Page 102 of Fate of Echoes and Embers
“Is no reason to stay abed.”
“Issa—”
“Adren has agreed to inherit Hawthorne Manor, accepting his rightful claim through his grandmother.”
With that, we were no longer speaking of my bodily injuries.
“You would… when did you…”
I had never seen Marek struggle to find words before.
“I thought it would be difficult to fulfill my duties as Lady of Hawthorne Manor fromTidechaser.”
He looked at Edric. And then Adren. And then back to me.
“Come,” Edric said. “You’ll be wanting a tour of the manor, my lord.”
Adren was about to argue the use of his title, so I offered him some advice. “You will become accustomed to it. Accept the title. It is a small boon for the troubles you will face.”
“Do not scare our new lord from his duties already, my lady,” Edric argued. “If you will.” He gestured for Adren to walk ahead of him. It would take some time for him to become accustomed to the new role. We watched them disappear into the courtyard.
Marek pulled me toward him, covering my mouth with his. It was a hungry, all-encompassing kiss that left me barely able to stand when he finally pulled away. His lips, still wet. His eyes, desire-filled. But there was something else there too.
Disbelief.
“I thought of it not long after he told us his story,” I said. “Immediately dismissing the idea, not prepared to leave Hawthorne. But when Draven had me… Marek, I love you. As painful as it will be to walk away from this place, I’ve no doubt watching you leave would be tenfold more painful than that.”
“I’ll admit, I thought of Adren as well, but I wanted you to decide for yourself.”
“And I have. I choose you. I choose adventure and freedom and the sea.”
Marek crossed his arms, his eyes narrowed. “Do you only choose me forTidechaser? Will I return to the ship one day to see you sailing off with it?”
“Perhaps,” I teased. “If you do not construct a bigger bed in the captain’s cabin, I will be forced to take it over. Oh, and the emergency provisions… there is much we need to discuss.”
In response, Marek scooped me up into his arms and began to carry me through the courtyard.
“People are looking,” I whispered, wiggling to get down. “What are you doing?”
“You know precisely what I’m doing, as do they.”
“Marek!”
“Unless, of course, you truly are more injured than you claim.”
Mortified, I buried my head into his shoulder, giggles following us, my people likely as mortified as me.
“My head is fine,” I mumbled. “My wrist is sore.”
“You won’t need your wrist.”
Carrying me into the keep, Marek did not pause as he took the stone steps to my chamber by two. I wanted to continue to berate him for the display… but I wanted him more.
The way he snatched me from the courtyard, I expected a frenzied tangle of kisses and limbs, but it was just the opposite. He put me down, but didn’t let go. Instead, Marek held my face between his hands in a way he never had before.
“I’m sorry that I left you, Issa. I’m sorry I didn’t have the courage to love you when we first met or later in The Moonlit Current. I will remain thankful each and every day that you’ve given me a second chance. You’ve sacrificed what you love most, for me, and I will never forget that.”
I looked into his eyes. “I didn’t, Marek. I love you most. I promised to take care of the people of Hawthorne, and they’re now in the hands of someone strong and honorable. I’ve fulfilled the promise to my father. And now I live for me. For us.”
