik called, shooting back the brown liquor in one gulp and grabbing the bottle to refill everyone’s glass.

“To the resistance!”

These eight people had become my family, and I was so, so lucky to have them. My gaze fell on each of them as we laughed, memorizing their smiles. Their eyes. The lines of their faces.

Tomorrow wasn’t promised, and I prayed we would all make it out to see the other side. These people, this realm, had sacrificed enough. My gaze fell on Annelise last, a silent prayer running through my mind to the Mother. That she would show us a way to save her. That despite everything… I couldn’t do this without her.

Nik kneeled beside my chair, leaning into me. His cheeks were flushed from the alcohol. I ran a hand through his hair and placed a soft kiss against his cheek. His was the face I wanted to memorize most of all. As if reading my thoughts, hestood, his glass in one hand, his other extended out towards me.

“I think it’s time we get some rest, My Queen.”

“I’m not your queen yet.” I laughed, allowing him to pull me from the chair and against him, his arm sliding around my waist.

“You have always been my queen,” he whispered in my ear.

I gave him a playful push before turning towards the group.

“I can’t thank you all enough for joining me on this mission. For being by my side every step of the way. For putting the good of this realm before everything else. You are my family. The debt I owe you all can never be repaid.” A tear slipped down my cheek, but I hastily brushed it away with the back of my hand. “What I’m trying to say is… thank you.”

I almost burst into tears right then and there, my gaze falling on each of them as they smiled back at me.

“That’s enough liquor for you,” Nik said with a laugh, plucking the glass from my hand.

We all fell into a fit of laughter as he led me from the library, the door closing behind us and enveloping us in the quiet of the hallway. I could still hear the laughter and clinking of glasses through the door. I let Nik turn me from the library, leading me down to his bedroom, which he opened with his back, leading me inside.

My breath caught in my throat as I took in the room before me. A fire roared in the grate. Red rose petals were strewn from the doorway to the bed, where they were scattered among the black silk sheets. There was a bottle of champagne resting against the pillow.

“What is all this for?” I asked, quirking my brow at him.

“We never had a proper honeymoon,” he answered, a smile curving across his lips.

I turned to him with an incredulous smile, eyes wide. “Maybe that’s because we aren’t married… ”

“After our binding ceremony, I mean,” he said, grabbing the champagne off the bed and popping the top off.

He didn’t bother with glasses—he took a sip straight from the bottle and handed it to me. I did the same.

He smiled down at me and that dimple in his cheek popped, his throat bobbing. He grabbed the champagne bottle back from me, taking another sip before resting it on the nightstand behind me.

“Our last night together as fugitives,” I said, placing my hands against his chest and peeling the jacket off his shoulders.

“Mmm,” he hummed, “I quite like being a criminal.”

“I’m sure you’ll still find some laws to break,” I said, running my hands underneath his T-shirt.

He shivered at the cold touch of my fingers, his gaze heating.

His hand captured the back of my neck and pulled me closer, his mouth close enough to mine that I could taste his breath on my lips. My eyes met his, and I could read so much emotion through them as he sent those feelings down the bond.

Warmth.

Love.

Want.

I could sense through the bond his growing need as his eyes narrowed, his lips parting. His gaze held mine for another moment, the tension so taut between us it was electric before he captured my mouth with his.