Page 99 of The Outcast
“But the wounds?”
“Are temporary and covered. Your beautiful hair will grow back but even if it doesn’t, I’ll still find you the most beautiful woman in the world.
I rolled down to my side, and we kissed again. In that moment nothing on my body hurt. All I could focus on were Banni’s full lips, his tongue playing with mine, and his hand cupping my face.
“Sparrow.”
“Hm?”
“Are you sure you really want me?”
I gave a soft chuckle. “Now more than ever. I’m so far gone in my love for you that I can’t imagine ever loving someone else.”
He was quiet for a while and then he said, “It still blows my mind though. Every time I see you my heart acts in a way it’s never done before. It’s the way you look at me across a room like I’m special.”
“Youarespecial.”
Banni took my hand and placed his head on the pillow. “What do you think your family will say when we tell them?”
“I’m hoping they’ll be happy for us.”
“You should prepare yourself that they might not like it. I’m a foreigner and we French have a bad reputation here.” Banni’s eyelids were drooping and he yawned.
“You were up all night. Get some sleep.”
“You sure?” His voice was drowsy. “We can talk more if you want.”
I smiled and stroked my finger down across his nose. “Sleep,ma chérie, you did amazing.”
With his eyes closed, he smiled. “You can’t sayma chérieto a man. You have to saymon chéri.”
“Who says that?”
“My teacher back in France.” Banni’s breathing slowed as he drifted off with the softest of smiles on his handsome face.
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CHAPTER 33
Archer’s Warning
Banni
I was nervous when Sparrow and I flew to her parents’ home at the school on Victoria’s Island. The buildings were nestled in between tall trees with a soccer field and trails leading to the nearby lake. Just as with the first time I saw this place from above, it looked like something from a fairy tale. To us French, nature was a limited resource. Except for a few overcrowded parks, people didn’t have access to nature. As an Explorer, I was one of the few who got to leave the fenced-in safe area. But even for me, there was a big difference between the nature I experienced in Old Europe and here. At home we were in the wilderness to work while here nature provided a playground.
Students gathered when our drone landed, and they welcomed Sparrow with an outpouring of love. She still had a scarf wrapped around her head but at least she walked with less pain now.
Kya came rushing from one of the school buildings and hugged Sparrow tight. “Are you well enough to come home and stay?”
I was carrying Sparrow’s bags and smiled at Kya when she greeted me.
“That’s so nice of you to bring Sparrow home, Banni. Do you need help with the bags?”
“I’m good.”
Kya promised the students that they could see Sparrow later, but first she wanted her daughter a little to herself. From Sparrow’s smile, I suspected that her mother’s favoritism healed something inside her.
It didn’t take long for Archer to join us as well. Her brothers still lived at home and the youngest, Aspen, came running from the house, picking Sparrow up in his arms and carrying her inside with a large grin on his face.
