Page 43 of Rapunzel Unchained

“Well, that’s covered. No one else will be able to use it to find you. You’ll have to figure out what to do about them,” Rebeccatossed a hand at our guests, “and the others know about us. Perhaps we should move?”

I leveled a look at the mages who had done more than save my life. They had filled it with more than just revenge. “No, I think we can stay. They won’t tell.”

The amount of love that came barreling at me from all three of them almost knocked me out of my seat. I hadn’t said the words but I felt them. Was it nice to get a big declaration of love? Yes. However, just them being here, showing up for me, said far more than words ever could.

“Before we get into what Sentinel Nickolai thinks you should–” Zane began, pulling his glasses off to clean them.

“Call me Nick. Nickolai is so formal.” The council member crossed his leg over one side, leaning back in his chair. “If we’re going to start a rebellion, I think we can at least drop the formalities.”

My lips twitched. “A rebellion, huh? Alright, Nick. Zane?” His name came out of my mouth like a prayer, like a plea for him to forgive me.

“Nickol— Nick.” Zane cleared his throat. “Would you and Rebecca give us a moment alone?”

Rebecca exchanged a look with me and then gestured to the council member. “Have you seen my garden, Nick? It’s absolutely breathtaking.”

She looped her arm through Nick’s and led him out of the house, leaving me alone with the three mages who had found a place in my heart.

“Eva.” Zane took up the chair Nick had vacated, placing him close enough to reach out to touch my hands. “About what happened last night and, I suppose, the other day as well...”

“Look, Zane.” I sighed, slipping my hands out from his. “I don’t know what Gage told you—”

His lips curled up into a wicked grin. It startled me enough that I searched his gaze for the telltale signs of the demon in his eyes. Except only Zane looked back at me.

“Gage didn’t have to tell me what happened, Eva.” His tongue swiped out across his lips and my face heated at the implications. “I could taste you on my tongue. I just wanted you to know I’m not mad.”

I arched a brow and glanced over at the twins. Who only watched in silence. “You’re not? But I used you to get to your demon.”

Zane chuckled. “Yes, you did. And initially, I was angry. Only because you were putting yourself in danger.”

“I wasn’t in danger. I can handlehim.”

The smirk on Zane’s mouth made me want to kiss him. “Yes, I gathered that. In fact, it seems the demon is quite taken with you. He hasn’t acted up ever since that time in the chapel. If anything, he keeps pushing me to see you.” He angled his head to the side, letting his hair fall partially over his face.

“Oh,” I breathed. “Oh!”

The demon in Zane hadn’t seemed too upset that I called upon him last night. Now, after what Zane had just said, it made more sense that he hadn’t tried to give me as much grief as before. It definitely tipped the scale in my favor to know the demon actually wanted me.

“Eva.” Zane scooched forward in his seat, his knees bumping against mine. “You have no idea how much relief you have given me.”

I stared at him.

“I’ve been terrified the demon would come out and hurt you or worse.” His fingers rough against mine, stroked along my knuckles. “I’ve always held myself back from getting close to anyone because of the demon. You have dashed all those worries and fears away in a span of a few days. I can’t tell you howhappy that makes me. And as far as taking advantage of me...” he smirked, side-eyeing the twins. “You have my full permission to use whatever part of me you want as long as it keeps that demon happy and off my case.”

“But...” I stopped, opening and closing my mouth, getting myself together. “I don’t understand. I was using you to get information about the council. Doesn’t that bother you?”

Zane shrugged. “You didn’t have to fuck me to get the demon on your side and yet you did. That means something doesn’t it?”

I licked my lips, the sound of the prim and proper cleric saying fuck, made my insides twist in delight. “He told me... that you were in love with me?”

The fear that welled up in me. Hearing the demon say it was one thing. Actually, hearing Zane say it was another.

Zane cupped my face between his hands, his eyes peering into mine. “Eva, I love you. It may be too fast for others. But not for me. I love the sweet shy Eva. The one who kissed me in the kitchen and blushed furiously about it.”

I giggled slightly.

“And I love this version of you. This confident ‘takes what she wants, fighting for those who can’t’ version. The version who literally battled my demon for me.”

Blake snorted.

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