Page 163 of His Darkest Desire

But he would endure it all. He would endure his guilt, would endure both his mate’s anger and the rage he harbored for himself. And he’d voice not a word of complaint, because no price was too great to pay for her.

Already, Kinsley had returned something that he’d thought lost to him forever after yesterday—hope.

“I must beg your aid in sending a message to her on the morrow, should she return,” Vex said.

“Aught these ones might do, magus, consider it done,” said Shade.

“Thank you. All of you.”

The wisps drew in close, and Vex embraced them gently. Their magic hummed against him, relieved and joyous in a way he’d not sensed in many, many years.

When his child was born, he would fly from this place. Naught else would keep him from his moonlight. Naught would keep him from his heart.

He would claim his mate and his child, and no one would ever take his happiness from him again—not even himself.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Kinsley turned toward her family and waved them closer. “I don’t know if this will work, but I need you to trust me.”

Aiden approached, keeping his gaze angled down toward the circle of mushrooms in which Kinsley stood. “Is that…?”

“A fairy ring.”

Emily tucked strands of her short blonde hair behind her ear. The tip of her nose was red from the cold. “I didn’t even notice it when we found you.”

“Understandable considering the circumstances, I’d think,” Cecelia said. Her brow furrowed. “So…this is real?”

Kinsley nodded. “When Vex sent me back, this is where I appeared.” She lifted her gaze and swept it around the surrounding woods. The area was so overgrown that it was difficult to picture any building standing on this spot, but she knew this was the place. “His cottage is here. On the other side, I mean.

“I don’t know if this will work, but if it does, I’d like you to meet them. Just…don’t freak out.” Kinsely called out the wisps’ names. Her voice carried through the forest to mingle with the creaking of branches and distant bird songs.

She felt a flicker of magic, the faintest tingling along her spine, before the wisps materialized in front of her. She’d come to recognize the sensation over the past few days; every evening, she’d come to the circle and called them. And each time, she’d felt that tingle, had felt the tiniest change in the air, right before they appeared.

Kinsley clung to those little tastes of magic. They were her lifeline to Vex’s world. Her proof that even here, magic was real.

Echo and Flare bounced, their bodies animated despite being so dim in this world.

Shade brushed a tendril along Kinsley’s arm. “These ones are glad to see you, Kinsley.”

“Oh, my God,” Cecelia breathed, backpedaling from the circle.

Emily started and reached for her sister. “What’s wrong?”

Eyes wide and filled with wonder, Cecelia righted herself and took a step toward the wisps. “They’re real.”

A crease formed between Aiden’s brows as he looked from Cecelia to Kinsley. “What’s real?”

“You don’t see them?” Cecelia asked.

Emily shook her head. “I don’t see anything.”

“Most mortals cannot see these ones,” said Echo, turning to study Kinsley’s family.

Flare moved closer to Cecelia. “Magic has faded in this world, and these ones are bound to another place.”

Cecelia’s eyes widened. “I can hear them too. Those whispers…” She tentatively raised her hand.

Flare brushed against her fingers. Aunt Cece snatched her hand back with a nervous, delighted laugh.

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