Page 23 of Hallowed Tree
When he was done, Chance smiled warmly at him. “They were right, you know? You are the guardian, Harry. I don’t know what we’d do without you and your friendship.”
My man’s shape fluttered as his cheeks warmed with pleasure. Finally, after all these months, he was truly grasping his significance in all of our lives. When we were done here, I’d make sure that he really understood just how important he was to me.
“What do you think they meant about Kingston being the walker of dreams?” Skylar asked, sounding anxious on behalf of his crush.
Elyse’s tinkering laughter echoed around us. “Only time will tell.”
“But what do we do now?” Kingston asked. “There’s got to be more we can do than just sit and wait for the Hallowed Tree and those connected to determine our fate.” The big man’s gaze swung between us. “Right?”
Jetty nodded. “Absolutely.” He smiled at Chance. “I think you should lead us, babe.”
“Lead us in what?” Scotty hissed quietly to his brother, who shushed him and pointed at Chance.
Chance stood. “On behalf of mankind, let us thank the earth beneath our feet, the trees and the flowers, the fruits and veggies, the animals we’ve been given, and the stars in the sky. We can do our part to help heal our lands.”
“Will it be enough?” Kingston asked.
“All we can do is try,” Marc said.
The rest of us rose, encircling the fire, and held hands in unity. Chance led us with words of gratitude for all we’d been given, with Elyse adding her own messages of hope. There wasn’t a dry eye amongst the living by the time we concluded. Honestly, I was feeling a little misty-eyed myself. I felt like those amongst us with heartbeats had done humanity proud. I hoped the Hallowed Tree heard the words that had been spoken here.
When we were done, Skylar gripped Kingston’s bicep, making him stumble as he pulled him toward the house. “Time for you to get some sleep.”
“I was going to—”
Skylar yanked harder. “Nope. You’re practically dead on your feet.” He grimaced. “No offense, guys.”
Stevie waved him off. “None taken.”
Jetty took Chance’s hand and drew him toward their best friends. “Skylar’s right, Kingston. Come on, we’ll walk you back to the manor.”
“Maybe you should sleep here,” Chance added. They’d only made it a few more steps when he ran back and hugged first me, then Harry. “Thank you so much for figuring out what was happening with the oak, Mr. Harry. I’ve been a nervous wreck.”
Harry patted his back. “I’m sorry it wasn’t better news. I’m sure none of us were expecting it to be the potential destruction of the Earth. And call me Harry. We’re friends, after all.”
All jaws dropped, and Chance dove back in, hugging Harry even harder. “Family. All of us.”
Elyse spread her arms up into the sky. “Family.” Then it was her turn to wrap Harry in her arms. “Don’t you worry your pretty head about the tree again. I have a sneaking feeling it’ll all work out.”
Hm. She had an uncanny sixth sense, so if she was hopeful, I could be, too. Marc winked at me, shook my and Harry’s hands, then they trailed after Scotty and Stevie. Arm in arm, Harry and I followed behind them.
We were halfway back when he stopped, watching the bunny rabbit who’d adopted the gardens for its home hop by. He watched it until it was out of sight, smiling softly. It was the loveliest thing I’d ever seen.
“Would you like to come back to my room so I can completely debauch you?” I blurted.
Harry leaned into me. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Hell ya!
Harry
Instead of poofing us naked, Buck carefully removed every layer of my clothing, peppering open-mouthed kisses on every bit of skin he revealed. I’d never felt so exposed in my life. It was nerve-wracking and exhilarating. I wondered if this was why romance novels always talked about butterflies fluttering in the stomach.
Once I was naked, he swung me up in his arms and laid me across the mattress in his bedroom. I fought the urge to cover myself with a blanket or my hands and let him drink his fill.
“You’re so beautiful.”
“Thank you. Are you going to…” I asked shyly. I swirled my hand around, indicating that he should take his clothes off, too. Instead of the treatment he’d given me, his disappeared with a mere thought.
