Page 50 of Rage of the Fallen

Exhaustion washed over me, and I longed for the comfort of my own bed. I leaned into Justice’s strong shoulder, seeking support in his embrace. He gazed down at me with concern etched on his face. “Are you all right?” he asked softly.

The weight of the past year bore down on me, and I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. “I’m tired,” I admitted with a shaky voice. “I think it’s time to go home.” As much as I loved Scotland, a sense of homesickness tugged at my heartstrings.

“Yeah, ‘cause nothing says good times like almost getting killed. Let’s hit the road already,” Damon muttered with a smirk.

Justice’s fingers curled under my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his intense stare. “I can grant you that wish,” he murmured before closing the distance between us. His lips were soft and warm against mine, and I couldn’t help but lean into him, losing myself in the sensation of his touch. All thoughts faded away, leaving only him and me in this moment.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

A WEEK LATER

My bags were packed, and it was time to return to Colorado. I missed the mountains and my home. Scotland would always hold a place in my heart, but I was weary and wanted to be bored for a while.

No hunting.

No travels.

No adventures.

I stood on the worn wooden porch, watching the imposing silhouette of Edinburgh Castle that loomed in the distance. The ancient stones held centuries of history and secrets within their walls. As I lost myself in the grandeur of the castle, Justice’s familiar scent enveloped me. He appeared by my side, his arm encircling my waist and pulling me close to his broad chest.

“Are you going to miss this place?” he asked.

I nodded, but my heart was already longing for home. “I will, but I’m ready to go back. I want to be ordinary for a while.”

A smile tugged at his lips as he turned me to face him. His dark eyes held love and amusement. “You’ll never be ordinary,” he insisted, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re special, and you have my heart.”

My heart swelled with warmth at his words, reminding me again why I loved this man with every fiber of my being.

Damon sauntered out onto the porch, his easy grin belying the seriousness of the conversation we were about to have. “Am I interrupting something?” he asked, his deep voice tinged with amusement.

I laughed, knowing full well he had orchestrated this “chance” encounter. “You love these little interruptions, don’t you?”

“Guilty as charged.” He shrugged. “But in this case, it’s good news. I just got off the phone with Zara, and she’s one happy camper. After we sent Maci and her posse a one-way ticket to hell, her sister isn’t a lifeless statue anymore. None of the people trapped in that cursed forest are.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of those innocent lives freed from their nightmare. “That’s fantastic.”

Damon’s expression grew serious again. “And there’s more. Garrick reached out to Sean, and his kingdom is no longer crawling with the undead. His men are back to their normal selves.”

A wave of relief crashed over me like a cool ocean spray. Everything that Maci had destroyed was finally being healed and restored.

Then, Damon’s voice broke through my thoughts, and his words caught me off guard. Tears glistened in his eyes as he spoke. “I also have the best news of all,” he stated. “Dad’s no longer in a coma. He’s meeting us at the airport. He wants to know all the details of what happened.”

Justice groaned. “Great, just what I need. A big, happy reunion.”

I tried to inject some humor into the tense moment. “Hey, you said it yourself. I’m not boring.”

Damon gave him a sharp glare. “Who said you were boring?”

“I did,” I admitted with a wry smile. “Or at least, I wish I could be boring sometimes. Have a normal life for once.”

“You mean give up hunting?” Damon asked.

I sighed. “I don’t know, Damon. But I could use a vacation.” I drew my finger along Justice’s chest. “Maybe I need some downtime.”

Justice’s hand clasped mine, and he tenderly kissed my finger. My heart skipped a beat, wondering what he had in store.

“Maybe have a wedding?” His eyes sparkled as he reached into his back pocket and produced a small black box. He knelt on one knee. “Sawyer Grant, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

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