Page 64 of Unforgivable Fate

“See, the thing is, you say that… but you also told me that we were never going to be together when I first got here.”

“I didn’t say that.” She huffed.

“Fine. You implied it. Multiple times if I remember right?” He snorted.

“But I never said it, not out loud, not to you.” She shrugged, “Because deep down I knew that no matter how hard I fought, you were my fated mate. I could try to push you away, try to drive you away, but I think I always knew we’d end up right here anyway, even without my visions to guide me.”

“Fate’s a powerful thing.” He agreed.

“Yes.” Nova nodded, “Yes she is and now that I have you, now that I have my visions back and they’re more powerful than ever before, I think I’ve learned that I should never, ever, doubt her again.”

“Such a smart mate I have.” Griffin murmured, leaning forward to brush his lips over hers.

She smiled against his lips, “I used to say, you can’t fight fate, but I don’t think I ever realized just how right I was.”

“Oh you can fight it.” Griffin nipped at her bottom lip, “And you certainly tried to. But fate doesn’t like to lose.”

“No, she doesn’t. And she’s not afraid to play the long game either.” Nova caught his face between her hands and met his gaze, “Everything that happened to us. Maddox murdering your family. Coming here and trying to ruin mine. Everything that he did, I believe now that destruction was just part of his destiny, that he was a weapon fate wielded to force the paths she wanted for us into place.. It’s hard to blame him for it knowing that now.”

“I can still hate him though.” Griffin frowned.

“Absolutely you can. But you don’t have to, and I think that’s what I’ve learned through all of this.”

“You have a big heart, Nova DeLuca. I’m glad it’s mine.”

“Me too.” She wrapped her arms around him.

“Speaking of my family…” Griffin leaned his forehead against hers, “I meant what I said to Tyrell. I’m not a Clary anymore. I don’t want anything to do with that name so, if it’s okay with you, and if it’s okay with Leo, I'd like to take your name when we get married.”

Nova’s smile was so bright it rivaled the sun overhead, “You want to be a DeLuca?”

“I do.” He nodded. “I want you to keep your name and I want our children to have your family name because they’re the family that will be there for them. The Clary’s have done nothing but hurt and destroy while the DeLuca’s have united and built this pack and the entire shifter community into something better. I want us to be DeLuca’s but if Leo doesn’t…”

“Oh screw Leo.” Nova tackled him to the grass. “He’ll say yes but even if he doesn’t, we don’t need his permission. It’s my last name too and I’m more than happy to share it with you.”

“And all four of our kids?”

Nova cackled with laughter as he rolled her to her back, looming over her, “I told you. Two. Anything more than two we’ll have to discuss at a later date.”

“I can work with that.” He grinned and then swooped down to take her lips with his.

He kissed her softly, slowly, enjoying the way she sighed and melted at his touch. He would never get tired of this. Never. He was certain that he would want her with this intense, insatiable need for the rest of their lives and the thought thrilled him.

“Griffin.” Nova sighed his name as he moved his lips down her neck.

“Hmm?” he hummed, licking one pert little nipple.

“I want you.”

“I always want you, sweetheart.”

“Now.” She dug her fingernails into his biceps hard enough to sting. “I want you now.”

He smiled against the shallow hollow between her breasts, “I thought you wanted to shower first.”

“I changed my mind.” A quick intake of air accompanied him sliding his hand up her thigh to cup her mound. “I want you to make love to me. Here. Now.”

He groaned because he knew that she was well aware what that word did to him. It still felt so new and he hoped that lasted forever too. The way his heart swelled with pride when she told him she loved him was enough to make him give her anything she wanted.

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