Page 59 of The Nightmare Bride

K ai and I left the day after the equinox.

The air carried a crisp edge as we hugged everyone goodbye in the drive. Even the marsh seemed to be seeing us off, the trees undulating in a russet-and-amber farewell.

Henry wept. So did Miss Quist. But I hugged them and promised we’d see them again. That I’d be back to speak with Amryssa from time to time, assuming anyone could pry the dagger from Olivian’s hand.

The seneschal didn’t attend our send-off. But I caught sight of his bulk filling a second-floor window. When I raised a hand, he only melted backward, into the shadows.

Merron accompanied me and Kai, at least along the Oceansgate road, which my husband insisted we travel on at night, in order to avoid the liberators, who were apparently alive and well under Vick’s leadership.

Since the demise of the nightmares, a trickle of curious travelers had ventured into Oceansgate. More than a few had lost their belongings at swordpoint, courtesy of a certain orange-haired asshole.

“What a dick,” I told Kai as we lay in our tent one night. “You’d think he would’ve learned his lesson, after you spared his life.”

“He’s a ginger.” Kai slid one hand behind his head, probably because it made his chest flex in a way that made me breathless. As if he wasn’t already guaranteed to be pounced on in about five minutes. “Does it really surprise you that he’s also an unrepentant criminal?”

I lay on my side, my head on a hand, and cast a pointed look at his hair.

“Oh, no,” he said. “Absolutely not. My hair is not red.”

“It is. Brown, first, but definitely red, too.”

“Don’t you dare accuse me of the g-word,” he said, haughty. “My hair has vaguely reddish undertones . Nothing more.”

“Hmm. You look like a ginger to me.”

Frosty eyes narrowed. “Say that one more time, and I’ll be forced to punish you.”

I squished my thighs together. I loved it when he threatened me. So I leaned in, pretended to kiss him, then spoke against his mouth, instead. “Ginger.”

He growled, then tackled me, and indeed punished me, swiftly and decisively, in the most gratifying way possible.

We said goodbye to Merron at the crossroads, where the Oceansgate road intersected with the one that led to Hightower.

The bright autumn chill bit at my nape. Merron hugged me, long and heartfelt, then reluctantly shook Kai’s hand. A scowl marred his handsome mouth, proof that he’d never warmed to my husband. But I supposed I couldn’t blame him.

When Merron backed away, tears burned a path up my throat.

“Oh, don’t cry,” he said good-naturedly. “You had your chance.”

I laughed through a sob. “I absolutely did. And I ruined it, didn’t I?”

“You did. Can’t win ‘em all, I guess.” He grinned, but it was edged with sadness. Still, he put on a brave face and took a page from Kai’s playbook, winking at me before turning down the road toward Crystal Hollow.

“Birthing hips,” I called as his figure shrank. “Remember that.”

“How could I forget?” he called back. Then he was gone, just a speck in the scarlet distance.

The wind pushed fallen leaves past my boots as Kai skewed an eyebrow upward. “What was that about? Birthing hips?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Really.” His regard thinned. “Wait. Don’t tell me you two used to?—”

“ Used to,” I said, stressing the past tense. I probably didn’t need to tell him that my history with Merron extended right up until our wedding day.

“Hmm.”

“Oh, don’t go getting jealous on me, now.”

“Jealous? I would never.” The breeze ruffled his hair across his forehead in a way that made me itch to smooth it back. “Because in the end, you’re mine, fair and square. He might not be able to win them all, but I certainly can.”

I snorted. “Wow. Arrogant, much?”

“You love it,” he said.

“I do, actually. I love you .”

His half-smile shone. “And I love you, my dark lioness. So, where to?”

I raised my brows. “I get to decide?”

“Of course.”

“Fairmont.” I didn’t even have to think about it. “Your last territory. Your last accent.”

He caught my face in his hands and kissed me. “Excellent choice. And after that?”

“Hmm... Hightower, I think. I want to find Amryssa’s old tutor. Eliana deserves to know what happened here.”

He nodded. “And then?”

I shrugged. “Wherever you want.”

“Anywhere?”

“Anywhere.”

His brows burrowed together as he thought. “Gray’s Reach, perhaps? We could go to the theatre. We could go out drinking. We could do whatever we want.”

I gazed up into the infinite blue of his eyes, into the promise of endless possibility. “I’d like that,” I said.

Because this time, the offer sounded perfect.

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