Page 101 of Summer of Sacrifice

She raised an eyebrow at him.

“Since he is feeling so much better, my parents have decided to invite several of their friends to Whitehall, instead of just the Townsends. They want to finally announce where they’ve been all Summer and hold a ball before we return to the city. I want you to come to the ball with me.”

“Cal, I?—”

“Please, just say yes. It would make me the happiest man in the realm.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Had he forgotten everything his mother had said about her? Even if he didn’t know she’d heard it.

“I love you, Seleste Joubert. And I’m done hiding it.”

“Cal…”

“Consequences be damned.”

Oh, the look in his eyes was threatening to break her heart. This man truly loved her. He was willing to sacrifice so much.

“I want to change this realm with you. Make it better. But right now, I’m just a boy asking a girl to a ball.”

Gods. “How could I say no to that?” she murmured, and Cal kissed her.

Chapter

Eighteen

GRIMM

He twisted to kiss Agatha’s temple, sensations of warmth flooding through him as she stirred sleepily in his arms. “Marry me,” he murmured against her hair, and she huffed a sleepy laugh.

“You’ve already asked me that, reaper. Many times.”

“I mean it.” And he did. The eclipse was coming. He didn’t know how soon, what with time moving differently in Achlys, but it couldn’t be far off.

Agatha sat up on her elbows, looking into his soul with those honey eyes.

“I’ve married you in almost every life I’ve lived since the first I saw you,” he said, “and I intend to keep it that way. You’re already my wife in every way that matters, and I know it’s just a ceremony, but I?—”

He needed this.

A strange sort of sadness wafted from her down the bond, and Grimm took her chin in his hand, searching her eyes. “I’m scared, too,” he finally said quietly.

Agatha swallowed, blinking back tears. He dropped his hand and kissed her gently.

“Surely Seleste has found Chresedia’s exit point by now. When we all convene to head in that direction, I think we can make time for a simple ceremony.” She smiled and he ran a thumb over her bottom lip.

“I know you’re anxious to get to your Sisters, but before I return to Merveille…” He kissed her gently again and stood, wrapping a loose sheet around his waist. “I have a stop I need to make.”

The lantern glowed from where it hung next to their bed, the souls calling to him. He lifted it, peering inside at those he’d managed to rescue from Chresedia’s clutches. His gaze travelled from those he’d saved, up his arm to the marks inked on his arm of all those he had not.

Meeting Agatha’s eyes again, he set the lantern back on its hook. “I need to go to Eldritch. I can go alone, and meet yo?—”

“No,” she cut him off, standing swiftly, beautifully naked. “I’ll not spend one moment away from you. Not now.”

How could he possibly deny her that? “Well, you can’t go like that, little witch. Get dressed.”

AGATHA

It was everything she remembered it to be, Eldritch Alley. All dark corners, cracked buildings, and cobblestone teeth poised to bite.

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