Page 87 of Panther in the Shadows

"A powerful sea witch who terrifies most people?"

"A woman who stopped running from her own strength." She touches my face. Her fingers are cool. Gentle. Magic hums beneath her skin. "A woman who found someone worth fighting for."

I kiss her. Soft and deep and full of promise. She melts against me. Opens to me. Gives herself completely.

"I love you," I murmur against her lips. "I'll spend the rest of my life proving you were right to trust me."

"You already have." She pulls me closer. "Every day. Every moment. Every time you look at me like I'm something precious instead of something dangerous."

"You're both."

"I know." Her smile is wicked. Beautiful. "That's why we work."

I carry her to the bed. Lay her down gently. Worship her with hands and mouth and the shadows that wrap around her like living things. She responds with water magic that flows cool and sweet across my skin. Her power and mine, twining together.

We make love. Tender and passionate and intense. Connection and love. Two people who found each other in darkness and built something beautiful in the light.

Afterward, we return to the window. She's wrapped in a sheet. I'm naked and content. We look out at the ocean together. At the island we've both sworn to protect.

"What comes next?" Moira asks.

I pull her close. Kiss her temple. Breathe in salt and magic and home. "Everything. Together."

She laughs. The sound is light. Happy. Free. "That's a terrible plan. Very non-specific."

"I'm a criminal, not a planner."

"You're a very good planner. You just pretend you're not."

"Fine." I turn her to face me. "Here's the plan. We protect this island. We build a life. We drive each other crazy. We fight and make up and fight again. We have sea witch babies who'll probably destroy half of Stormhaven before they learn to control their power."

"That's assuming I want babies."

"Elspeth seemed to think it was inevitable."

"Elspeth was eight. She thought everything was inevitable."

"Was she wrong?"

Moira's quiet for a moment. Then she smiles. Soft and secret and full of possibility. "No. She wasn't wrong."

Something tightens in my chest. "Someday, then."

"Someday." She kisses me. "But not yet. First, I want time. Just us. Building what we have. Learning each other. Being partners."

"Partners." I test the word. Like it. "I can work with partners."

"Good." She settles against me, her head tucked under my chin. "Because you're stuck with me now. Hope you know what you signed up for."

"A lifetime with a powerful, stubborn, extraordinary woman who saved my life." My arms band around her. "I know exactly what I signed up for."

The moon shines on the water. The waves whisper against the shore. And somewhere in the depths, a child's laughter echoes. Free. Joyful. Finally at peace.

The Stormhaven Shifters have their sea witch. The sea witch has her panther. And the island is safe.

Moira shivers, and I pull the sheet higher around her shoulders. She leans into me, her magic humming contentedly against my shadows. Her warmth. Her trust. Her love.

I kiss the top of her head and breathe in salt and home.