Page 104 of Shiny Things

“I know, but this is different. It’s going to be okay.”

We headed down the elevator and over to my car, but he detoured me away from it to a black Mercedes.

“What’s this?”

“My car.”

“Wait, you have a car?”

“Of course I do, and an SUV in case of snow.”

“But I’ve only ever seen you ride your motorcycle. Even in the rain.”

He shrugged as he opened the door for me and took my hand, helping me inside. It made me feel even more special than the dress did.

Once I was settled, he walked around and let himself into the driver’s seat.

“Ready?”

“As ready as I’m ever going to be.”

He fired up the car and backed out. As he shifted to drive, he reached for my hand, linking our fingers together.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course. Ask me anything.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you planned to run for a seat on the Council?”

He cringed. “Who told you that?”

“Gia. But I should have heard it from you first.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to stress about it right now. We’ve had enough going on. Plus, it’s still a while before that could happen, and I could change my mind still.”

“You won’t.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because when you set your mind on something nothing can stop you. I’m pretty sure I’m a testament to that.”

He grinned and pulled our conjoined hands to him so he could kiss the back of my hand.

“You were worth the wait. I love you so much, and I’m sorry you heard it from Gia first. We should have talked about it. There’s a lot we still need to talk about.”

“I know. But I’m just worried that I’m going to drag you down when you go to run. You should have taken a more prominent mate if that was your ambition.”

As I said the words, a wave of nausea struck me hard, and my bird was squawking in my head in protest.

“Do you believe in true mates, Kim?”

“I do. Of course I do.”

“Then you know we were created for each other. Two halves of one whole. Yes, I chose you. Yes, I love you. Yes, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And my life wouldn’t have been better or easier with someone more prominent because they wouldn’t be you. I would have spent my whole life with a part of my soul missing without you. You make me whole. And if running for the Council isn’t what’s best for the both of us and our family, then I’ll pivot. Nothing is set in stone, and you will always be my number one priority. Okay?”

“How can I argue with that?”

My body was warm all over, and I realized he made me whole too.

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