Sandy Williams: The Sharpest Blade

“Y-You’re out of anchor-stones?” I finally manage.

“No,” he says, looking into my eyes. Then he takes my other hand in his. “I know I hurt you. I know this is our last chance to be together. Please give me that chance, McKenzie. Please . . .” He seems to remember something. He drops to one knee. “Please marry me.”

Lightning strikes between our clasped hands.

“Fae don’t marry.” I don’t know why I say that. My brain obviously isn’t functioning.

“Humans do,” he says. “And I want to be with you for the rest of our lives. Now that I’ve been forced into retirement, it could be a very long life, McKenzie.”

“But the life-bond. You can live with it? You said . . .”

“It kept us apart only because your life was at stake. The high nobles won’t be executing anyone now. I can live with Taltrayn being in your life, but I can’t live without you.”

“Stand up,” I say.

“What?”

“Stand up.”

He frowns as he rises. “Naito said I was supposed to kn—”

I silence him with a kiss. Tiny explosions rock through my body, and I swear the air around us glows. I love the feel and taste and the scent of him, and when he deepens the kiss, our connection deepens as well. He’s a part of me now, no life-bond needed, and he knows me like no one else ever will.

“McKenzie.” He pulls me closer, clinging to me as if I’ll slip through his arms.

I’m here to stay, I say with a kiss that promises love and passion. I want that passion now. I want us to find ourselves wrapped in chaos lusters again. I want to wake up every morning with him at my side, and I want whatever kind of normal we can have together.

Finally, he’s mine completely.

He pulls back, breathing hard. “Naito said you’re supposed to say ‘yes.’”

“That was my yes.” I kiss him again, and as he kisses me, he takes my left hand. A cool circle slides over my ring finger, and I smile against his lips.

“Where will it take us?” I ask.

“Anywhere you want.”

Sandy Williamsgraduated from Texas A&M University with degrees in political science and history. She worked as a librarian until her husband whisked her off to London on an extended business trip. Now she’s back in Texas, writing full-time, raising twin boys, and squeezing in time to play geeky board and card games like The Settlers of Catan, Dominion, and Runebound. Visit her on the Web at www.sandy-williams.com, facebook.com/AuthorSandyWilliams, and twitter.com/Williams_Sandy. Sign up for her newsletter at bit.ly/15PjxGE.