by Keri Arthur
I laughed again, even as my heart skipped into overdrive. “And given the earth mages have a long road ahead repairing all the damage the Mareritt caused, we certainly can’t afford to waste the production capabilities of what viable farmlands we do have left.”
“My thoughts exactly. And as I said to my father, my heart is here in this goddamn fortress, so I might as well be, too.”
He cupped my cheek with his palm. I briefly closed my eyes and pressed into his touch, enjoying the warmth and the emotion that flowed through it. The link that had been evident almost from our first meeting was now one of heart and soul. He was as much a part of me as Oma and Kiva. I couldn’t imagine my life without any of them in it.
Even if my life was far different—in both place and time—from the one I’d imagined as a child.
He lowered his hand, though the heat of his touch lingered on my skin. “I do have a new plan when it comes to raising things, however.”
The sudden seriousness in his expression was somewhat spoiled by the bright mix of joy and love in his eyes. I raised an eyebrow, my heart lodged somewhere in my throat. “You’re going to raise fat buildings instead?”
“No. I was actually thinking along the lines of children. Lots of happy, chubby little children.”
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small wooden box, and opened it. Inside, sitting on a cushion of silk, were two rings of red stone. Etched into the surface of each was the golden image of two drakkons entwined in a mating flight. Commitment rings. Kin commitment rings.
My gaze jumped to his, but I didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know how to express all the love tumbling through me.
“Marry me, Nara, and make me the happiest man in Arleeon.” He plucked one of the rings from the silk, then caught my hand and slipped it onto my finger. The tears prickling my eyes tumbled past my lashes and raced down my cheek. “Let’s raise an entire grace of children together even as we once again raise this city from the ashes. Let’s create a lifetime of joyous memories and erase the shadows of the past that still linger in this place and in your heart.”
I took a deep, shuddering breath and then plucked the second ring from the silk. “I accept your proposal, warrior, and offer you one of my own.”
I slipped the ring over his finger. As simply as that, we were committed.
His fingers wrapped around mine and tugged me closer.
“And what might that be?” he said, his breath so warm against my lips.
“That we start the whole making babies thing straight away.”
He laughed and kissed me fiercely. Then, as the drakkons bugled their agreement to our joining, he swept me up into his arms and carried me down to our chamber in the unbroken heart of the old city deep in the mountain. Where we did indeed, over the long course of that afternoon, conceive the first of many children.
I might have lost everything I’d ever known, but I’d also gained everything I’d ever wanted.
Life really couldn’t get much better than that.
About the Author
Keri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson Guardian series, has now written more than forty-five novels. She’s received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Awards and has won RT’s Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives with her daughter in Melbourne, Australia.
for more information:
www.keriarthur.com
[email protected]
Also by Keri Arthur
in series order
Unlit (Kingdoms of Earth & Air, 1)
Cursed (Kingdoms of Earth & Air, 2)
Blood Kissed (Lizzie Grace Series, 1)
Hell’s Bell (Lizzie Grace Series, 2)
Hunter Hunted (Lizzie Grace, 3)
Demon’s Dance (Lizzie Grace, 4)
City of Light (Outcast Series, 1)
Winter Halo (Outcast Series, 2)
The Black Tide (Outcast Series, 3)
Fireborn (Souls of Fire Series, 1)
Wicked Embers (Souls of Fire Series, 2)
Flameout (Souls of Fire Series, 3)
Ashes Reborn (Souls of Fire Series, 4)
Darkness Unbound (Dark Angels Series, 1)
Darkness Rising (Dark Angels Series, 2)
Darkness Devours (Dark Angels Series, 3)
Darkness Hunts (Dark Angels Series, 4)
Darkness Unmasked (Dark Angels Series, 5)
Darkness Splintered (Dark Angels Series, 6)
Darkness Falls (Dark Angels Series, 7)
Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Series, 1)
Kissing Sin (Riley Jenson Series, book 2)
Tempting Evil (Riley Jenson Series, 3)
Dangerous Games (Riley Jenson Series, 4)
Embraced by Darkness (Riley Jenson Series, 5)
The Darkest Kiss (Riley Jenson Series, 6)
Deadly Desire (Riley Jenson Series, 7)
Bound to Shadows (Riley Jenson Series, 8)
Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson Series, 9)
With Friends Like These (Stand Alone Novel)
Destiny Kills (Myth & Magic Series, 1)
Mercy Burns (Myth & Magic Series, 2)
Circle of Fire (Damask Circle Series, 1)
Circle of Death (Damask Circle Series, 2)
Circle of Desire (Damask Circle Series, 3)
Beneath a Rising Moon (Ripple Creek Series, 1)
Beneath a Darkening Moon (Ripple Creek Series, 2)
Memory Zero (Spook Squad Series, 1)
Generation 18 (Spook Squad Series, 2)
Penumbra (Spook Squad Series, 3)
Dancing with the Devil (Nikki & Michael Series, 1)
Hearts in Darkness (Nikki & Michael Series, 2)
Chasing the Shadows (Nikki & Michael Series, 3)
Kiss the Night Goodbye (Nikki & Michael series, 4)
Lifemate Connections: Eryn (Novella)