Page 131 of Daman

“Wow. So you’ve graduated from classic horror to science fiction.”

“It showed up as a recommended book in my email,” he said. “I’m enjoying it.”

“I’ve created a monster by buying that thing for you. All you do is read now.”

A low chuckle came from him as he hugged me to his chest. “Are you jealous, mykotya?”

“No.” I took a sip from my mug, playfully glaring at him over the rim. He’d made me a Russian coffee, and I fucking loved it. A perfect balance of bitter and sweet. Just like me, he’d once said. The sexy asshole.

“I detect a lie on that beautiful mouth of yours.” Warrin ghosted his lips across mine. “A Kindle can’t kiss me like you can.”

“I’d be concerned if it did.”

He laughed again. I kissed him before focusing on my tablet. He continued reading.

We’d been home for two weeks. Within that time, reports had reached us of various demon sightings in other parts of the world. Baxter and his warriors had things covered in Greece, while Sirena and her clan traveled throughout the Caribbean islands doing the same. Lycus and his pack had spotted demons around Cluj-Napoca and torn them to shreds.

Shades had gathered near the perimeter of the ice kingdom every night, sniffing for a way inside. Not that they’d find one.

Lazarus had helped us strengthen the barrier by adding his own warding—which didn’t change the fact that he was still on my shit-list for not answering my question about our souls, but it was one step in the right direction. I doubted even Asa could break through the barrier’s defenses now.

It was all building to something bigger. The battle in Hoia Baciu was just one fight in the war to come.

“Can I see what you’re drawing?” Warrin asked, pulling me from my head.

“Sure.” I showed him the screen, and his body stilled, his breath softly catching. I’d drawn him in his hybrid form, having spent countless hours on refining the details, adding the texture of his scales and blending the colors.

“I started drawing it the day I first saw you on the training field. I thought you were the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.” I peered over at him. “I still do.”

His eyes glistened. He didn’t speak.

“It’s actually what I was working on when you came into my room the day before our wedding. Remember? You asked me what I was drawing, and I hid it from you.”

“I remember.” His voice was thick. “You said it was a secret.”

“Yeah, the secret being I was crushing hard on you and didn’t want to admit it, even to myself.”

“We’ve come far since then.” A tear slipped from his eye, and he didn’t try to wipe it away. I loved that he didn’t mind being vulnerable with me. “I never thought I’d find happiness, Daman. I accepted that I’d live and die on the battlefield, that I’d never know a lover’s touch or fall in love. And now, I can’t imagine a life without you. You filled parts of my heart I didn’t even know were empty.”

I set my mug on the table and straddled his lap, linking my hands behind his neck. “Keep talking like that and I’ll have to rip your clothes off and fuck you silly. I’ll make the Kindle watch.”

Warrin barked out a laugh and wound his arms around me. “I love you.”

“I love you too. More than anything in this world.”

We kissed then. Unhurried. Deep.

Falling in love hadn’t changed me. I was still grouchy, irritable in the early morning, and bitter. Oh, and jealous over inanimate objects, apparently. But my heart felt bigger, my chest lighter. And I smiled more than I ever had before.

“I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you,” I whispered. “I want to love you every single day and show you how amazing you are. You’re my home.”

Warrin placed his palm over my heart. Each beat echoed in his chest as well. “And you’re mine.”

Our lips met again. And outside, the snow fell.

The End