Page 74 of Finn's Solace

I laughed, then started driving toward our place, the grin still on my face.

Finn mumbled something, and I glanced over at him. "I didn't catch that."

"Dhal. That's your new pet name."

I pursed my lips, unsure if he was still teasing or being sincere. "Is that Hindi?" I'd been meaning to ask Jai if he would direct me toward some resources to learn his language since Finn knew it too, but I hadn't managed to find the time yet.

"Yeah." Finn took my free hand in his, then placed a kiss on my knuckles. "It means shield."

My heart skipped a beat, and I had to park on the shoulder to avoid causing an accident.

"Finn, that's..." I shook my head, then leaned over to kiss him. I'd happily be his dhal for the rest of our lives, because he was someone worth cherishing and protecting.

Epilogue

Two Weeks Later

Finn

I flipped the coin between my fingers, unable to let go of it. I'd found it a while ago while unpacking some of my older stuff, and after my last therapy session, I'd dug it out of the cabinet and been unable to put it away.

"What's that?" Levi asked as he climbed into bed beside me, and I moved closer to him, turning so I could snuggle into his chest. I handed the coin over to him, and he rubbed his thumb over the smooth, silver surface.

"Remember the man I told you about, the one who rescued us and brought us to Mistvale?" Levi nodded, and my eyes slid to the coin in his hand as I thought back to the day everything had changed. "He gave one of those to each of us. He said that if we were ever scared or in trouble, all we had to do was holdthat coin and think of him or call his name, and he would be here."

"Did you ever use it?"

I smiled, then shook my head. "I thought I would have to. I kept it on me for a long time, switching it from pocket to pocket after every shower, putting it under my pillow when I went to bed. I think it took me a whole year before I accepted that my dads really were good people. Then I put the coin in a drawer, and it stayed there until now."

Levi pressed a kiss on top of my head, then handed the coin back to me. "What made you take it out now?"

"My last session with Dr. Griffin, we were talking about the past, and I said something about wanting to thank Max for saving me. They reminded me of the coin. I hadn't even remembered the coin, much less telling them about it, until they mentioned it."

"Do you want to call him over then? To say thank you?"

"Is that crazy?"

Levi shook his head, then nudged my chin until I glanced up at him. While I was taller than him, I preferred lying like this when we were in bed. It made me feel smaller, protected. "It's not crazy at all. I think it would make him happy."

"Yeah?"

Levi nodded, and I smiled. "It's late, so I'll call him up tomorrow. Will you be there with me when he comes?"

"Of course. I want to thank him too."

Every time I thought I couldn't love him more, he said something to make me rethink my stance. I placed the coin on the nightstand, then leaned up to press my lips to his, and before long, I forgot all about the coin, Maximus, and everything else.

"Maximus, are you there? I need to talk to you," I murmured, my fist tight around the coin, my other hand in Levi's. The coin got warmer in my hand, silver light slipping out between my fingers, and between one moment and the next, Maximus was in front of me, a sword in his right hand.

He scanned the area around us, but when it was clear it was just me, Levi, and Greta in the backyard, Maximus slid his sword back into its sheath.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I said when I found my voice, then ducked my head sheepishly. "Sorry, I should've mentioned there was no danger.”

Maximus waved me off, then glanced curiously between me and Levi. He was a handsome man, tall with a warrior's build, short black hair, and kind, honey-brown eyes. He was dressed in practically the same outfit as last time, dark pants, dark shirt,with a belt holding his sword and a bunch of wicked-looking daggers. Always ready for a fight, wasn't he? He hadn't changed at all, but that wasn't really strange for a supe.

"It's okay," he assured me, and I smiled.

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