Page 85 of Conquering the King of Storms

He glanced at me. “You can’t go alone, and I can’t leave Harper. When Margo or Quake come back, you can go.”

She made a face.

“It’s okay, I’m fine to wait here while you guys have fun. A nap actually sounds really good,” I admitted. And it was the truth. I didn’t want to get between Storm and Dove and the strong relationship they had already built; that wasn’t my intentionat all. When I had magic of my own, that would be an easier concept to wrap Sirus’s mind around, but until then, I didn’t want him worrying about me.

“Yay! We’ll come back soon,” Dove promised me, giving me a quick hug before she captured Sirus’s hand.

He shot me an apologetic look as I waved him toward the cave’s exit, but I heard him laugh when the ground shook a little and they took off together.

She was good for him. Her playfulness kept him lighthearted, and his steadiness made sure she felt safe.

I guess maybe he and I were good for each other for the same reasons. I wasn’t always playful, but my mind was a much less heavy place than Sirus’s. And his consistency definitely made me feel like I was safe with him.

My heart swelled at the thought.

I had always wanted this—what we had.

A man who loved me, and respected me, and wanted to build a life with me that we would both love.

The fact that I’d found it in a magical world full of fae was a bit ironic, but I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.

Instead of taking a nap,I crossed the cave and sat down next to Flood. We had never communicated directly, because of the cultural thing, but I had learned a few signs. Since we couldn’t chat, I didn’t bother using them, but I hoped he appreciated my company anyway. It was nice to feel like I sort of had a family again, even if we were still trying to find our footing around each other.

A bit of time passed before the sand spit Ayla back out. She landed on her feet, her cheeks pink and her eyes bright. Her hair was full of butter-colored sand, but she didn’t care. Her eyes landed on Flood, and grew bright.

She might have been insisting they were just friends, but I didn’t buy that bullshit. She clearly liked him.

And when I saw how bright his expression was as he crossed the sand, scooping her up in his arms and hugging her fiercely, I knew he liked her too.

They’d figure that out in their own time though, I guessed.

“I want to do the mating ceremony so I don’t get ignored anymore,” she told him quickly. “I’ll learn much faster after we’ve made vows and I can actually communicate with my teachers.”

He bobbed his head, and my eyes were glued to them as they made their way to the very center of the sand together. It parted with ease for her, and I watched as he signed a few things to her.

Her lips pressed together, and she shook her head. “Out of those signs, the only words I know are follow and say.”

He grimaced.

The sound of laughter echoed behind me, and I looked to the doorway as Sirus and Dove came walking back through, her tiny hand in his big one.

I wondered what it would have been like to have a dad who loved me the way he loved her, but shook my head a little at the thought. My father had been a shitty person, but I had turned out okay. Life was good now, and that was what mattered.

“Hey Storm,” I said, and he looked curiously from the couple in the center of the room back to me. “Can you lead me through the fae mating ceremony? As if I were, oh, I don’t know, an earth fae? And you were a water one?”

His lips curved upward. “Of course, Sway.” He released Dove’s hand, rubbing her head and murmuring a few words to her before he strode to my side and took me in his arms. He had asked her to wait outside the room and practice with her magic for a few minutes while he helped Flood and Ayla, and she agreed with a grin.

Ayla beamed at me, and I winked back before focusing on Sirus.

“You would wrap your arms around my neck, like this.” He lifted my hands up, so my fingers intertwined behind his neck. “I would grip your waist, like so.” He wrapped both arms around my waist, pulling me a little closer.

When I looked back at Ayla and Flood, I saw them in the same position.

“And then we would take turns making vows,” he explained. “I would say them first, and then you would repeat them back to me.”

“What if I wanted to sign them?” I countered.

His eyes gleamed. “The elements are all-powerful. It’s the intention that matters, not the language you speak in. I don’t know why your translation magic doesn’t work on our hand-speak, but the elements will understand. Ready?”

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