Chapter 45
Seren
By the time Callum and I finally disentangle and pull on our dirty, rain-soaked clothes, I have no idea what time it is.
Late. Probably very late. But the rain is finally letting up, and I can even make out a few faint stars through the thinning clouds.
“I think this is yours,” I say, holding out something that looks like a wayward piece of his leather armor.
Callum shrugs and tosses it into his bag, apparently still too blissed-out to care that he absolutely looks like he just got lucky in a forest.
Goddess, he’s handsome like this.
Dirty and rumpled, hair a mess, a few small leaves and twigs in his beard.
I’ve always liked a man who scruffs up well, and the fact I’ve got a demon who scruffs up arguably better than any man I’ve ever seen sends another wave of tender, possessive pride through me.
This demon is mine.
My mate.
Mine to keep.
As he fiddles with another piece of armor, I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his middle.
A deep, satisfied rumble breaks in Callum’s chest, and I lay my cheek on his back.
“How’d you know where to find me?”
He chuckles. “You have to ask?”
A tug on the bond, one that doesn’t come from my end this time. It sends a corresponding pulse down between my thighs, and I have to make myself focus on the conversation.
Seeing what else this bond can do is going to be really, really fun.
Callum’s humor fades a moment later, replaced by a deep sigh.
“I still don’t feel good about you losing your half of the bounty, star,” he grumbles. “I will find a way to pay you back for that.”
I step in front of him and loop my arms around his neck. “I made my choice.”
“I know. That doesn’t mean I have to—”
“Callum. I mean it. It was my choice. And I hope someday you’ll realize you deserve someone to step up and take care of you the way you step up and take care of others.”
He melts into me. “It may take me a while to accept that.”
“That’s all right. We’ve got time.”
Callum tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, crimson eyes burning with an intensity I feel squarely in the center of my chest.
“Yes, my star. We do.”
“Good.” I lean in, nuzzling against him. A strong, steady purr kicks up behind his breastbone. “So let’s enjoy it. Maybe in a few decades we can even think about settling down, but until then…”
A hand at my nape, strong fingers squeezing, anchoring me to him.
“Until then?”
A laugh, light and free and wild, more sparkling than anything in any of the thirteen realms. “Until then, we can do whatever the hell we want.”
The idea is heady, wonderful, like the first deep breath after being underwater.
“Where would you like to go tonight?”
I think for a moment. “Your place. And this time we can share the bed.”
He grins and picks me up, my legs wrap around his waist, and something hard in his pocket presses against my inner thigh.
I shift against him. “Still just happy to see me, or…”
Callum huffs a soft laugh. “I was wondering if you were going to notice that.”
“Notice what? What is it?”
“You don’t remember? You’ve sought it once before.”
Puzzled, I give my seeking instinct a tug, and—
“Oh.” It comes out in a soft, tight-throated gasp. “Why’d you bring it here?”
“Why do you think, star?”
He sets me back on my feet and reaches his hand into his pocket. When he draws it back out, he’s holding a familiar ring box, one I’ve seen before, back in his apartment.
“Are you asking me to marry you?”
Goddess, it’s too fast for that, isn’t it? I’ve known this demon for all of a month and…
Callum chuckles again. “If you want.”
“If I want?”
His tail wraps around my waist and pulls me in.
“Yes, if you want. I said it before and I still mean it now. I’ll follow you to any corner of any realm. I’ll be anything you want. Your lover. Your husband. Your mate. Say the word and that’s who I’ll be.”
Callum pulls out the ring, and even in the dim of the forest it still shines.
“I just want you to be mine.”
“Then that’s who I am, star. Always.”
The ring slides onto my finger like it was made for me. Heavy and solid, a promise I trust him to keep for the rest of our forever.