Page 59 of Guarded By the Reaper

I knelt down and pulled her into a hug. “Thank you for understanding. I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” she mumbled into my shoulder. Then she pulled back, excitement returning to her face. “Can Lady Mews come outside with me?”

I glanced at the cat, who was watching us with curious eyes. “Okay, but be careful with her. She’s still not fully recovered from her surgery. No climbing trees, alright?”

Elysia nodded eagerly. “I promise!” She scooped up Lady Mews, who meowed in protest but didn’t struggle. “Come on, Lady Mews. Let’s go explore!”

As they headed for the door, I called out, “Remember, she’s still wobbly on her back foot. Keep an eye on her!”

“I will!”

I turned back to Grim, who had been watching the scene with an unreadable expression.

“What?” I asked, suddenly self-conscious.

He shook his head. “Nothing. It’s just... You’re amazing with her.”

I felt a pang in my chest. “Well, she makes it easy. She’s a great kid.”

Grim took a step closer, his dark cloak swirling around him. “Millie,” he said, his voice low and intense. “I–”

I didn’t let him finish. I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips to his. His lips were thin and cold, but I didn’t care. The kiss was soft at first, then grew more passionate. Iwrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. When we broke apart, Grim’s dark pits stared into my blue eyes. His bony hand cupped my cheek.

“Millie, I need to tell you something.”

My stomach fluttered with nerves. “What is it?”

“I want to be with you,” he said. “If you’ll have me.”

Joy burst through me like fireworks. “Of course I’ll have you,” I said, laughing. “I love you.”

But Grim’s expression remained serious. “You deserve so much more,” he said. “I’m just a bag of bones. I can’t offer you anything. You’re an heiress, Millie. You could have anyone, anything you want.”

I stepped back. “Stop,” I said. “Just stop right there.”

Grim looked taken aback. “What?”

“Grim, if I have learned anything in this life, it’s that material things aren’t important if you can’t share them with the ones you love.” I thought about Elysia, about our parents, about everything we’d been through. “Money and wealth didn’t cure my sister. It didn’t save my life. So please, stop talking about my financial situation like it matters more than how I feel about you.”

Grim was silent for a moment, his dark pits studying me. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I just... I want you to be happy.”

I reached out and took his bony hand in mine. “You make me happy,” I said. “Happier than I’ve been in a long time. Isn’t that enough?”

He squeezed my hand gently. “It’s more than enough,” he said. “I love you, Millie. More than I thought possible.”

My heart swelled with emotion. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him again, pouring all my feelings into it.

“Come on,” I said, tugging on his hand. “Let’s go upstairs.”

Grim hesitated. “What about Elysia?”

I glanced out the window, where I could see Elysia playing with Lady Mews in the garden.

“She’ll be fine for a little while. We deserve some time alone, don’t you think?”

A slow smile spread across Grim’s face. “Lead the way,” he said.

Oh, I was going to lead him... right where I wanted him.

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