Page 54 of The Elven Spymaster's Thief

“Does that answer your question?” I asked as I struggled to slow my galloping heart. Smoothing the curve of her back with the palm of my hand, I drank in the trace of orange in her hair and the pleasant weight of her leaning against me.

“But I am a human,” she whispered.

“And I am an elf. What does that have to do with it?”

She laughed softly. “According to everyone, that means everything.”

“It doesn’t to me.” I squeezed her gently. “Does it matter to you?”

“Not particularly.”

“Stay with me, forever.” I forced the words past the sudden tightness in my throat. “Marry me.”

She grew still in my arms. I held my breath, chastising myself for my timing. I should’ve waited. She needed more time. Proposing immediately after a traumatic—

“Yes.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. “Are you certain?”

She laughed. “I wouldn’t have said it if I wasn’t.”

I lifted her up and swung her around until she begged me to stop. Setting her on her feet again, I threaded my fingers through her hair, cradling her precious face between my palms. “I love you.” Then, I kissed her.

∞∞∞

Epilogue

Avril

The house was abuzz with activity. Our wedding was scheduled to happen in three days, and the preparations were in full swing. Casimir stood stiffly at attention in the center of the conservatory for a solid minute. Only his eyes moved to watch my progress as I watered the plants around the perimeter of the room. Finally, he spoke. “I won’t be here for the wedding.”

I paused in the middle of adjusting a fall of ivy that was encroaching on a nearby palm. Eyeing my future brother-in-law, I considered his statement. With Casimir, not everything was said explicitly.

“So, you have changed your mind, and no longer approve of our marrying?”

His brows lowered. “No. I approve.”

“Then you don’t agree with his insistence on a full elven ceremony.”

“If he loves you enough to accept the inevitable survivor’s grief, that is his choice.” The slight tightening of his mouth was the only external sign of his irritation.

I hadn’t gotten up the nerve to throw things at the tightly controlled shadow elf, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to provoke him in other ways. “I give up. Why aren’t you going to be at the wedding?”

“I am leaving on a mission that I project will take a few weeks.”

“Ah, which means you will miss the wedding.”

“Precisely.” He turned as though to leave.

“What is so important that it cannot wait?” I couldn’t see Illeron assigning him a task that would conflict with witnessing our vow exchange. “Does Illeron know about the mission?”

“He knows I won’t be present.”

I frowned as I turned to study him. Crossing my arms, I glared. “You are being cagey. What is going on?”

“He is unaware of the nature of the mission.”

“And it is dangerous?”

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