Jamie gently wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” He kissed her cheek. “Love you, Cadence.”
“I love you, too,” she said, returning the kiss. He took a step back and smiled at her before heading off toward the mountain.
Cassidy hugged her sister a little more tightly than the doctor had. “Don’t you ever die on me again.”
“I won’t. You neither. I love you, little sister.”
“I know.” Cassidy giggled at her own smart remark. “I love you, too.” Cadence kissed the top of her sister’s head, and Cassidy let her go, stepping back to wait for Brandon.
“Good job getting the monster.” Brandon’s hug was more like a pat on the back, and Cadence almost laughed, wondering if he just didn’t want to break her or was embarrassed.
“Thanks, Brandon. Take care of my sis.”
“I will try, but she’s pretty good at doing that on her own.” The two teens stepped away, hand in hand, and Elliott took a few steps and then stopped, the toes of his boots a few inches from hers.
“You broke the number one rule, kid, and while I am a forgiving man by nature, I have to say, you can’t ever let that happen again.”
Cadence stared at him for a moment. “What’s the number one rule?”
“You know. Don’t get yourself killed.”
“Oh. Didn’t you already break that rule...?”
“Do as I say, not as I do, young lady.” He pointed his finger in her face, trying to sound stern, but Cadence couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m sorry. It will never happen again.”
“Good. That’s what I needed to hear. Now, I can’t hug you too tight right now for fear I’ll break you again, but I will give you a raincheck on a proper hug and one of them sissy hugs I just saw my son give you.”
Still laughing, Cadence wrapped her arms around him the best she could. “You won’t break me.”
Elliott squeezed her tighter but not as hard as he normally would. “I love you, kid. Don’t ever forget it.”
“I love you, too.”
He let her go, grabbed Aaron’s hand in that half-hug thing guys do, and then saluted them both before he walked away.
“Did he join the military while I was out?”
Aaron chuckled. “Who the hell knows what that was.” He shook his head for a moment and then turned to face her, and Cadence realized they were alone.
“Please tell me you have the keys to one of the SUVs, and we have reservations at a nearby hotel.”
His arms came around her, and he smoothed the hair over her shoulder. “Do you think your mom would let us travel this far away without making us reservations? Your luggage was delivered to one of the finest hotels in Prague a few hours ago.
“Thank the good Lord,” she said, thinking of Elliott’s exclamation when she’d come to.
Aaron’s smile widened. “God, Cadence. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” she said in a rush.
His hand shifted to the side of her face, his fingertips tingling her skin before he increased the pressure, his thumb running over her cheek. “Thank you for fighting your way back to me. To us.” His eyes shifted down slightly, and Cadence realized he didn’t mean the team, but their little family instead.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t think you’d want me to come, and I really wanted the chance to get Daunator.”
“I know. I understand that. It doesn’t matter now.”
“I should’ve told you.”
“Yeah, you should have. And you’re right. I would’ve wanted you to stay out of the fight. But I can’t make you do anything, Cadence. Hell, sometimes, I’m not sure you can make you do anything your instinct doesn’t tell you to do.”
Cadence had to agree with that. “I’m not sure who’s even left to fight, but if someone rises up, I promise I’ll sit the rest of them out until after the baby’s born.” She didn’t know if that should’ve been singular or plural, but it didn’t matter. No more hunts for a while. Even if it killed her, at least she knew it was possible to come back.
“I’m sure there are others out there. One of the Vampires on Mila’s list is still at large, but Daunator was the last of the demonics, I guess. Christian went through the portal?” She nodded, and he shook his head. “That guy sure knows how to keep a secret.”
“Yes, he does. And I think there’s more to it than either one of us know, at least Cassidy thinks so. But having Daunator out of the picture should give all of us a chance to breathe.”
“Breathing is very important.” He closed the gap between them, his warm lips hovering close to hers.
“Yes, it is. Thank you for doing it for me.” She leaned a little closer, longing to taste him.
“If you’re not breathing, I don’t want to be either, Cadence McReynolds. If you need me to breathe for you, I will. If you need my heart to beat for yours, it will. Anything you need from me, it’s yours. I’m yours. I can’t tell you how much I love you. There are no words for how I feel.” His eyes were glistening with tears, and Cadence realized she had wet droplets sliding down her cheeks and didn’t do a thing to stop them.
“I know what you mean because I feel the same way. I love you from here to... whatever’s next. And I promise not to die again for a very long time. But when I do, it will be after I’ve lived a long, happy life with you and our children, and our children’s children. I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to it.” That crooked grin she loved so well pulled up the side of his mouth, and Cadence lost all of her patience. She closed her eyes, tilting her head in anticipation, and when Aaron’s lips crashed down on hers, all of the air left her lungs for the second time that night. This time, floating away from the world wasn’t scary at all as she lost herself in his touch knowing that no matter where she went, she’d never come untethered again. She was connected to this man through a force more powerful than anything explainable through words or conscious understanding. He was her Guardian; the two of them were meant to be one. She surrendered her soul to the solace of his embrace and let the rest of the world fade out of existence.
