Page 186 of Taken By Touch and Torment

“You sound so wise,” Jaxon teased with a crooked grin.

I glimpsed Snow covertly leading Uriah into my line of sight to check on me. I gave her a nod, a ritual we’d been practicing since I first started working at Odessa.

“I like this Scarlett,” he said. “You have a radiance in your eyes that burns brighter than I’ve ever seen. You look strong. Powerful, really.” He grinned. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”

“You too, Jaxon,” I said. “You seem healthy. Happy.”

Releasing the tension between us had lifted both of our shoulders, an air of nostalgic euphoria binding us together. Forgiveness was a powerful thing. Perhaps in time, I would find that same release with Isabella. Not that she would ever hear of it.

It would be a secret serenity I’d claim only for myself.

Because I deserved to live without a drop of resentment poisoning my heart—my heart that was too full of blinding love to hold anything else.

“Did you see the ocean?” I asked.

Jaxon’s eyes lit up.

“Tell me everything.”

My second surprise of the night was wearing a shimmering pink gown with white fur draped around her shoulders.

Rosalind had not one, but two shifter men on her arms. As soon as she spotted me, she abandoned the men where they stood.

I rose from the couch and embraced her. “Thank the gods.”

“We both know which goddess to thank,” Rosalind said with a wink.

We shared smiles of comradery, my unspoken secret binding us together forever.

“How did things go for you?” I asked. I’d heard she was safe, thanks to Rune’s network of mortals loyal to him in the born districts.

“Things didn’t go completely according to plan,” she said, a flicker of grief in her warm brown irises. “I saved as many as I could. And I’m going to use my born connections to keep fighting the good fight.”

I squeezed her hand. I smiled, overcome with pride at how far she’d come. How far we had both come.

“Sit with us,” I said.

We’d dragged chairs and couches together in a back drawing room where things were more private. I was sitting in Rune’s lap. Next to us were Jaxon and Sadie. Snow was perched on Uriah in a chair, and Imogene and Mason shared a love seat, Mason hilariously bashful as Imogene fawned over her.

Rosalind took a plush black chair across from the couch. She was looking around at the furnishings, the tasteful, classical beauty of Rune’s castle.

“This place is lovely,” Rosalind said.

“Thank you, Rosalind. I’m glad you could make it,” Rune said. He relaxed as soon as I was back in his lap, where I belonged. His smoky shadows crawled across my legs. “And thank you for protecting Scarlett in the castle.”

Uriah looked Rosalind’s way with a grin. “Heard you killed Liza.” He raised his glass.

“Did you really throw her out a window?” Mason asked, her lips tipping up.

Rosalind pointed my way with her own glass. “Scar was partially responsible for the window toss. She got a stab in, too. But, yes, Auntie Rosalind delivered the final blow. A highly coveted kill, I’m sure.”

Rune’s chest vibrated with a chuckle. “I’d say this whole castle is seething with jealousy.”

“Good,” Rosalind purred. “Just how I like it.”

I shot her a warning look, not entirely enjoying the way she was eyeing Rune. She tilted her head back with playful laughter. It was hard to stay mad at her.

“How many people did you end up stabbing, Trouble?” Uriah drawled.

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