Page 151 of Season Warriors & Wolves

That made me slow my step a little and stare at her. No, she never had.

Nia and her giggled, furiously spinning, the ground beneath their feet turning muddy and staining their dresses. They looked so happy.

Everyone behind me looked happy.

Even the world looked happy for the first time in a long, long while.

It would remain happy.

I was going to make sure it did.

A hand wrapped over my own, pulling me back under the building hood.

“My little wet hellcat,” Kilian murmured, dabbing a small towel to my face. “In an adorable pink wet dress.”

“Like a worm,” I said through rattling teeth.

He smirked, shedding his jacket and throwing it over my shoulders, guiding my hands through the massive sleeves. “The prettiest worm.”

“I thought I was a stunning, murderous vase? A steel, stunning, murderous vase. A broken steel, stunning, murderous vase, but mended somehow. A beautifully mended, once broken, stunning, murderous steel vase.”

No more smirks or smiles, he laughed so hard his whole body shook. “You forgot witty. I remember I said witty as well.”

“Damn it. I thought I was a stunning, murderous, witty vas—”

He kissed me, his lips warming my skin, his touch warming my soul. “Who would have thought, huh?”

“I’m still so angry you got to trick me the way you did.” I hit his chest. “Guard? You, a guard?”

He grabbed the lapels of his jacket, pulling me to him. “I was so greedy for you. I still am so greedy for you.”

I shiver. It was him, not the cold.

Laughter pulled my attention again. Penelope had joined the other two, pulling a non-cooperative Visha behind. The witchling was stiff as a board from the rain soaking her entirely. She’d finally left her robes and dressed in the same rosy colour as the rest of us. Regretting it considering the way she hugged herself.

Elias stepped out in the rain and threw his jacket over her shoulders, prying her from the other bunch and sitting the bored woman on a corner to warm her up. Something he said had her eyes gleaming red with magic. The Venzor heir only lifted his hands up and retreated a couple steps, laughing.

“My bet is he’ll lose a hand by the end of the night,” Cai said to Mal.

Mal snorted. “I bet he’ll lose more than his hand.”

Elias shot them both a look. “I’ve survived fine.”

“Survived being the keyword,” Eren added, and Visha gave him a little smile.

“Why would I take his hand or anything of the sort?” Visha asked disinterestedly.

Elias smirked back at us. “See?”

“I’d take out his soul.”

The man’s face fell fast and the rest of us laughed.

And laughed.

And laughed.

Kilian wrapped his massive body behind me, tucking me to him, while we spent the rest of the night and dawn and sunrise under the rain, laughing even more.