Page 76 of Dark Rebel's Fortune

His eyes started blazing again. "I love you so much." He lifted her hand to his lips, turned it around, and kissed her palm. "The Fates made aperfect match by bringing us together. You get me, and I get you. It's so rare."

With her throat full with emotion, all she could do was nod. It hadn't even crossed her mind that Max's acceptance of her being a warrior was unique. Most men, especially the good ones, wouldn't want the woman they loved on the frontlines. It went against their instinctive need to protect. But Max appreciated and loved her enough to ignore the instinct and support her choices.

"I love you too. Not many men would be okay with what I do."

He was about to say something when her phone chimed, and a series of messages from Jasmine appeared on the screen, each accompanied by several photos.

"Jasmine is sending me pictures of the homes they toured." She lifted the phone so Max could see.

The first showed a Mediterranean-style house with warm stucco walls and flowering vines climbing over the decorative surround of the arched entrance.This is the one Soraya's girls chose,Jasmine's text read.Three bedrooms with a lovely backyard.

More images followed: a smaller but equally charming two-bedroom for Rana and Azadeh, two three-bedroom options for Yasmin and Parisa to choose from, and finally, two additional two-bedroom houses positioned across from a gravel path.

These last two would be for us, Jasmine had written.One for me and Ell-rom, and the other for you and Max,or just you, if things between you don't go the way I think they will. They're all on the same street—or "path," I should say since there aren't actual roads in the village. Most people walk everywhere or use golf carts for longer distances or carrying things.

"Things are definitely going in that direction," Max murmured in her ear. "Text her back and tell her that we are madly in love."

Kyra turned to look at him, admiring how gorgeous he was, how perfect, how accommodating. "I might just do that."

She went back to scrolling through the images again, lingering on the last two. All were beautiful—a perfect blend of warmth and elegance.

"What do you think?" Max said. "Which one do you like best?"

"They're all beautiful." Kyra angled the phone so he could see better. "I never imagined that I would get to live in such luxury." She looked back at him. "With the man I love. It almost makes everything I've been through worth it."

"I wish you didn't have to suffer so much." Max lifted their conjoined hands and kissed her knuckles. "Let's just be thankful that this is over, and we are out of Iranian airspace."

"We are? When did that happen?" The pilot hadn't announced it.

"A while ago. We are flying over Europe, which,for now, is still friendly territory. Give it a couple of decades, and the picture might change."

He wasn't wrong, but she didn't want to think about that right now. These were happy moments, and there weren't enough of those to go around for her to squander.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Let's talk about the house. The two-bedroom model means there is room for expansion. Maybe we will get lucky and make a little occupant for that spare room?"

Kyra's gut twisted with longing. "I would love that. Jasmine's childhood was stolen from me. I want to experience motherhood."

His expression turned serious. "After we get settled in, you will probably get a summons to see the Clan Mother. She needs your help to find her beloved. She also might be able to retrieve some of those memories you've lost."

In all the commotion of saving her family, she'd forgotten about Syssi's vision and her own part in helping the Clan Mother. "I hope I won't disappoint her, and as for my memories, I hope she can retrieve them selectively."

She'd had this conversation before with Jasmine, but it seemed like it had happened in another lifetime. So much had happened since.

"I don't know if that can be done," Max said. "But the Clan Mother is kind and merciful, and she will do her best to help you."

Kyra nodded. "That begs the question of what I'msupposed to do after I help find her husband. I need a job, an occupation."

"First, you'll want time with your sisters, of course, getting to know them again. And when you're ready, there's always a place for you in the Guardian Force."

Kyra raised an eyebrow. "Do you think they'd accept me?"

"Are you kidding? With your experience? After what we encountered on this mission, it's clear that the Brotherhood has a much stronger presence in Iran than we realized. We'll need reconnaissance intelligence. Your knowledge and experience, not to mention your contacts with the resistance, would be invaluable."

The prospect sent a thrill of purpose through Kyra. Fighting alongside Max and using her skills to keep the darkness from consuming more and more of the light felt right.

"I'd like that a lot," she admitted.

"You'd be more than useful," Max said. "You'd be essential." He squeezed her hand. "But don't feel rushed. We are immortal and we think in immortal timelines. Take all the time you need to adjust."

---