A Heartfelt Confession
WREN
Marie and Violet are here. Truly, physically here. I keep staring at them, wondering if this is all a figment of my imagination, but it’s not. I pinched myself twice just to make sure. This is real.
I’m walking between my sisters, holding their hands as they tell me about staying with Maia.
It turns out Gabriel was right—because of course he’d been right about this—and the girls had been safe with her. No one asked them any questions even though they’d been living right under the king’s nose, working in the household of the Hand of the King.
But now, they’re here.
Violet tells me that Gabriel sent for them a couple weeks ago. The other man, who Gabriel introduces me to as Theon, his best friend, traveled with them. They were careful coming here, avoiding the king’s watchful eye, and Alaric met up with them partway, bringing them the rest of the way.
All because Gabriel asked him to.
I can’t stop stealing glances at the Hunter even as my sisters chatter beside me. I didn’t know loving someone would be like this. I thought that love was a static thing, that once you fell into it, that was it. You were in love, and it was good.
But now, I’m realizing that’s not the case. Love grows. It changes. I love Gabriel so much more today than I did yesterday, and that is a beautiful thing.
The walk back to camp feels like it passes in the blink of an eye. Before I know it, the log cabins marking the edge of the rebels’ forest home come into view. Wendell breaks off from our group, mumbling something about finding the seer, and Gabriel turns around.
Instead of looking at me, which is what I expected, he meets my sisters’ eyes in turn.
“Ladies,” he rumbles in that low voice that I love. “Would you mind if I borrowed your sister for a moment?”
My brows furrow. What is Gabriel doing? It’s nearing suppertime, and I thought we’d head to the dining hall to grab some food before sorting out the sleeping arrangements for our new guests.
The girls glance at each other, but it’s Marie who nods and says, “Of course.”
“Don’t take her far,” Violet warns.
“I promise I won’t.” He turns to me. “Wren?”
He holds out his hand, wiggling his fingers.
After a moment I release the girls and slide my hand into his.
He draws me away from the others, into a nearby cluster of trees.
I can still hear the girls chatting quietly with Maia and Theon, but Gabriel and I are alone. Even Mist has vanished into the forest.
The Hunter’s eyes are a sparkling valley as they sweep over me.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
In response, he pulls me closer. His thumb grazes the inside of my palm, sending tingles racing down my arm before he encircles my wrist and draws me close.
“You’re happy, right?”
“Yes, I am. Honestly, Gabe, I never thought I’d see my sisters again. I thought . . . I thought when we said goodbye, it would be the last time I ever saw them.”
Like I haven’t seen my brothers or my parents since the day before my Giving Ceremony. There is an ache inside me that rises every time I think of my family, a pain that has no balm. Even now, I don’t know if I’ll ever get to see them again.
But at least the twins are here—and Gabriel is the one who made that happen.
“I’m so glad you feel that way,” he murmurs, drawing my attention back to him.
“Because you make me happier than I ever thought possible. You infused my life with light and taught me what it means to live. When I wake, you’re the first person I look for.
When I go to sleep, it’s with an image of you stamped behind my eyes.
You are the force that drives me to keep living every day, and I love you. ”
My breath catches in my throat, and I half inhale, half wheeze, “You do?”
Because of course I can’t have a normal conversation with Gabriel. Even one as important as this one.
Even though I feel the same way, I hadn’t dared hope Gabriel would love me back. Because he’s him, and well, I’m . . . me.
He inclines his head, green eyes glinting. “So fucking much, it hurts.”
A beat passes, then a smile stretches across my face. “Burning suns, Gabe. I love you, too.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. I think I’ve been in love with you for longer than I even realized.”
A look of sheer relief courses through his eyes, and then he slants his lips over mine. He kisses me hard, like he needs air and can only get it from me, and I cling to his shirt, holding him close. Needing this as much as he needs me.
This kiss is full of emotions and depth and passion and . . .
It’s over as quickly as it began.
Gabriel pulls away, resting his forehead against mine. “I love you, Birdie. I love you like the stars adore the moons, delighting in remaining by their side night after night. Like flowers love the suns and crave their warming light. I love you so much, you consume my thoughts.”
A strangled sound slips from my lips as Gabriel drops to one knee.
“I have been falling in love with you for a long time, little bird. Even before I knew we were fated to be together.” He gazes up at me like I’m his whole world, and I stare back at him.
Can he hear the thundering of my heart? Does he know what the sight of him on his knees does to me?
“What are you doing, Gabe?” He isn’t . . . This isn’t a proposal, is it?
The Hunter is a lot of things, but I never thought he was insane. And proposing to me right now would be exactly that—insane.
Because even though I have a firmer grasp on my magic, even though my sisters are here and Gabriel and I love each other, we’re still being hunted by the king. Not only that, but the next Giving Season is steadily approaching.
This is not the time for a wedding.
I thought that was obvious, but it seems Gabriel and I may not be on the same page because he gathers my hands, kissing them both before squeezing tightly.
“Before you came into my life, I was living in shadows. I was merely existing, going from one day to the next. But you barged in, with your Mark and your kind heart and your hatred of running, and you upended everything. Changed my world. You were brave and strong and courageous, even while you were dealing with things that no one should ever be faced with.”
By the suns, perhaps he has lost his mind.
My Mark pulses. “Gabriel—”
“I want to seal our bond, Wren.”
Oh.
Oh.
Thank the blessed, burning suns and everything that is holy. This is about our connection.
“That’s what this is about?” I stifle the relieved laugh trying to claw its way out of my throat.
There’s a slight twinge of disappointment in my stomach, which is wholly out of place and something I’ll have to deal with later, but overwhelmingly, I’m just relieved.
“Yes. Our lives have been filled with so much uncertainty and danger, but what we have connecting us is a gift from the gods.”
Despite how I feel about the gods, I can’t deny my connection with Gabriel has been growing stronger with the passing weeks. I can feel it—a steady thrum in my chest encouraging me to get closer to the Hunter no matter where we are or what we’re doing.
Making it permanent feels like the natural next step.
I tug the Hunter to his feet, lips tilting up as I meet his gaze. “I would be delighted to seal our bond.”
There’s been a plethora of truly awful things that have happened to me over the past few months, but this connection is not one of them.
A luminous grin stretches across Gabriel’s face, and gods, he’s even more handsome than normal. He sways towards me as if he can’t help himself, and he kisses me deeply. Thoroughly.
When my lips are plump, tingling from his attention, his hand engulfs mine, and he leads me back to the others. Only, once we emerge from the trees, I realize my Hunter has been planning this for some time.
Skyler is here, and it seems she’s already befriended Maia. They’re chatting animatedly, but when Gabriel clears his throat, everyone turns towards us.
“Did she agree?” Skyler asks, directing the question to the Hunter.
“She did,” he says, squeezing my hand.
An ear-piercing squeal is the only sound I hear as she darts towards me, yanking my hand out of Gabe’s and wrapping her arms around me.
“I knew you’d say yes!” Practically vibrating, Skyler laces her fingers with mine. “Come on, we have to go.”
I dig my heels into the dirt. “Go where?”
Skyler looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “To get you ready, of course! The seer is already setting up, and everything is prepared for the bonding to take place at dusk.”
Raising a brow, I meet Gabriel’s eyes. “That’s a little presumptuous, Hunter.”
His cheeks redden, and he shrugs. “Our life has been tumultuous lately. I figured that if you agreed, it would be helpful to have a few things set into motion. Since your sisters are here, I’m not sure there’s any reason to wait. Unless you want to? We can put it off until you’re ready—”
“No, you’re right.” I look beyond Skyler to where my sisters are talking with Theon and Maia. My family is here, as are Gabriel’s friends. “They traveled all this way, and it’s already been a good day. What better way to cap it all off than with a bonding?”
Even though I have no idea what a bonding ceremony actually entails, if it ends with me being connected to Gabriel for all time, it can’t be a bad thing.
And that, more than anything else, has me following Skyler as she tugs me through the camp towards her cabin, chatting excitedly every step of the way.