Page 127 of Thorns of Silence

Skye’s fingers gripped my hair like I was her own personal pony, making my scalp ache, but the pain was worth it. I had Nix and her daughter with me.

We started walking when Nix tugged my sleeve gently and signed, “Where are we going?”

I smiled. “To get married.”

Yeah, I wasn’t wasting my time. Her steps paused and I stopped too, turning to face her. “Today?” I nodded. Her mouth parted, her cheeks flushing bright red. “I need a different dress.”

She was actually considering it? I could hardly believe it.

“You could wear rags and you’d still be the most beautiful woman on this planet.”

Nix shook her head. “We have to set a good example for Skye.”

“Let’s shop for a dress, then. For you and Skye.”

“Thank you.”

We resumed walking while the wheels in my mind spun faster and faster. The wisest thing to do was to take her to Trieste and keep her safe there. Cesar already had a priest on standby, but if the underworld was looking for her, it’d run the risk of uninvited guests. Going home might have to wait.

I thought of her in a dress, walking down the aisle toward me, and everything that would come after… Fuck, it was all I ever wanted. Nix, my dandelion, as my wife.

I turned my head so Nix could read my lips. “How do you feel about going to Scotland for a bit?”

Phoenix eyed me. “It’s cold in Scotland. I hate the cold.” I did too. A dark expression passed her features and her next words surprised me. “And my grandma is in that general area.”

I studied her curiously. “You don’t get along with your grandma?”

“I’d rather not be around her right now,” she answered cryptically.

“Where would you like to get married, then?”

She shrugged, her eyes watching Skye with maternal worry. “Somewhere warm, I guess, but why the rush?”

I met her eyes, drowning in their blues. “Because I love you.”

I was certain I had never spoken truer words.

“And I love you?” she asked.

God, I fucking hoped so. We had this amazing chemistry, but we needed time to get to know each other. Just the two of us… correction,threeof us.The three of us will dance through life together.The familiar words pierced through my mind, almost as if I’d spoken them before.

Chasing the ghosts away, I cupped her cheeks tenderly. “There’s nobody else for you, dandelion, and there’s nobody else for me.”

It was as close to the truth as I dared to go.

Surprise flickered in her eyes. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“How long have we been engaged?”

I tucked a dark curl behind her ear before I resumed walking. “Three years.”

“And you’re okay with me having a child?”

Fuck, this was tricky. I was okay with it as long as the father didn’t come into the picture. Then I’d have to murder him. It was better I went with a half-truth. “Yes, the three of us are family.”

The smile on Phoenix’s face had me stopping again. I framed her face, pulling her close to me and pressing a kiss to her mouth. Her tongue darted out, brushing against mine, and my lips moved against hers.