"What have you done, witch?" he asks gruffly.

"Saved the world. Duh," I reply and bury my face into his shoulder. "I'm so happy to be here. I'm so happy you're alive! I couldn't bear it if you weren't."

He lifts my chin and I meet his gaze. His eyes are dark blue, like the oceans, glimmering with purples, greens, and blues. The fog is gone from his realm and from him.

I want to sing at the top of my lungs. Instead I wait while he searches my face, a tiny spark of self-doubt creeping in at the silence. "You did it. You saved your realm," I say in the thick silence.

"Aye. 'Tis so," he agrees softly, amused. "'Twould be naught without my heart." The skin around his eyes warms.

I grin, not caring how dorky I look, no longer interested in trying to hide what I feel and think from the world. Cupping his stubble-roughened cheeks with my hands, I kiss him lightly on the lips and drop back onto flat feet. "I still get to be your queen, right? You didn't change your mind?"

"Never," he says fiercely, a familiar light flaring in his eyes. "You became my queen last night, witch, the heart of Black Moon Draw, and the only woman I will ever take to my bed."

My god. No words.

"In a fortnight, you will meet your new subjects," he continues. Releasing me, he stoops to sweep me up in his arms.

"Why so long?" I ask.

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"Because I do not plan to let you leave my bed before then."

I giggle, eyes drinking in his planed features as exhilaration flies through my system. The feminine side of me is already in a puddle, the primal need to belong to and claim this man until I can't speak, walk, or think strong enough that I'm glad he's carrying me. I gaze up at him with no short amount of awe and gratitude.

I really do get my happily-ever-after.

"What say you, witch?" he growls.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"Thank me with your legs open." Grunting, he hefts me over one shoulder.

I laugh and then begin to weep, the lightness in my heart too great for me to contain any longer.

Like him, I'm home at last.




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