Page 10 of Hers to Keep

He stared into her eyes.“My freedom was not worth your life.”

“Yes, it was.”She reached out and stroked his horn.

He rumbled pleasantly and leaned into her touch.“Do not rile me, bavi.You are not up to another round with me yet.”

She sighed, bone-weary.“Don’t go anywhere, okay?I’m just going to close my eyes for another minute.”

He leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead, his magic spreading through her body with a delicate touch.

The next time she woke, Rio’s arm was draped around her, and she felt much restored.

He curled his arm to snuggle into her and purred.“You feel better.”

She smothered a yawn with her hand.“Yeah.Dante and Dohal have basically been pouring healing magic into me all day.”

“Mmhmm.”He inhaled deeply.“That must be why you smell like s’mores.”

She laughed.“Campfire and marshmallows?”

“Yup.”He nuzzled into the back of her neck.“They belong with us.On you, they smell like home.”

She tightened her hand around his, relief flooding her.“I was afraid you might be…upset with having to share me.”

“No,” he said simply, rubbing their joined hands over her belly.“They aren’t mine, like Cisco is.But they are yours.Dante has grown on me, and I’m sure the big lug will too.”

She leaned back into him.“How’s Tristan?”

“The same.Greta checked up on him again while you were sleeping and says he’s stable.”

“Doesn’t he have to eat or something?”

“Phoenixes do this stasis thing sometimes when they are in danger.Greta thinks that’s what he’s doing.He just doesn’t know he’s safe yet, so he’s biding his time.”

She stretched her toes and calves as she considered that.“Maybe you should go tell him.”

“Huh,” he chuckled.“I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Halcyon said he came back to find you, right?So he remembers you from before.Maybe he’s just waiting for you to tell him it’s okay to wake up.”

“That’s not a bad idea.We can go try that as soon as we finish with the menu tasting.”

“Oh, right.I’d forgotten all about that.Well, good thing I’m hungry, I guess.”

“I brought you a change of clothes.”

“Oh, thank you.That was thoughtful.”She sat up and stretched her arms and her back.“Are they done in the pool house yet?”

“Close to finishing up, yeah.”

“Good.I didn’t mind napping here, but this bed definitely isn’t big enough for all of us.”

Rio exhaled a laugh.“For sure.”He rolled onto his back and watched her as she padded into the bathroom to freshen up.

When she came back out, she was wearing the cute blue dress he’d brought for her—one of Cisco’s favorites.It was cut low in the back to show off her tanned skin almost down to her hips, and she had to giggle about how obvious Rio was about trying to please him.

With a sly smile, Rio held up the sky-high white espadrilles that Cisco absolutely adored on her.

“Oh, I see, we’re flirting with our gargoyle tonight with my outfit.”

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