by Laney McMann
Max turned, his gaze centered on my face, tiny drops of water sparkling in his eyelashes. "You're my best friend."
"I know." I touched his cheek. "It's okay. We're okay now."
His focus centered on my blue eye before he glanced away. I guessed they would never change, my mismatched eyes. "I lost you for a while," he said. "Almost lost myself."
"But you didn't lose me. I'm here. You're here. That's all that matters. Nothing that happened was your fault." I lifted his chin, bringing his gaze back to mine. "None of this was your fault."
"Come here. I want to show you something." He led me around the edge of the waterfall, careful to place his feet in the right spots so as not to slip into the churning pool below. My feet sank in step behind his knowing the way well, having walked it so many times when we were younger. My hand still held firmly in his, he slid us behind the waterfall itself and onto the rock ledge where we used to play. My hand dropped from his and went to my mouth.
Candles were everywhere, all across the floor, in crevices along the rock face, and resting on jutting ledges, illuminating the tight space in a warm orange glow.
"With everything that's been going on," Max turned to face me, "I haven't found the right time to do this the right way, and I want to do it the right way. Without an audience. And without us being within inches of death." He kneeled down in front of me.
Heat flooded my body. "Max ..."
"I know we have our own customs of exchanging vows and Oghams here in the Otherworld, and in Mag Mell, that have nothing to do with diamonds or rings." He withdrew a small velvet box from his pocket and opened it. "But I want you to wear mine. Marry me, Layla. Not just for today or for tomorrow but for as many lives after this life that we're granted, in as many souls as we're given."
His breath caught as I kneeled down in front of him.
"In every life, as many as I'm given, I will be yours." Tears streamed down my face. "You are my heaven, Max. I will marry you."
With trembling hands, he slid the diamond ring on my finger, and his lips found mine, soft and sweet, loving and enveloping. "I love you," he whispered between kisses, over and over again.
EPILOGUE
LAYLA
Crystals hung from the trees, colorful prisms casting light on the leaves of the forest floor and the bridge of Max's nose, highlighting his beautiful clear eyes and the finely crafted, kingly robes of deep red he wore. Threaded with gold, they fit his broad shoulders perfectly. The Fomore crest stood out on the left side of his throat, a tight ensemble of spear heads merging to a single point. The Aether Ogham graced the opposite side of his neck, a never ending circle. He was the epitome of darkness and light, the perfect balance. My perfect match.
Gardenias lined the aisle, their sweet, spicy fragrance filling the Wood. I walked forward, the train of my long golden dress sweeping the rustling leaves behind me. Justice walked at my side in full regalia—his pristine, white feathered angel wings returned to their former glory, held high. With a grin, he wrapped his gloved hand around mine at the bend in his elbow and winked. I could never repay him for everything he'd done for me and Max, never thank him enough. Although he thought bringing him back from the dead made us even.
Ornately carved wooden chairs, a gift from the Tree Nymphs, were wound with gold and silver ribbons and filled the forest in a semicircle facing the raised altar. Even the Fae had come to see the exchange of words and Oghams—Queen Asrai, watery throne and all, sat at the proceedings, her host of guards flanking her. On the dais next to Max stood Tristan, hands folded in front of him, healthy and grinning, his own white wings rose high and proud above his shoulders. Dressed in silver, bundles of white gardenias resting in their arms, Benny and Cara stood on the other side.
My grandmother, mother, Aunt Flidais, Max's mother, and grandmother, all with handkerchiefs and happy tears, claimed seats in the front row. The rest of the Tuatha Dé people took up the remaining chairs and surrounding forest, some taking up low lying tree limbs, while others, more adventurous, climbed higher. Hundreds of people, believers and non-believers of the Fire Born legend alike, had come to celebrate the joining of two hearts. Their Light had been returned to them, the lands restored, the sick on the mend. The Otherworld had healed along with the Ancient city of Mag Mell, and a bridge had been created between the two worlds, assuring no division between Lesser or Greater Gods.
Teine and MacCoinnich were finally as one, and at peace within me and Max. Our souls, arisen from the ashes of old, had reunited, as the Legend predicted.
Author's Note
To all the readers who believe that soul mates transcend time and space, the Fire Born agree with you and thank you for joining them on this journey.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First, thank you to J. Taylor Publishing for believing in the Fire Born from the start.
I'd also like to thank Nancee Clark and Carol Brown for seeing this series through. Can't say thank you enough for all the hard work and support you've put in.
I have to thank my friend, and fellow author, Alex Nader for everything from kicking my butt into gear, beta reading, at least a hundred pep talks, keeping me laughing when nothing was funny anymore, and all the ins and outs that bring a book to life. Thank you isn't quite big enough.
Always to my family—thank you for everything. To my sun and my moon, my angel children, love you both. And to the voices in my head who never sleep, thank you for continuing to talk.
LANEY McMANN
With a passion for the supernatural and all things magical, Laney developed a voracious appetite for reading fantasy at a young age. A vivid imagination helped set the stage for creating her own worlds and placed her onto the writing path.
By the time she reached her teens, she’d accumulated notebooks full of poems, which led to short stories and finally novels. Young adult dark fantasy, paranormal romance, and mythology are among her favorite genres.
A former classical dancer and chef, she grew up in sultry Florida where she still resides with her family.
Connect with Laney McMann:
Blog: LaneyMcMann.com
Twitter: @LaneyMcMann
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