Page 89 of A Touch of Flame
He felt Maeve squeeze his hand. He glanced at her and saw that though tears once more touched her eyes, she was smiling.
We did it, Maeve. We did it together.
She nodded.Yes, we did.
~ ~ ~
Maeve celebrated with the wolves and all the residents of the Landing. Chef and her staff kept preparing food and sending it to the communal outdoor area. Nearly everyone in the complex, including Kiara, now bundled up in a wheelchair, enjoyed the fires that lit up the large patio.
The space had expanded over the months. Maeve had bought up more property from her booming candle business to accommodate how the shifters enjoyed celebrating life. Their enthusiasm was infectious. Even the somber vampires could be caught smiling and laughing.
More than once, the wolves hoisted her on their shoulders and spun her around. She might have used levitation to keep from falling more than once since a lot of beer was being imbibed. But she loved it.
As soon as they would put her down, they’d pick up Braden again. She’d never seen him look so happy.
Knowing that Veyda could never hurt anyone again, kept her spirits floating. She felt tremendous relief that the woman who’d killed Frank and Laura was now dead.
Her gaze often went to Braden. He stuck close to the wolves and howled until he was hoarse. She was surrounded by many of her rescues who shouted often, no matter thealterspecies. The demise of such an evil force in Five Bridges would be long remembered.
Braden broke away from the pack often just to come to her. He even kissed her a few times, which made her think either he was drunk and had forgotten the terrible thing she’d done, or somewhere in the past hour or so, he’d forgiven her.
She wasn’t counting on the latter. She fully expected him to come down from the high of victory, and remember the truth. He’d promised vengeance on everyone involved in his wife’s murder.
She saw Kiara sitting quietly apart from the group near the low stone sitting wall. Alfonso was nearby in case Kiara needed him.
The recent victim of Veyda’s vile torture had a peaceful smile on her lips. With Braden howling anew near the grills, she joined her friend and mentor.
She leaned down and kissed Kiara on the cheek, then sat on the wide stone edge of the low wall, near her mentor’s wheelchair. She told Alfonso she’d see to Kiara and to take a few minutes to enjoy himself.
When he joined the others, Maeve extended her hand to Kiara. She took it readily and gave a squeeze. “Your wolves are ecstatic.”
“No less so than myself. She’s dead, Kiara. The woman who tortured you can’t hurt you or anyone else ever again.”
“I know and my heart is so full of joy and we owe it all to your vigilance and dedication. You’ve accomplished many good things here, Maeve. Amazing things. From the time you arrived in Five Bridges, you’ve done nothing but make our world a better place. Thank you.”
Maeve felt her cheeks warm up. She didn’t know how to respond to the sincere compliment. She hadn’t set out to be a world-changer. She’d only done what needed doing. She was practical in that way. “I suppose I could say ‘you’re welcome’, but it doesn’t seem right somehow.”
“You’re not one for compliments.”
“No, I guess I’m not. So, how are you doing?”
Kiara took a deep breath. “I don’t know. I intend to book some time with your resident therapist. Some serious time. I think all the women you brought out of that place will need help recovering.”
“I’ll see what I can do to add to my staff for the time-being.”
“Hey. I didn’t mean to complicate your to-do list.”
Maeve turned and met her gaze dead on. “You, and the women we rescued, are not part of a to-do list. Ever. You’re people I care about. You’re my priority.”
Kiara smiled but tears filled her eyes. She shifted her gaze to the throng of revelers. “Speaking of priorities, is Braden now yours as well?”
Maeve glanced sideways at him. He’d shaken up a bottle of beer and sprayed it over Greg. The latter set to howling anew. Two of the shifters had gone full-on fur and were racing around the large patio. Maeve knew she would never shift, not like a true wolf, but she felt the instincts inside her now, a result of being with Braden and of having alpha capacity. “I suspect he’s headed back to Savage now that he’s fulfilled his mission.”
“Somehow, I doubt that. The Landing wolves are about an inch away from bonding with him.”
She turned back to Kiara. “Do you think so?”
“I do.”
