Page 84 of Ties of Legacy

The joy on Elliot’s behalf was strong, of course, as well as relief that the immediate crisis was averted. But her promise to help free him from the lamp had been the only bond left between them, the only tie holding them together beyond Bolivere. And he had just achieved it on his own.

“What now?” she whispered, looking up at him, her heart in her eyes.

He stepped closer, drawing her into his arms despite the men who still remained nearby.

“Now, I’m free,” he murmured, staring into her eyes before his gaze dropped to her lips.

Those two words had been a dirge in her mind, but he transformed them into a victory shout and a confession. Nothing had ever sounded sweeter.

He lowered his head to hers, and her breath caught as his lips hovered just above hers. He spoke, the words causing his mouth to brush against hers in the lightest of touches.

“I’m all yours now, Avery.”

She rose onto her toes, pressing her lips hard against his. He responded instantly, tightening his hold on her waist and deepening the kiss.

The old ties that had bound them were gone, but new ones wove around them as their lips joined, the new ones weaving through their hearts.

Chapter 29

Elliot

Elliot pulled away from the kiss reluctantly. Distant sounds of cursing and movement reached his ears, suggesting Corbett’s men were dragging Rene back. Sadly, he couldn’t keep kissing Avery indefinitely.

Rene reappeared, each arm held firmly in the grip of a grim-looking townsman. Elliot gazed at the man who was apparently his father’s younger brother and tried to think of him as Uncle Clarence. He failed. Rene looked every inch the rough and unprincipled mercenary he had first appeared to be.

“This has proven an unexpected morning,” Corbett said with bemusement. “I won’t even attempt to comment on…” He cleared his throat and looked uncomfortably away from Elliot and Avery’s embrace. “That.”

Elliot laughed. “You weren’t expecting the expedition to the cave to include any declarations of love, Corbett? I can’t imagine why not.”

From the corner of his eye, he caught Avery glowing up at him, and he barely restrained himself from kissing her again.

“I don’t pretend to understand most of what’s just happened,” Corbett said, “but it seems obvious that you were protecting Bolivere when you handed your family’s legacy andinheritance over to me. I hope you know that I stand ready to return it, as is only right. I won’t hold you to your words.”

“Don’t say that!” Elliot said promptly, surprised at how easily the words came out.

He had felt the ties cut the moment he had verbally handed everything over to Corbett—his tie to the lamp and by extension Avery, and his tie to the home he had only just rediscovered. And in that moment, he had seen his own heart clearly. The only tie he had truly grieved was his lost bond to Avery. And that was a bond he could take back up by choice.

“What are you doing, Elliot?” Avery whispered. “Bolivere is your home.”

Elliot smiled fondly down at her. From the enthusiasm of her kiss, he knew she shared his feelings, and yet even so, she was arguing against her own interests, consumed by worry for him.

“Bolivere is my roots,” he said. “And roots are important. When I tried to pull them out, I was left alone and untethered. But the stability those roots provide comes from my history. I don’t need to stay bound by them in order for them to feed my future. The manor will always be my childhood home, but it’s not my current home. I don’t want to settle down and live there forever.”

He smiled across at Corbett. “There’s already a family there giving the manor new life.”

“But Elliot,” Avery murmured, “are you sure? All you’ve wanted all this time is to settle down.”

Elliot shook his head. “No, what I wanted was a home. And I’ve finally realized that what I want isn’t to wake up every morning in the same place. That was just the consolation prize because I didn’t have what my heart actually craved—a person who truly knows and loves me. Bolivere isn’t my home any longer, Avery, you are. And wherever my home goes, that’s where I want to be.”

Avery’s eyes turned moist as her heart shone through on her face, even while she seemed to struggle to absorb his words.

“Do you really mean that?” she murmured. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure about anything.” He shifted, turning fully toward her and wrapping his arms around her.

But before he could lower his head to hers again, Corbett cleared his throat. “I think once was enough for all of us,” he said dryly.

“Don’t tell me I missed it!” Mattie cried, puffing slightly as she strode from between the trees. “I sleep inone time, and I miss everything.” She surveyed the gathered people with interest, her gaze skimming over the able-bodied warriors and her brows rising as she saw Rene being dragged away by two of them. But her attention didn’t settle until her eyes rested on Avery inside Elliot’s arms. She smiled smugly, making Avery step back and put a little distance between them.

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