When all was done and the queen had vanished, Silvan went in search of Nellie.
He had so much to tell her, yet first, there was an entirely different matter weighing heavily on his mind. In that moment he’d thought he was dying, he’d realized what a fool he’d been. He had to try. He had to at least offer, and let Nellie choose whether or not she wanted him forever.
He found her in their bedchamber, fluffing the pillows, preparing for bed. In his eyes, there was no woman more beautiful. In his heart, there was none more perfect.
“Nellie,” he said softly.
She glanced up and smiled. It was a smile that said she loved him, a smile that beckoned him to join her in their bed.
Hurrying to her side, he plucked the pillow from her hand and tossed aside. He wanted her full attention.
And now that he had it, he found himself unaccountably nervous. He cleared his throat. He’d prepared, he’d rehearsed a dozen times what he was going to say, but now that the moment had come, now that he was gazing into her lovely eyes, it all seemed to have fled his mind. He ended up beginning rather badly.
“I’m going to die before you,” he said flatly.
Nell gave a little snort of laughter and patted him reassuringly. “Och, Silvan, where do ye come up with yer—”
“Hush.” He laid a gentle finger against her lips and kept it there.
Her eyes widened and she gazed at him inquiringly.
“The odds that I will die before you, Nellie, are significant. I would not have you grieve me. I ne’er offered my first wife the binding vows because she was not my mate, and I knew it. I ne’er offered them to you because you are my mate, and I knew it.” He paused, searching for the right words. Her eyes were huge and round and she’d gone very still.
“That is without a doubt the most discombobulated bit of logic ye’ve e’er spouted, Silvan,” she finally whispered against his finger.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving you alone, bound to me.”
She took his finger from her lips and slipped her hand into his. “I could bear any number of years, Silvan, if I know we’ll meet again.”
“Do you mean that? Truly?”
“How could ye doubt it? Have I not shown ye my love?”
Och, in so many ways, he thought, exhilarated. And it was nigh time he show her his. Gently, Silvan placed his hand between her breasts, above her heart, and rested his other above his own. “Place your hands atop mine.”
She glanced down at his hand and her eyes narrowed. “What happened to yer ring?”
“ ’Tis no band of simple metal that holds us together, Nellie. ’Tis something far greater than that. As to what happened to my ring, I gave it to the queen of the Tuatha Dé Danaan when she came and told me Dageus was alive and well, and free at last.”
“What?” Nellie gasped.
“I’ll tell you all anon.” Silvan said impatiently. Now that he’d made up his mind to take the binding vows, he was desperate for her answer. He didn’t want to waste another moment. He was frantic to claim her, lest something awful happen, like his heart give out before he could complete the vows. “Will you be saying the words after me, lass?”
“Och, life with ye is ne’er simple, is it?” she exclaimed. Then she smiled radiantly. “Aye, Silvan. I’ll be saying the words.”
Silvan’s voice was firm and deep. “If aught must be lost . . .”
“So, how does one marry a Druid?” Chloe asked breathlessly. She couldn’t stop touching him, couldn’t believe that he was alive, that she had him back and everything had worked out.
With a finger beneath her chin, he tipped her face up for a soft kiss. “It’s fairly simple, really. You nearly did it once,” he said, flashing her a smile. A smile that fully reached his golden eyes, filling them with warmth. A smile that promised heated lovemaking the moment they completed his Druid rites. And she was definitely in need of some heated lovemaking. She felt as if she might burst from happiness.
His words penetrated a bit belatedly. She frowned, perplexed. “I did?”
“Aye.” He placed one hand over her heart, the other over his own. “Place your hands atop mine, lass.”
When she complied, he kissed her again, this time slow and sweet, holding her lower lip hostage for a long, delicious moment. Then he said, “Repeat after me, love.”
She nodded, her eyes sparkling.
“If aught must be lost, ’twill be my honor for yours . . .”
“I am Given,” Nellie said, blinking back tears. Emotion swelled inside her, crashing through her like an ocean wave, and she might have fallen to her knees had Silvan not caught her in his arms.