Page 139 of Thunder's Reckoning

“Never again,” I muttered, my voice low, a vow spoken to the dark.

I held her tighter, lettin’ her warmth seep into me, lettin’ the steady rise and fall of her breath remind me that for tonight, she was safe.

Tomorrow would bring its own war. The cult. The fallout from Gabrial’s dirty business. The fallout we hadn’t even begun to count.

But right now?

Right now, I had her.

And that’s all I cared about.

CHAPTER SEVENTY

THE RIDE OUTto the house was quiet but steady,the kind of ride where the road itself felt like it knew we were carryin’ somethin’ heavier than just two bodies and chrome. The sun sat high and mean, burnin’ through the Carolina blue, throwin’ long shadows off the trees that lined the backroads. Her arms stayed wrapped tight around me the whole way, her cheek pressed against my back like she was still afraid to let go.

When we rolled up the gravel drive, the house came into view—weathered wood, paint peeled by storms, but still standin’ strong. It sat above The Pit like it had always been waitin’ on us.

I killed the engine, the silence hittin’ sharp after the thunder of the pipes. Sable slid off the bike behind me, her hands lingerin’ at my cut like she needed that extra heartbeat before lettin’ go. The wind caught her hair, lifted it across her shoulders, and when her eyes landed on the house, there was somethin’ guarded there. Curiosity. Hope. Maybe even fear.

“Zeke,” she said, brows furrowed. “Why are we here?”

I cleared my throat, scratchin’ at the back of my neck. “I want us to live here. You, me and the kids.”

Her gaze snapped to mine, unblinking and wide.

“I know it don’t look like much,” I went on, voice rougher than I meant it to be. “Hell, I ain’t good with words and I’ve never been the kinda man who can stand here spoutin’ poetry. I mess up more than I get right, but—”

I reached into my saddlebag, pullin’ out the small black box that’d been burnin’ a hole in my pocket since the night I thought I might lose her forever.

Her lips parted, breath catchin’.

“I love you, Sable” I said, steady now. “You been mine since that night on the road, and I don’t want nothin’ more than to build somethin’ real with you. Somethin’ no fire, no man, no past can take from us.”

I flipped the box open.

Simple band. No frills. Just strong. Just forever.

Her eyes glassed, but no tears fell. Not yet.

“You marry me, Sable?” My voice cracked low. “Make this house ours? Make me yours?”

She covered her mouth with both hands, shoulders shakin’. Then she nodded, hard.

“Yes,” she breathed. “God, yes.”

I slid the ring onto her finger, my hands shakin’ worse than they ever had holdin’ a gun. Felt right the second it settled there.

But I wasn’t done.

I reached back into my cut, pulled out the other piece, the one that mattered almost as much. Black leather. White thread.

Property of Thunder.

Her breath hitched sharp, eyes widenin’.

“You sure?” I asked, my voice quiet, scared as hell she’d run even now.

She stepped close, fingers brushin’ mine as she took it, steady as steel.