Page 174 of Dance of Thorns

Right now, there’s only one thing I need to say.

“I missed you,” I choke, sobbing as my sister crashes into my arms.

She’s crying. Mom is crying as she hugs us both fiercely. Bane is grinning like mad as he hugs all three of us, kissing the top ofmy head as pure love and joy and happiness thunder through my veins.

EPILOGUE

DOVE

One month later:

New York isbeautiful when it wants to be.

From up here, you can almost pretend…

Well, whatever you like. Because eighty-three stories above the glittering city, anything is possible.

A last resort can be a new beginning. The past can turn into whatever future you make it.

My bare toes curl against the concrete as I look out over the sea of twinkling lights stretched out in front of me. But this time, I’m not up on the ledge. I’m standingwellbehind it, thank you very much, just enjoying the view.

Bane holds my hand as he stands barefoot next to me, looking out over this city of wonder and pain, of dreams and heartache.

“That promise still stands.”

“What promise is that?” I ask.

Bane nods his chin at the ledge in front of us, and the abyss below.

“If you go?—”

“I’m not going anywhere.” My hand squeezes his. “Ever. You?”

He shakes his head, then turns to smile at me. “Only if you do, baby.”

“Well, that’s settled then. Neither of us goes.”

He nods. “I think that’s the best outcome.”

“For sure. I mean, think of themess.”

He snorts. “Stop it. You know your dark humor always gets me hard.”

I blush, grinning as I slide against his muscled body, gripping his shirt in my hands. “Guess you’ll just have to fuck me up here, then.”

He smiles hungrily. “Thatisa given.”

I giggle and slap his chest. “Oh,is it?”

“Very much so,” he growls, his eyes locking with mine. “But before that, I was hoping to do something else.”

I cock a brow, shivering against him as a cold wind blows over us.

“What exactly might that be?”

“Asking you to marry me.”

My heart jumps as he drops to his knee and holds a ring up. But then a puzzled smile creeps over my face, and my brow arches.