by K. F. Breene
“Nothing.” We wound through some scraggly dune bushes. The pounding of the ocean against the cliff filled the air with sea salt. “I’m not sure what I was expecting, but whatever it was…it didn’t happen.”
“That’s not to say it won’t. You have to remember, time moves slower for an immortal, especially one who’s his age.”
“Hearing from him might not be a good thing, anyway.”
Kieran squeezed my hand. “As to that, I have no idea. No matter how much I think on his actions, some of the pieces don’t fit. My best guess is that he’s conflicted. My mom once told me that biology is a funny thing. When you have a child, there is a primal part of you that is wired to protect that child. It’s not something you can easily shrug off. My father had no problem killing people, including his closest elite, and he would’ve killed me at the end, but I don’t think he would’ve taken any pride in it. He was conflicted about me a lot of his life, I think, because of my mother. Magnus might be wrestling with his own demons. He clearly wanted to help you. He wanted you to succeed. He could’ve kidnapped you and forced you to join his team…so many times I hate even thinking about it. But he didn’t. When he easily could have, he didn’t. The only effort he made was halfhearted, and it’s possible he only acted to preempt Aaron. There is something to that.”
I sighed and pushed the thought away. There was no use obsessing over it—Magnus hadn’t reached out to me, and I couldn’t exactly call him up to chat. I was vulnerable and gullible when it came to this part of my life, and I didn’t want him to take advantage. He might be conflicted, but he was still one of the more ruthless Demigods. I had to remember Magnus was an old pro at kid killing.
“How much did Daisy pack away, did you ever ask?” Kieran asked as we walked over the little knoll.
“I don’t know. Whenever I ask, she tells me to mind my business. Dylan said it was a small fortune, and that he’s teaching her to invest it. Did he tell you what she tried to do for him?”
“Giving him part of her savings? Yeah. That’s a…” Kieran shook his head then squeezed my hand again, and we ambled on. “She’s a damn good kid. She’s hard, but her heart is in the right place. She’s learned from you to help people in a tight spot.”
“I think it’s good for Dylan to have younger people around. People that still need looking after. He’s got some serious scars. He’s taking pains with Mordecai’s training, as well, teaching him to react to the magic of Zeus. He hasn’t said anything, but it seems like he feels more comfortable with them anchoring our crew.”
“We all like having the kids around. They remind us that strategy and politics are a job, and family and a community are a life. A good life.”
I opened my mouth to reply, and then stopped dead.
The concrete bench that used to perch on the cliff’s edge had been replaced. In fact, the whole cliff face had been replaced.
Stone steps had been carved into the rock, leading down to a stone seat, carved directly into the cliff side with the polished surface Jerry was known for. The viewing platform was protected by a decorative rock banister.
“Shall we?” Kieran put out his hand to help me down.
The sand gathered in the creases on the soles of his shiny black dress shoes. His white trousers and open white jacket blew in the breeze, his light blue dress shirt, nearly the same color as my dress, pressing against his cut chest. His stormy eyes were subdued, sparkling with the love I felt blazing through our soul link, and the sun bathed his heart-throbbingly handsome face.
Tears in my eyes, I stepped back to snap a picture with my phone. I showed him the image with a smile. “For when I make a creepy fountain of you. It’ll be this picture, right here.”
He laughed, his smile boosting his handsomeness, and his Selkie magic stroked me in a way that made me gasp. He brought up his phone. “I’d better do a creepy fountain, too. I don’t want to be out-creeped.”
I took his hand and let him lead me down to the viewing area cut into the side of the cliff. A wave crashed far below, sending a sheet of mist up into the air. A rainbow sparkled within the haze.
“I’ve used my position for evil and rezoned this area,” Kieran said as we stood at the rock banister. “I bought the permission from the non-magical government and then bought the land. Money talks. It’s just a little slice—this little slice—but this part of the cliff is ours.”
I wrapped my arms around his middle. “Jerry did a wonderful job. It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
He turned to me, pulling back just a bit so I could see his face. “Since the moment we met, we’ve been on a hard road. We’ve faced incredible danger—constant, incredible danger. Through it, you’ve stayed by my side. You’ve supported me when most people would’ve walked away. You gave me a family when I’d just lost mine. Magnus said that my father could see potential in people and create something great out of them. He was right, in a way, but while my father shaped my skills, I would’ve become morally bankrupt under his guidance. I would’ve hurt more than I helped. You’ve shaped my heart. You’ve made me a better man. A better leader. I owe you my life. I owe you my everything.”
He sank down to a knee before me, and tears instantly clouded my vision again.
“Without you, there would be no me, Alexis,” he said, and love poured through our links. It pooled in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and took out a little black velvet box. He opened the lid, revealing a gorgeous diamond center stone accented with blue and black gems, symbolic of the merging of our magics. “I love you with all my heart. I would give you everything that is mine. All I want is you, for the rest of my days and beyond. I will love you forever. Alexis Price, will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down my face. Sobs bubbled up through my middle. I barely registered his guys and the others coming up the path toward the cliff.
“Yes,” I said, putting out my hand. “Yes! I love you.”
With a triumphant smile, he slipped the ring onto my finger and stood, capturing my lips with his. The rock shuddered under our feet, nothing more than a pleasing vibration, Jerry giving his congratulations. Red rose petals caught the sun as they fluttered out over the ocean and danced in the air, Donovan’s touch. Lightning came down from a suddenly building storm, curving into the shape of a heart, over and over, Dylan’s support. Large rainbows blossomed into light shows, Boman’s congrats. A dead body pitched over the side and gave a thumbs-up on the way down.
“Bria’s magic doesn’t really match this scene,” I said, watching it like I might a car wreck.
“It would’ve been really embarrassing if you’d said no,” Kieran said, then kissed me again. “I love you, Alexis. You’ve made me the happiest man alive.”
I let our kiss linger, reveling in the feel of him, before everyone came down to join us, all smiles and congratulations. I hugged my kids and stood with Kieran as we looked out over the tranquil waters. It might’ve been a hard road, but sometimes the hardest roads took you to the best destinations. I’d found my happily ever after.
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Sin & Surrender (book 6)
Grab the final installment of the internationally bestselling Demigods of San Francisco series!
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Also by K.F. Breene
Demigods of San Francisco
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender - preorder now
Leveling Up
Magical Midlife Madness
Magical Midlife Dating - coming soon
Demon Days, Vampire Nights World
Born in Fire
Raised
in Fire
Fused in Fire
Natural Witch
Natural Mage
Natural Dual-Mage
Warrior Fae Trapped
Warrior Fae Princess
Warrior Chronicles
Chosen
Hunted
Shadow Lands
Invasion
Siege
Overtaken
Darkness Series
Into the Darkness
Braving the Elements
On a Razor’s Edge
Demons
The Council
Shadow Watcher
Jonas
Charles
Jameson
Stand Alone
Secret of McKinley’s Mansion
Finding Paradise
Fate of Perfection
Fate of Devotion
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About the Author
K.F. Breene is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Post, Amazon Most Sold and #1 Kindle Store bestselling author of paranormal romance, urban fantasy and fantasy novels. With over three million books sold, when she's not penning stories about magic and what goes bump in the night, she's sipping wine and planning shenanigans. She lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, weird dog and out of work treadmill.
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