Page 79 of The Echo of Forever

The one he’d put around me had tiny, deep red diamonds lining the wings.

I touched it and met his gaze.

“Is this new or…”

…was it something that already belonged to me?

He pushed his arms between mine and secured them around my waist. The closer I allowed him to get, the more he touched me.

And Ireallyliked his hands on me.

“New to you,” he said, nudging my head to the side with his chin to whisper in my ear. “It was supposed to be an anniversary gift.”

Why did he have to make my heart race like this?

“I like you,” I blurted, leaning my head back to look at him. “Wild things happen at the ritual, so this is me giving you my consent beforehand.”

He frowned and turned me to face him.

“You been before?”

I shook my head and looked down, trying my best to force the smile wanting to spread away.

“My parents have been invited the last few years, and then Kai took over. He’s not a fan, but you know, once invited, not going isn’t really an option.”

He laughed.

“Every option available is yours to choose from, as my wife, my forever. Remember that tonight.”

I couldn’t stop biting my fucking lip around this man. He could have his way with me right now if he wanted.

“You have my consent, Echo.”

A knock at the door presented the perfect opportunity to escape. I slipped past him to get it, since we were technically in my apartment.

That little tidbit still blew my mind, but the more I took in the place, the realer it became. Everything was so…me.

“Mrs. Cannon, these were dropped off for you and your husband,” the concierge said after I pulled the door open.

Me and my husband.

It had a nice ring to it.

I took both black garment boxes and thanked him, still repeating his greeting over in my head.

“Our robes are here,” I said, setting them down on the coffee table to open one. “Let me help you put it on.”

The ritual took place on the northeast side of Everwood in Fairchild territory. The entire area was barricaded for forty-eight hours, with entry checkpoints for invitees only.

What happened beyond the checkpoints was meant to stay there, but the rumors never stopped.

“You dressing me feels like before,” he murmured, arms out as he turned to stand in front of me.

I slipped the black oversized suede material onto his arms and shoulders, then moved around him to zip it.

“Does that make you happy or sad?” I asked, reaching for the mask they supplied.

His eyes searched mine for a little before I got a response. By then, the eye mask was secured, and I had his hood pulled up.