Page 81 of Dark Witch: Twin Destinies

Larissa would be the hardest one to part with, and the one Marina's departure would impact most. They hadn't been as close back in Igor's compound, but since moving to Safe Haven and rooming together, they had become as close as sisters.

At least it wouldn't be a surprise. Larissa knew it was coming, and she supported Marina's decision.

"Is there anything I need to sign?" she asked.

"No." Eleanor smiled. "You are free to go. I'm sure you want to share the good news with Peter."

"I do." Marina pushed to her feet. "Thank you again for doing this for us."

"It was my pleasure. I owe Peter more than I could repay with just this one gesture. He was there for me when I needed him."

Peter had told her about his time with Eleanor and Leon in Safe Haven and what Emmett had done to them after Leon had left with Anastasia. It was such a bizarre story that she'd thought he had exaggerated it, but Eleanor was not the type to express gratitude for just any minor favor. What Peter had done for her must have been major.

62

PETER

When Peter stepped into the bungalow, the silence that greeted him was an unpleasant surprise, and the sight of the half-prepared breakfast heightened his unease.

Marina and the housekeeping staff didn't have work today, so it wasn't like she needed to step in for someone who got sick. The last retreat ended on Friday, and the housekeeping crew spent all of Saturday cleaning up and preparing the lodge for the next retreat, which was about to start on Monday.

Maybe something had happened to one of her friends?

No, she would have called him if that was the case. She had probably made a quick run to the kitchen to pick up some ingredients she needed to finish making breakfast or something she planned to cook for lunch, and she would be back in no time.

Taking off his holster, Peter hung it in the closet and returned to the kitchen to finish what Marina had started.

He chopped the remaining vegetables, heated the skillet, added a pat of butter, and watched as it sizzled and foamed in the pan. The aroma of browning vegetables filled the air, mingling with the rich scent of the coffee that still sat untouched on the counter.

Just as he was about to heat the half-cooked eggs, the sound of the door bursting open made him jump, his hand automatically reaching for the weapon that was no longer at his hip. But before he could process that, he registered who was barreling toward him, and he had just enough time to turn off the stove before he found himself with an armful of Marina, her face flushed with excitement and her eyes shining with joy.

"Whoa, what's got you so excited, love?"

Marina pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. "My transfer was approved," she said, the words tumbling out in a rush. "We can leave for the village on Wednesday as soon as the new team of Guardians arrives."

Peter felt a rush of relief wash over him.

Pulling Marina close, he buried his face in the soft curve of her neck and breathed in her sweet, familiar scent. "I'm so happy for us. I can't wait to show you all the wonders of living near a big city. We can go out to restaurants, the movies, theater, musicals, whatever you can imagine can be yours."

He felt Marina stiffen in his arms. "I'm pretty sure that Kian won't allow me to leave the village whenever I want."

She might be right if she was just a regular transfer, but she would be accompanied by a Guardian.

"Having a Guardian for a boyfriend comes with some privileges. With me taking responsibility for you, Kian won't object to your excursions out of the village."

His words had the effect he had hoped for, and her shoulders relaxed. "Having a boyfriend who is a Guardian is a privilege." She stretched on her toes, kissed him, and then chuckled. "It's not enough that we will be the first and only human-immortal pair in the village; we will be doubly scrutinized because you are part of the force."

"We wouldn't be the first. There were others before us."

"Right." She smiled sadly. "When one of them was a Dormant, waiting to be induced to transition, but that's not going to happen to me. I'm going to stay a human no matter what, and your people might look down on our relationship because of that."

Peter's heart clenched at the fear and vulnerability in her voice, the way her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. He hated seeing her like this, hated the thought that anyone or anything could make her feel less than the incredible, beautiful, absolutely perfect woman she was.

"Listen to me, Marina." He cupped her face in his hands and stared into her eyes. "Instead of the possible negatives, we should focus on the positives. We're going to be trailblazers, and in more ways than one." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

Marina's eyes widened. "What do you mean?" she asked, her head tilting to the side in that adorable way that always made his heart skip a beat. "In what other way are we trailblazers?"

Peter chuckled. "Forgive me. I've misspoken. I forgot about Brundar and his kinky club when I thought that we would be the only couple with divergent proclivities. It's just that Brundar keeps it on the down low, and not many know about it."

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