“Huh?” Had he said something?
“Never mind, with all you’ve been through I can guess.” The bed dipped as he slid under the golden covers. “I’ve moved my things, and I’ll grab some of yours tomorrow and make it look more lived in. You okay with that?”
He’d taken a shower. His black hair was wet and his glorious spicy scent washed over me. “I’m the one who got us married, so I better be.”
His breath tickled my cheek as he wrapped his arms around me. “Our lives together have just begun, and since you’ve agreed to keep the portal’s image from any other, so I’ll agree not to harm another Peacian. I don’t think I even could, not now we’re together.”
“You no longer hate as you did?” I nuzzled his neck. Clean-shaven. Nice.
“Your heart is so pure, and when you could have harmed Donaldo, you didn’t.” His lips brushed mine. “I’m going to strive for the same.”
“I wanted to hurt him, but I can’t be like him. Even your father being behind steel worries me. What do we do about him?” I wish I could do something, anything.
“He’ll be freed by my hand, not yours. Although, I’ve had one thought, but I’ll need your help with it.”
“You got it.”
His gaze lowered to the band of gold around my finger. “Pass me my mother’s ring. I’m going to add an enchantment as Dad did, but this time one for him.”
“How would that work?” I slipped it off and pressed it into his open palm.
“By using the same endless circle of love he did. Place your hand over mine. We need to seal my mother’s ring between us.”
“I like your idea. Your mother probably would too.” I linked our hands.
“She would have loved to have known you, and I’ll be forever grateful for what she did.” His eyes sparkled, and then the silver swirled to life. “Where love rises strong, where two souls join for one cause, may fire and magic burn, and all who bear witness be completely drawn. May hate melt away in the blaze of truth, and may freedom be granted for the man who saw to my birth.” Leaning in, he kissed me. “I bind this spell to my mother’s ring, and through the passage of time to their love which still sings.”
Tears welled in my eyes as the ring heated. A warm golden glow shimmered from the small space between our thumbs where our hands didn’t quite meet. “T-that was so beautiful.”
After it cooled, he took the ring and slipped it onto my finger. “Thank you for aiding me.” He pushed me back against the pillows. “Now, for one more thing. It’s time to enchant you.”
He kissed me, and oh boy, so tantalizingly sweet.
Yeah, my mate had enchanting down to a fine art.
I’d certainly be pestering him for more of this.
11
My fingers glowed and I shoved my hands under the cold running water in my bathroom. Not my favorite start to the day, but I couldn’t let Guy know I was having problems controlling the heat. He’d confine me to my room, and I’d missed too much school to lose another day.
I flicked off the tap and tugged on my ponytail.
“I’m back, Silvie.” Guy rapped on the door.
“Coming.” I adjusted the hem of my sunshine-yellow tank top. The white cotton pants were perfect for the spring day. I strode to the door, cool and breezy.
Guy paced my bedroom in hip-hugging black jeans and a red muscle-tee. He tilted his Stetson forward on his head as he eyed me. “Are you sure you’re up for school? You’re not having any flare-ups?”
“I’m all good, and Faith will be there.”
“If there’s any sign your fire skill is rising, then ’path me.” He snagged my school bag off the end of the bed and slung it over his shoulder.
I eased into his side and ’ported us, not giving him another moment to change his mind. We arrived on the far side of the school field. “You’ll be in the outback?”
“Yeah, I’m meeting Maslin there this morning. We’ve been mustering together.” He handed my bag across. “I’ll see you later.” He kissed me, a grin tugging his lips. “I wish I could take you with me.”
“Later. You can show me more of your outback once school’s finished.”
“You can bet on it. Be careful, and ’path me. I can come in an instant.”
“So you said.” I backed away. “Go lasso some cows, or toss a spell or two around.”
Chuckling, he shimmered and disappeared.
Faith tramped out from behind another tree with dark smudges under her eyes. “Hey.”
“What’s wrong?” I raced to her side.
“Last night after the games, Nicolas pulled Hope and me aside. He had bad news, although I didn’t get any forewarning of it.”
“Tell me.” I gripped her arms. “You should have told me straight away.”
“Yeah, well. Nicolas said while he was speaking to Donaldo during the archery contest, that Killian and Abelard came up to them.”