They each kept their peace as they wandered from the heart of the settlement slowly turning to stronghold, toward the edges where Marin\u2019s 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\u2014his own, of course, but he could feel Kellin and Neve, Rory and J.T.\u2019s ghosts, a faint and fading sense of Thordin, even Sif and Seamus\u2014and Jacqueline, in traces and hints. A new shiver crept down his spine.<\/p>\n
Angie\u2019s been out here, too. I wonder who she came with. Kel, maybe?<\/em><\/p>\n His arm slid around Jacqueline\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s really eating at you?\u201d 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. \u201cOr is it really just<\/em> that you think Marin\u2019s keeping something from you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMostly that,\u201d he murmured. \u201cA little part of me thinks I should have ridden out with the scouting party. Don\u2019t ask me why because I don\u2019t know. Just a feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n Her arm snaked around his waist and she gave him a squeeze. \u201cI think your protective and<\/em> paranoid tendencies are kicking in again. They\u2019re fine, Phelan. You and I both know that they\u2019re fine, and even if they\u2019re not, there\u2019s nothing that your being there would change about the situation, so just let that piece go. They\u2019ll be back sooner than any of us think.\u201d She sighed, her gaze sweeping over the empty, silent arboretum, settling on the ruins of one of the lecture halls for a moment. \u201cBesides,\u201d she added in a whisper, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have let you go anyway. Not after I came as close as I did to losing you. It\u2019s too soon, Phelan. Hell. Maybe it\u2019ll always be too soon.\u201d<\/p>\n His throat tightened and he glanced down at her. In that moment, he realized he loved her more than he\u2019d loved anyone in his life.<\/p>\n \u201cMarry me,\u201d he whispered, the words coming without conscious thought. \u201cStay with me for a year and a day or however long we\u2019ve got, Jac.\u201d<\/p>\n She was silent for a long, aching moment, then looked up at him and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cForever, Phelan. Forever.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" They each kept their peace as they wandered from the heart of the settlement slowly turning to stronghold, toward the edges where Marin\u2019s wards still sent shivers through his senses and sent electricity racing through his blood. Now, though, he … Continue reading