by Alexis Davie
The same clerk from before nodded to Garrick and bustled off to find some muscle to support the guards currently standing behind her father, her ex-fiancé, and Mr Chaffinch.
Garrick stood and nodded to the council. It was time to go.
Then, suddenly, the wilted crowd got a burst of energy.
“This isn’t over!” Xander was almost screaming, throwing himself towards the front of his stand, a guard grabbing his suit jacket. “You’re all fools! All of you! We should be in charge. We will be in charge! This isn’t—”
The guard had him and turned him around, stuck a silencing spell on him, and pushed him out of the door.
Every part of Brinley was tense. She was breathing heavily. It wasn’t that she thought he could reach her. She knew he couldn’t. But that anger… She had nearly been sold to that anger. She needed to see Garrick.
He knew it. She could see that. He was leaving the room, shoulders clenched in his silly robes. As he got to the door, he took his crown from his head, gave it to another clerk to deal with, and shook his head, presumably at some comment about how the clerk didn’t know what to do with something so precious.
25
Garrick
Garrick hoped he wasn’t wrong. He was sitting in the room he had taken Brinley to when they arrived, where he changed into the robes he had to wear for things like this.
He was pulling off the cloak now. At least this wasn’t everyday wear now. Underneath, he was in jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt, which was pushed up to his elbows. He’d relinquished the suits… usually.
He hoped Brinley was okay. But she was strong. God, she was strong. This morning, she had taken control, had wanted him and not in a way that was worrying. She had wanted him for strength, for them both, set the two of them up for a day of being apart while being so close. And she had proved herself magically, both during their ordeal and afterwards. And that was incredible. She was becoming such a ridiculously powerful witch, he would be surprised if he could keep up.
It almost hurt to think about her. He realized he was chewing his bottom lip. Was this time? Would it be too connected to what had happened today?
He didn’t think he could keep it in any longer. And they had been waiting for her father and Xander to be safely put away amongst the humans. He couldn’t help but smile a little at that. Brin’s idea, of course. And she was working on a spell to strip powers, to replace the awkward silver.
“We will visit,” she had said, “in… a hundred years or so.” A woman who hadn’t lived a hundred years yet, which said something. She couldn’t imagine such a long time. But also, she was willing to forgive, which was a beautiful thing about her.
She was teaching him, too. Or reteaching him. She’d…
There was a knock on the door. Garrick leapt to it and pulled it open. There she was. Her smile was weak, but it was there.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured into her hair. “I’m so, so sorry, Brin…”
She looked up at him, eyes shining with unshed tears. Tears she wouldn’t shed, because, well, she wouldn’t. Not that she never cried, but rarely with anger. Rarely about something that they could solve together.
“Don’t be silly,” she said. “You did brilliantly. Perfectly. I love you so much.”
“But Xander—”
“Is a real dick. Always has been, always will be. Nice of him to remind us.” She smiled and took a deep breath.
“I love you so much, too,” Garrick said. “So, so much.” And he did. This woman and her ability to bounce back. To take it. To need him and also not need him. To always make him better. “It was hard not to look at you,” he confessed. “You were the most beautiful thing in the room.”
“Oh, yeah.” She laughed at him. “Apart from that crown. But I guess you couldn’t see it. Distracting to the rest of us. Could’ve warned me, mate!” She had pushed away from him, was looking up at him, hands still on his waist.
Gently, he kissed her. He stayed there to make it long and deep, until she had pulled him closer. And then he moved away. His eyes searched her face until he knew she was about to ask, What?
But it was time. He knew it was. He knew all over him. He just knew!
“Marry me?”
There was a silence that felt very, very long. And then Brinley’s face cracked into a smile. She pulled him down to her and against the wall, pressing herself against him until he felt desire shoot down him, fill him, and when she pulled away, he had to growl, paw her nearer to him again. She put a hand on his face.
“Well,” she said, “will you wear the crown on the day?”
* * *
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About the Author
Alexis Davie captivates her readers with stories that intertwine reality with fantasy, to provide an exciting escape. Davie has always had an affinity for dragons, vampires, werewolves and, of course, romance. One can truly see her passions come to life through her written words.
When Davie is not writing, she hikes, practices yoga, and frequently travels with her son and husband to find the less-traveled paths. To help the voiceless, Davie also spends her time as a volunteer with animal rescues.