Leaving Exalos felt like the end of another chapter in my life. But how long was the book?
How many more chapters would I get?
***
Three days later, the bouncy carriage bounced its way across the capital’s border. Winter had come to Bremloc. Snow covered the land and made the road slushy.
My stomach was in knots as the dark wood came into view, the snowcapped trees stretching farther than the eye could see. We passed a farmhouse and a barn full of hay. Cows and other livestock. Farther along we trudged until the top of the bell tower in the marketplace appeared in the distance. A chilly breeze came through the open window, carrying a hint of salt water and the crispness of winter.
We’re almost home.
The anticipation rolled around inside me, and I could barely sit still. Just a few more miles. Rowan stirred from where he’d been asleep beside me and peered out the window. True to his word, he hadn’t used the shadows to escape during the journey. He’d stayed with me the entire time.
“Stop moving so much,” Rowan grumbled. “You’re making the already bouncy seat bounce even more.”
“Sorry. I’m just excited.”
Though faint, he smiled. “Eager to see your captain and Specs?”
“I love that you call Briar that. Makes me laugh.” I forced my legs to stop bouncing and tried to be still. It lasted all offive seconds before the anticipation and impatience had them moving again. “Can’t this thing go any faster?”
“You could always flee the carriage, steal one of the guard’s horses, and make a run for it. You’d get there faster on horseback. Oh, wait. This is you we’re talking about. Never mind.”
I lightly elbowed him in the ribs.
He emitted anoofbefore giving a raspy laugh. “So feisty.”
“You brought my wrath down on yourself.”
“And I’ll happily do it again.” Rowan pressed his mouth to the shell of my ear. “I love you, Evan. I fought my feelings for so long. Denied them. But I meant what I told the wolf during the winter solstice. My home is with you. And so is my heart.”
Emotion rose up and wedged in my throat. “I love you too. You own a piece of me no one else will.”
He smiled before snatching my chin and softly capturing my lips. Electric pulses traveled through my veins, and my heart felt like a firework with a lit fuse, the flame chasing the string and preparing to detonate.
The carriage chose that moment to hit a huge bump and send us crashing even more into each other. I landed on top of him, and our teeth clanked.
Rowan started laughing. That got me laughing too. The happy tingles moving through my body made me feel like I was on cloud nine. And he was right there with me, feeling the same emotions. Elated by our mutual confessions. Excited to deeper explore our feelings and build a life together.
“I’ve been doing some thinking,” Rowan said, brushing aside my bangs. “The Secret Order is a farce right now. As I told your captain, I snuck around the castle for weeks, and none of them even noticed. They need someone who’ll help them tap into their true potential. Teach them the art of being a spy.”
I grinned. “Are you suggesting what I think you are?”
“If I’m going to live in Bremloc, I might as well try to find honest work,” he responded. “Why not lend my talents to those entrusted with the kingdom’s innermost secrets and security? Sir Rowan of the Secret Order has a nice ring to it.”
I kissed him. He smiled against my lips and tugged his fingers through the back of my hair.
And that’s exactly how we were when the carriage door opened.
“Oh,” Callum said in surprise. “Apologies for the interruption, but we’ve, uh, arrived.”
“Do you hear that, little treasure?” Rowan scraped his teeth along my jaw. “You’re home.”
I flung upward and looked out the window. My heart squeezed at the sight of the cottage. The hearth had been lit, and smoke wafted upward. The smell of bread baking in the oven filtered into the cab.
“Go.” Rowan smacked my ass. “I bet they’re waiting for you.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him up with me as I exited the carriage. A layer of snow covered the ground and crunched under my boots. Two bluebirds chased each other through the air and landed in a tree, causing powdery snow to fall from the branch.
