62. Ravenna
Ravenna
I haven’t slept a wink. How could I? The longer Cian’s away, the more raw and sharp-edged my nerves become.
If he’s not back at the first sign of dawn, I’m going to emotionally implode.
Not even the company of my cousins has been able to keep me grounded.
Probably because they’re as worried as I am and we’re all swimming in fear.
Just as the first rays of dawn light the horizon, the door bangs open. Sophia, Arianna, Gin, and I rush into the main room.
I’m dizzy with relief.
There they are, all four of our husbands, plus Wolfe. They’re alive, but look worse for wear. Cian and Wolfe are covered in filth, I can’t tell if it’s dirt or soot or a mix of both. Stranger still, small branches of pine needles stick out from their body armor.
“What happened to you two?” My hands busy themselves searching for any significant damage on Cian’s body. They turn black, but I find no signs of blood or injury. Unlike Dimitri, who has a nasty cut on his forehead, and Roman with a bandage around his upper arm. Blake seems to be unscathed.
“Brendan blew up the house. We had to exit out of the attic window or get roasted. Luckily, we jumped right into a tree.” His chuckle morphs into a groan. “Those branches broke our fall, but I still feel like I’ve been run over by a semi-truck.”
“Same.” Wolfe and Cian plop down on the beige sofa, completely soiling it.
“You’re both insane,” I murmur, relieved but exhausted. “You could have died from that jump.”
Wolfe shrugs. “We had a twenty or so percent chance of surviving without that tree. Zero chance if we stayed inside.”
“Yeah. Luck of the Irish.” Cian snags my hand and pulls me down to sit beside him. “It’s over, broc meala . He’s dead.” His lips brush against mine. I deepen our kiss, not caring that he’s covered in ash.
The Manor’s medical team arrives, and they sort through everyone’s injuries quickly and methodically. Cian’s given permission to shower. Miraculously, he didn’t break anything, but those bruises are going to take a while to heal.
I give him a few minutes alone in the shower, but have every intention of joining him when Wolfe claims the chair across from mine.
He scrutinizes me for a long moment, the scowl he normally wears firmly in place. We’ve never gotten along, so I mentally prepare myself for whatever acrid comment he’s about to utter.
“Why are you staring at me?” I clip.
“Did you really dive into the Harlem River after him?”
Hesitantly, I nod, unsure where he’s going with this line of questioning.
“I see. Turns out I was wrong about you, sorceress.” His gaze sweeps over me. “You’re an enchantress all right, but one of the good ones. Only a truly incredible woman would jump into those waters to save her lover.”
I stare back at Wolfe as silence stretches between us. Was that a compliment? Praise even?
“Thank you for not getting him killed last night.” I offer my own version of gratitude.
Wolfe grins. I believe it’s the first time I’ve ever seen that expression on his face. “Well, I’m going to head out. I aim to sleep like a rock after that night. Stay safe, sorceress.”
I watch him leave, sensing a shift in the energy between us. Wolfe’s acceptance and appreciation means a lot to me. For the first time among the Irish, I don’t feel like a complete outsider.
“ E veryone’s gone home,” I tell Cian as I step into the shower with him. “We’re alone.”
“Thank fuck because I don’t want to stay away from you for a moment longer, but I also wasn’t keen on the idea of them hearing you scream.” Grabbing my ass, he lifts me up and I wrap my legs around his waist.
“You’re planning to make me scream?” I tease him.
“I am.” He buries his face in the crook of my neck. “But first you should know I’ve made a decision.”
“Okay.”
“I’m going to continue to see that shrink—for not only my sake, but yours and our child’s. I want to be the best father I can be to them. As well as the husband you deserve.”
“You’re already everything I want, Cian.” My heart swells with so much love and tenderness.
“That’s because you’re a saint. No one else would have stuck with me or put up with my shit.”
“You’re mine, Irlandese , and I’m yours. That means forever and always no matter what life throws at us.”
“I believe you.” He claims my mouth in a toe curling kiss.
I reach between us and stroke his hard cock until his control snaps. He thrusts into me, pure awe in his eyes as he buries himself deep.
I moan, my head falling back to rest on the shower tile.
Steaming water sprays us as we make love. It washes away all of our sorrys. Our pain, and regrets, go with them down the drain, leaving behind an empty space for our new beginning. Everything has changed for us.
Cian’s haunted past is good and buried.
I have the man I fell in love with back—he’s whole again. Present.
We’re starting a family. In a few months we’ll be first-time parents, and our universe will shift yet again.