Chapter 60
CALISTA
In the end, it was always going to be me and him.
“What are we going to do now, baby.”
Whispering in Ronan’s ear, I feel him wrap himself more tightly around me. Shield me with his body and push away the outside world until I feel strong enough to face it again.
It is exhausting being so independent all the time.
My heels are kicked off and we are curled up in his dog bed. Soft and warm, it’s the space I always returned to until Christopher Deville came barging into my life.
And offered me a new safe place to hide.
I close my eyes and bury my face in his fur. Block out the thoughts in my head and the feelings swirling around my chest so I can concentrate on breathing.
In and out.
Funny how something so simple can be the most difficult feat of them all.
I tell myself that Ronan’s warmth is enough to chase away the loneliness. That his presence is enough to fill some of the void.
I tell myself a lot of things. Convince myself everything is alright just like I always do.
It takes another few minutes, but eventually I find the strength to lift my head. Push myself to standing and slip my heels back on.
“We’ve got an evening all to ourselves.”
Ronan’s ears perk, his eyes darting from me to the bedroom door.
“I could paint your nails. Have mama and her boy be matching.”
He makes a disgusted sound.
“Or I could give you a bath. Buy you a new collar.”
Frivolous suggestions that go over just as well as the first.
I sigh, bending down to stroke his fur, “I’m tired of fighting. Let’s stay in tonight.”
An annoyed sound echoes from his snout, and despite the night’s tumultuous events, I can’t help but smile.
“Speak up, baby. I’m trying to give you suggestions.”
“None of them sounded all that good to me, either.”
Ronan huffs, climbing out of his bed and trotting over to the man standing in the doorway.
I turn around slowly, casting my eyes over messy hair and a leather jacket.
“Devil.”
“Miss Drache.”
His eyes are twinkling with a reckless kind of mischief, a bright light I gave up only a few hours ago.
“I decided to try another proposition.”
“Did you now.”
He nods, taking a step closer. Keeping his eyes trained on my face to make sure I don’t slip away this time.
“It occurred to me that maybe it was never about me staying in Wolf Hollow. Maybe it was about someone who never got the chance to leave.”
I tilt my head, watching him bridge the distance between us.
“Figured that out all on your own?”
“I had some help.” His lips twitch as he comes to a stop in front of me, “Bit of a pompous ass but he has his moments.”
I laugh softly, “You get used to it.”
“Come with me.” A callused thumb brushes my lip, “Grab that suitcase of yours and let’s fly away. Get lost in the clouds so you can be anyone you want to be.”
“Are you quoting my dream, Devil?”
“No.” His grin widens, “I’m making it come true.”
There is something to be said for the confidence of a man. To come charging in here, swinging his sword and making a nuisance of himself as he tries to save a woman who doesn’t need to be saved.
“What do you say, Miss Drache. Want to meet my crew?”
He is nothing like I imagined. Rough and ragged, with more tattoos then a person should know what to do with. Messy, unkept hair that never stays in place.
Scarred. Broken. More than a little bruised.
I stare at the thief in front of me, the criminal who found the missing heart of Wolf Hollow’s most vicious creature. Stole it and kept it for himself, offering a lonely soul the kind of friendship that doesn’t stop beyond the bedroom.
The kind of love that keeps me warm.
“Yeah.” A smile breaks clear across my face, “I do.”
Christopher holds out his hand and I take it.
His hope. His freedom. His love.
He wasn’t a prince.
But then again, I was never really a princess.