Page 82 of Unfettered

He gestures wide. “We’re here, together. We’re thriving. We have children throwing peas at the ceiling…” he pauses while Sorcha waves regally. “And friendships that have turned into families. It’s been a long road, for everyone. But tonight? It feels like we made it.”

My heart is thumping. How can anyone be so wonderful? Not only has he accepted me and all my very many flaws, he has fully embraced my found family as his own.

“We have made it and our future is bright.”

More murmurs. A few clinks of glasses. Gray gives him a quiet nod.

I quickly refill my glass of spiced cider. It looks like this speech might be heading towards toasts. I sneak in a hasty sip.

Flyn’s gaze finds mine.

“And there’s one more thing I want to say.”

He steps away from the table. My stomach flips.

He pulls something small from his pocket.

My heart stops.

“I want to spend every day making you laugh, and making far too much food for breakfast.” His voice is shaking slightly. “I want all of it. The quiet days. The chaos. The cats we’ll probably end up adopting. The slow mornings. The late nights. I wantyou.Always.”

And then… he drops to one knee.

There’s a collective gasp from the table.

Lello jolts upright. “Wedding!” he shrieks, knocking over his water glass and nearly tumbling into Carter’s lap.

The room bursts into laughter.

Carter catches him and groans good naturedly. “Can you let the poor man finish?”

Lello presses a napkin dramatically to his chest. “I knew it! I knew it all along!”

Sorcha climbs onto her chair. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

Flyn grins through it all, eyes still on mine.

He opens the little box. Inside is a ring. slim silver, smooth as moonlight, with a single charm stone that glows softly in the candlelight. I know that enchantment. It pulses in time with the giver’s heartbeat. Flyn is literally giving me his heart.

“Jade,” Flyn says, voice steady, “will you marry me?”

I can’t speak. I can barely think. I blink. I feel like I’ve fallen out of time. For a moment, I don’t know how to breathe.

Then everything rushes back in. The room. The people. The candlelight. The taste of apple and spice that’s still on my tongue. The man on one knee, holding out a piece of forever.

“Yes,” I whisper.

And then louder, because he deserves it. “Yes!”

His eyes sparkle.

“Yes,” I repeat, even louder this time. “Yes, I will. Of course I will.”

He laughs and stands, and I throw my arms around his neck just as he kisses me.

The room explodes.

Cheering. Whooping. Stomping on the floor. Silverware clatters and someone, probably Lello, lets out a loud, theatrical sob.