Page 57 of Claimed By Midnight

"Oh, shut it." Raven punches his arm, though she has to reach up to do it. "Let her have her moment before you start in with that."

"Does this mean I get to skip training today?" I ask hopefully.

"Not a chance." Raven's grin turns wicked. "Now we have even more reason to make sure you can defend yourself. Can't have Uriel's mate being helpless, can we?"

But training doesn't last long. Soon, we are sprawled on the grass, snacks and drinks around us, and I can't stop smiling. I never thought I could have something so perfect.

"So, I was thinking black lace." Raven traces patterns in the air with her finger. "Right here, along the neckline, dipping low?—"

"My sister will murder me." I pick at the grass, imagining Astrid's face if she saw me in something that revealing.

Koros pulls a chunk of raw crystal from his satchel, the surface catching rainbows in the light. "What about these worked into the dress? I found them in the northern caves." His massive hands cradle the delicate stone with surprising gentleness. "They change color based on emotions. Could be interesting at a wedding."

"Perfect." Raven's violet eyes sparkle with mischief. "Everyone will know exactly how much you want Uriel to drag you away from the ceremony."

Heat floods my cheeks. "You're terrible."

"I'm practical." She shifts, stretching out her bad leg. "Speaking of practical, I found this gorgeous red silk. Very traditional for demon weddings?—"

"No." Koros's mismatched eyes narrow. "She needs white. Pure. It'll drive him crazy."

"Now who's terrible?" I throw a berry at him, but he catches it in his mouth, his usually stern face breaking into a grin.

"I could shape these into little stars." He holds up more crystals, these ones a deep blue. "Scatter them through your hair, maybe work them into a crown?—"

"With those hands?" Raven snorts. "You'll crush them."

"I'm gentle." He demonstrates by creating a perfect spiral from a piece of metal he pulls from his pocket, his huge fingers moving with surprising dexterity.

"The decorations need to be elegant but not stuffy." Raven taps her chin. "We want everyone talking about this for years. The great warrior Uriel, brought low by a tiny human who couldn't even reach his shoulder without standing on her toes."

"I'm not that short." But I can't help smiling, remembering how Uriel has to bend down to kiss me.

"You are adorable though." Raven reaches over to ruffle my honey-blonde curls. "Which is exactly why we need to make you look devastating. I'm thinking a slit up to here?—"

"Raven!" But I'm laughing, and even Koros joins in, his deep chuckle mixing with the afternoon breeze.

A warm breeze carries the scent of wild roses, and I lean back on my hands, letting the sun warm my face. Raven and Koros bicker about fabrics and crystals, their voices washing over me like a familiar song.

My heart feels so full. Like everything has finally clicked into place.

This is mine. My choice. Not Astrid protecting me, not Father guiding me, not the whispers of demon society telling me what a human should or shouldn't do. Just me, choosing love despite everything.

"What about—" Raven starts, but her voice fades as memories flood through me.

The first time I saw Uriel in my father's garden, golden curls catching the moonlight, wings spread wide as he grinned at me. The way he looked at me - not as a fragile human to be protected or pitied, but as someone he wanted. Even then, a part of me wanted him. Even if it was just attraction.

"Athena?" Koros's deep voice breaks through my thoughts. "You're crying."

I touch my cheek, finding it wet. "Happy tears." I brush them away quickly, but not before catching the gleam in his mismatched eyes. "Don't you dare tease me about getting soft."

"Wouldn't dream of it." But his scarred face splits into that rare, gentle smile that makes him look less like a warrior and more like the softie I know he is. "Though I might tell Uriel."

"You will not." I grab another berry to throw at him, but Raven snatches it mid-air.

"Save your ammunition." She pops it in her mouth, violet eyes dancing. "We need to focus. There's so much to plan, and—" She pauses, studying my face. "What's got you glowing like that?"

"I just realized this is the first time I've done something completely for myself. Not for anyone else. Just because I want it."

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