by Ann Aguirre
He stifled a laugh at her bluntness, but her mother was talking, loud enough that he could hear. “I never cared about our line that much, you awful child. I just didn’t want you to spend your life alone.” There was some noise in the background. “Your father says hello and he sends his love.”
“Back at him. I gotta go, Ma. Phone’s gonna die soon. I won’t go so long without calling next time.”
“You didn’t apologize,” he said, as she cut the connection.
“That’s not our style. We fight and then pretend it didn’t happen and that nobody was wrong.”
“If she’s anything like you, that must lead a fair amount of conflict.” Gavriel smirked, knowing he’d never get tired of baiting her.
She nudged him, hard. “One more call, then I’m all yours.”
“I wish I’d recorded that,” he muttered, wistful.
This time when she dialed, she put the phone on speaker, as if inviting him to be part of the call. “This is Asher.”
She called Ash Valley? He recognized Dominic Asher’s voice, though he would never like the bastard. Every muscle tense, Gavriel raised his brows in silent question, but Mags shook her head and put a finger to her lips.
Okay, she doesn’t want me to talk.
“I just wanted to let you know…I’m quitting. You need to find a new Chief of Security. Eventually, I’ll be back to get my stuff, but I’m not sure when.”
“Shit, Mags, are you all right?”
Her gaze met Gavriel’s, and she smiled, her heart in her eyes. “Never better. I’ll send you my final report regarding what I learned about Slay, the destruction of the loyalist stronghold, and a drug leak coming out of Burnt Amber. What you do with that information is up to you. It was on pause for a long time, but I have a life to get back to.”
Dom was silent for a few seconds. “Damn. You have been busy. I don’t pretend to understand but I don’t have to. You’ll always have a place here, got me?”
“Yep. I’m losing power soon. Will send the mission brief ASAP. Mags out.” She hung up and switched off the phone, offering it to him with an oddly diffident smile.
“You cut ties,” he said wonderingly. “For me. I wouldn’t have asked you to—”
“I won’t go back until you feel better about what happened at the retreat. I know that’ll take time.” She paused, watching him with obvious concern. “Will you be okay when we visit my parents? Hallowell is a mixed settlement.”
“Of course. Anytime you miss them or want to catch up. I did fine in Hallowell. Before the battle, that is.”
Mags smiled up at him. “That’s all I want then. I’ve been settled for a long time. Now I’m ready for our next step, whatever that entails.”
They started walking again, ending by the ocean, as he’d predicted. The water was dark and calm, like a promise of peaceful days to come. “Do you have any idea what sort of future you want?”
“One with you,” she said at once. “Otherwise, I’m not sure, but… we saw a lot of hardship while we were traveling. I’ve been thinking on that…and maybe we could make the world a better place. I can be the muscle, intimidate when necessary and you have that ability that lets you slip past surveillance…”
A prickle of excitement started at the back of his head. “You thinking what I am?”
“Steal from the rich and give to the poor?” Mags grinned, reminding Gavriel why he loved her. “They need indoor plumbing and running water in Kelnora, not to mention access to the solar grid. We could ask Thalia to budget for it, but…”
“This will be more fun,” he finished. “I’ll make a list of the estates that can afford to subsidize our charitable efforts. We’ll take my murderous skills and make the world a better place. Together.”
“And if we ever get tired of roving, we can settle in Hallowell. My family will be yours, I promise.”
He didn’t hesitate at all over making this offer. “If you want tiger cubs later, I’m fine with letting Titus—”
“Enough.” Mags kissed him hard, the perfect partner, no matter what the future had in store.
Only death himself could love her and live, but only a tiger woman could break the walls around his shadowed heart, so he could give himself wholly to her—tightly bonded, blessed by the gods, and meant to be. Forever.
Author’s Note
I’m so thrilled that you read The Shadow Warrior and hope you’re eager for more in the Ars Numina world. The Shadow Warrior is the fourth book in a projected six-book series, as follows:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight
Would you like to know when the next book will be available and/or keep up with exciting news? Visit my website at www.annaguirre.com/contact and sign up for my newsletter. If you’re interested, follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/msannaguirre, or “like” my Facebook fan page at facebook.com/ann.aguirre for excerpts, contests, and fun swag.
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