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He pulls me in without a word, wrapping me up in his arms and kissing the top of my head as he whispers, “And I adore you. I’m so sorry, Annie. I’m sorry I was a coward and a fool. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness and, hopefully, another chance at your heart.”
Tears filling my eyes and relief making my entire body tremble, I tip my head back, gazing up into his pained eyes. “You’re forgiven,” I whisper back. “And my heart is already yours. For now, and always.”
His arms tighten around me, lifting me off my feet. He buries his face in the crook of my neck and clings to me like a port in a storm. Slowly, the last of my fear fades away. Baron is finally mine and I am his and together there’s nothing we can’t do.
I feel it deep in my bones, where all the truest things are kept secret and safe.
By the time Baron sets me back on the ground, Amy is in Casey’s arms, wrapped up in a big bear hug and Edmond’s bigger coat.
Edmond stands close, sheltering Casey and Amy from the demons’ gaze as she weeps softly into her daughter’s hair, murmuring, “It’s okay now, love. It’s all going to be okay. Mommy’s here. I’ll never let anyone hurt you, baby. I swear it.”
“We’ll take our leave now,” Raisin Face says, capturing Manny’s upper arm in a steely grip. “Apologies for the inconvenience and misunderstanding.”
“Wait, it’s a lie,” Manny says, digging his bare heels into the ground as Raisin Face drags him toward the bridge. “I know her. She doesn’t fall in love that fast. She doesn’t fall in love at all. She’s a heartless witch and she’s playing all of you. Tell them, Casey. Tell the truth for once, you fucking whore.”
“Speak to my fiancée again in that fashion, and you won’t live to regret it, Immanuel,” Edmond says in a low, menacing voice that makes all the hairs on my arms stand on end. “Now tuck your mongrel tail between your legs and scurry back to lick the hands of your betters. If you’re a very good beggar, you might avoid being sold into slavery yourself.”
His face flushing an even brighter red, Manny lets out a string of curse words so obscene that Casey makes a startled choking sound and moves to cover Amy’s ears. Thankfully, the demons step into the shadows of the bridge a beat later and vanish into the night.
The rune on the old wood flares and fades away a moment later.
We’re still standing there, catching our breath, when Darcy and Blaire come running from the road leading deeper into town. “Is she here? Are we too late?” Blaire breaks off with a sob as she sees Casey holding Amy. She runs to our sister, gathering her and Amy in her arms and hugging them tight as Edmond explains what happened.
“But they believed you?” Blaire asks, rubbing her hand in soothing circles on Casey’s back. “That you and Casey are engaged?”
“Of course, they did because we are engaged.” Casey’s eyes bulge wide as she casts a pointed glance toward the covered bridge and then back to Blaire, clearly concerned the demons might be listening.
“We absolutely are, and we’ll be married as soon as I return from my next diplomatic mission to France later this year,” Edmond says, smoothing Casey’s hair from her forehead with a sweetness that’s…confusing.
I glance up at Baron, an unspoken question in my eyes.
He shakes his head slightly, indicating that he has no idea what’s going on with those two. But then he shrugs and smiles, and I can’t help but smile back.
He’s right. Maybe Edmond and Casey are just really good at pretending.
Or maybe they’re feeling the same thing Baron and I felt when we locked eyes over that library desk last fall, that meant-to-be warmth swelling in their chests that’s pointless to resist. Either way, Amy is safe, and we’ve bought ourselves time to ensure she stays that way.
It’s time to go home.
To our home, the one I’ve known would be mine since the moment I woke up in Baron’s arms surrounded by magnificent books with an even more magnificent man naked beside me.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I promise Casey. “We’ll have late breakfast and celebrate.”
Casey nods and hugs me tight while Amy pats my cheek and insists, “Home, Mommy. Mommy and Amy home.”
My sister pulls back with a laugh and kisses her daughter’s cheek. “Yes, Mommy and Amy are going home. And we’re going to take a hot bath and get in our P.J.s and cuddle in bed reading books for as long as you want.”
“Sounds like a great night,” I say.
“But not as great as yours is going to be,” Casey says, a tired smile curving her lips as she glances over my shoulder to where Baron is chatting with Darcy and Blaire. “Congratulations, sissy. You’re going to be so happy together. I can tell.”
“Thanks. I think so too,” I say, grinning ear to ear as Baron appears beside me again, claiming my hand with an ease that makes it clear all the resistance and pain is behind us.
Well, maybe not all the pain…
Life will always serve up its share of pain, but now there will also be pleasure. Pleasure and love and joy and magical things to look forward to. Like waking up in Baron’s arms every morning and lazy evenings reading by the fire and celebrations with the people we love.
“Speaking of celebrations…” I say as we emerge from the other side of the covered bridge and take a left to hook up with the path leading to Baron’s house.
