Twelve – 05

They each kept their peace as they wandered from the heart of the settlement slowly turning to stronghold, toward the edges where Marin’s wards still sent shivers through his senses and sent electricity racing through his blood. Now, though, he could sense the hands of others in the protections laid on their borders—his own, of course, but he could feel Kellin and Neve, Rory and J.T.’s ghosts, a faint and fading sense of Thordin, even Sif and Seamus—and Jacqueline, in traces and hints. A new shiver crept down his spine.

Angie’s been out here, too. I wonder who she came with. Kel, maybe?

His arm slid around Jacqueline’s shoulders and he drew her tight against his side. She glanced up at him and he cracked a smile, pressing a kiss to her temple.

“What’s really eating at you?” she asked as their boots echoed softly against the concrete and melting snow of the bridge across the ravine, beyond the safety of their ward-lines. “Or is it really just that you think Marin’s keeping something from you?”

“Mostly that,” he murmured. “A little part of me thinks I should have ridden out with the scouting party. Don’t ask me why because I don’t know. Just a feeling.”

Her arm snaked around his waist and she gave him a squeeze. “I think your protective and paranoid tendencies are kicking in again. They’re fine, Phelan. You and I both know that they’re fine, and even if they’re not, there’s nothing that your being there would change about the situation, so just let that piece go. They’ll be back sooner than any of us think.” She sighed, her gaze sweeping over the empty, silent arboretum, settling on the ruins of one of the lecture halls for a moment. “Besides,” she added in a whisper, “I wouldn’t have let you go anyway. Not after I came as close as I did to losing you. It’s too soon, Phelan. Hell. Maybe it’ll always be too soon.”

His throat tightened and he glanced down at her. In that moment, he realized he loved her more than he’d loved anyone in his life.

“Marry me,” he whispered, the words coming without conscious thought. “Stay with me for a year and a day or however long we’ve got, Jac.”

She was silent for a long, aching moment, then looked up at him and smiled.

“Forever, Phelan. Forever.”

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2 Responses to Twelve – 05

  1. Woohoo! A wedding? Sweet…

    Now, I hope all the creepy undead/dead things stay away.

    Thanks for the update. Great read!

  2. wedding woots all round 🙂

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