Page 242 of The Spider Queen

I didn’t have to have it all sorted, I realized. It would take time. So I told him the truth.

“I’m not ready for this. But I—I think it’s also pretty magical.”

His expression softened, and he kissed me.

Emotion surged between us.

“Now you,” I said, pulling back and staring into his liquid ebony eyes rimmed with gold. “Tell me how you feel.”

Instead of telling me, Thane took me into his arms, opened our mental connection, and blasted me with joy. It was pure, unadulterated, and it brought tears to my eyes.

Chapter 56

We sat on the beach to watch the sunrise. It was just as enchanting as the night sky. Colors not found in the mortal realm existed here, and the fact that I was alive to witness them sent a wave of gratitude rushing through me.

I sighed as I leaned back against Thane. “I feel like I could do this every day.”

“We should. Or strive to, anyway.” He nuzzled my neck, his hands cradling my belly.

“Endless sunrises and endless sunsets. I still can’t seem to wrap my mind around that. Do we age? Will I look this way forever?”

“Eternally young.”

“Eternally perky,” I teased, causing him to laugh. “I love that sound.”

“I never thought I’d laugh again,” he admitted. “I wasn’t sure I remembered how.”

“I promise to fill your days with laughter and your nights with steamy, sweaty sex.”

“What about steamy, sweaty sex during the day?”

“Greedy, are we?”

He chuckled. “Are you saying you don’t want to spend days lingering in bed?”

I saw a speck in the sky. It flew closer, its silver-tipped wings glittering in the sunlight. “I think we’re not the type to linger.” I gestured with my chin to the fortress as I watched Gabriel land.

“Ah,” Thane said. “He’s finally arrived. Something must’ve held him up. Can’t say I’m upset about that fact. It means we got more time alone.” He sighed. “Best get on with weighing the souls, hmmm?” He stood up and then held out his hand.

“Do you always have to weigh souls?” I asked.

“No. Normally, the souls find their way to the bridge after they leave the body housing them. However, since these souls have been in Heaven and might not belong there, we have to manually judge them.”

“We?”

He smiled. “You want to see it, right?”

I nodded eagerly. “I’m intrigued, I’m not going to lie.”

Thane led me toward the castle. Gabriel stood in the courtyard, holding a golden cage filled with golden balls of light.

“You’re late,” Thane said by way of greeting. I realized I was still in a black robe that only hit to my mid-thigh and discreetly made sure I was still covered.

“It’s a shit storm up there,” Gabriel growled and thrust the cage at Thane’s chest. Thane dropped my hand to grasp the cage. Gabriel looked at me. “Sorry to interrupt your homecoming, Poppy.”

“It’s okay,” I said truthfully. “We have some obligations to see to, don’t we?”

The fallen angel rolled his shoulders, looking annoyed and exhausted.