Page 109 of Gilded Curses

Orin resisted the impulse to laugh, blow Del off, and irritate the man. He’d always enjoyed turning the screws into the vamp and winding him up, but as he opened his mouth to tell the vamp he could kill Del without any hands, Orin’s gaze went to Sahira’s door and closed it again.

She went through so much in the Cursed Realm and throughout her life, she deserved peace. And if he continued fighting and instigating her brother, she wouldn’t have it.

Sahira loved Del and Lexi deeply. He didn’t have the best past with either of them, but he intended to make her future one of happiness and love.

“I understand,” he said. “But that won’t happen because I’m not going anywhere, and I won’t ever hurt her. She’s mine, and I’m hers; that’s how it is.”

“Good.” Del started to walk by him but hesitated before resting his hand on Orin’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’ve both returned.”

Orin had never expected to hear those words from Del. While he still would have liked to see Del’s face turn red and the vamp lose his shit, he’d made the right choice by not instigating a fight with him.

As Del released his shoulder, Orin spoke again. “She missed you and Lexi a lot.”

“And we missed her.”

With that, Del went down the hall and disappeared around the corner.

CHAPTER NINETY-ONE

Sahira had no idea what time it was when the mattress sank beside her and Orin crawled in to envelop her in his arms. Smiling, she nestled against his naked body as she fit perfectly against him.

When he leaned over to kiss her cheek, she turned her mouth into his, and their tongues entwined. His hand found all the best spots as it ran over her body, waking her to a world of pleasure and love as she grew wetter and opened her legs to him.

Her nails dug into his skin, and she lost herself to him until she came apart with a loud cry she muffled by sinking her fangs into his throat. Deep inside her, his shaft pulsed as he found his release too.

When she came down from the amazing high he’d created, she collapsed onto his chest and rested her hand over his heart. She lay in his arms for a while, but she couldn’t pretend to shut the rest of the world out forever.

“When do we go to Doomed Valley?” she asked.

Orin had been running his fingers through her hair, but they stilled at her question. “I don’t want you to go.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m going.”

“You just got home and are back with your loved ones.”

She lifted her head and folded her hands beneath her chin to study him. “So did you, but you’re still going.”

“I have to see if I can find Brokk.”

“I know, but you’re one of my loved ones now too. I’m going, Orin, and that’s final.”

He smiled as he started playing with her hair again. “Okay, okay, no need to be so bossy, Enchantress. We’ll probably go in a couple of days, after we get some rest and have a chance to spend more time with everyone.”

She kissed his chin. “It feels good to be home.”

“Nothing feels as good as you. You’re mine, Sahira, forever.”

She bit her lip as anxiety niggled at her insides. “Are you sure about that? When we were in Belda’s town and on our way to do laundry, I asked you if anything was enough for you, and you said, ‘Not yet.’”

“What did I know then? I was an idiot, but I have no doubt you are and always will be far more than enough for me. You’re my home, Sahira.”

Her heart swelled with love as his black eyes held hers. “And you’re mine.”

“Always?”

“Always. And I think it’s time to break a certain spell.”

Rising a little, she lifted her hands before her and started weaving them in the air. He clasped them together in his hand and pinned them against his chest.