Page 40 of The Baker and the Wolf

My jaw drops. “You mean, you chased after her with no magic to fight with?”

“I had my shifter magic. Somehow she didn’t sense that, so my pursuit took her by surprise.”

I give his arm a squeeze. “I know you feel bad, and maybe I’m an unnatural daughter, but right now I only feel relief that she can’t prey on any of us ever again. We all worked as a team, and Chartreuse is a safer city now.”

He looks pensive. “I played my part in the plan, and you played yours. Now I’ve must get debriefed and wrap up any loose ends.”

“Wait a minute.” I lean my shoulder against the tree beside him and press my hand over his heart. “First we need to talk about us. I’ve been thinking: If I can talk my grandparents into taking me on as a recruit to serve the Magic Council, we could be together at least part of the time.”

When tears shimmer in his eyes, my heart turns over. “Benoît? What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that I can offer you nothing. I have no agency in my own life.” His voice sounds rough. “And you first spoke to me, what, five days ago? You don’t even know me.”

“I know you well enough. We’ve been through a lot during those days, and I believe you are a man I can trust. A man I could spend a lifetime with and never regret my choice.”

He stares into my eyes until the world seems to fade around us. “The first time I saw you, I knew I was in trouble,” he murmurs. “And the trouble has only grown stronger and more . . . more wonderful. I know exactly what it is: love.”

I suck in a sharp breath. The pain in my chest is terrible and delightful.

He continues, “I never loved anyone or anything more than myself, Cerise—until I met you. I would do anything for you, give up everything for you.” He smiles sadly. “I would settle down and become a family man and treasure every moment. I could sweep out the bakery and maybe learn to make éclairs with you each morning. And every day would be a delight, a gift.”

This feels like a perfect dream that will vanish even from memory when I wake. I might as well make it a dream worth living. I sit up straighter and grasp his bristly cheeks between my hands.

“Cerise—” Before he can say another word, I kiss him. After a moment of hesitation, he kisses me back, and I feel one of his gloved thumbs rub my wrist. No magic repercussion zaps him, so I lean in closer for more kisses, and he cautiously lifts one hand to my shoulder.

I’m not sure exactly how it happens, but soon I am crushed against his chest, and now he initiates the kissing, tipping his head and mine until our lips mesh more perfectly. His gloves are gone, and his surprisingly warm fingers gently caress my face and thread through my damp, tangled hair.

Dimly, in the back of my mind, I realize that we have responsibilities to face. People are waiting . . . and my backside and feet are freezing from sitting in a snowbank. None of that matters—the joy in my heart eclipses all else. But then Benoît slowly pulls back until he can look into my eyes. Fiery gold rings surround his dilated pupils. “No ward, no fae spell could ever hide your beauty and fire from me. I would give you everything . . .” He pauses, and the flames fade. “Yet I have nothing. I own nothing—not even myself.”

“We can make it work, Ben,” I say quietly. “I believe we will.” I shake my head, smiling a little. “Just now you held me and kissed me, and nothing happened to you. What if . . . what if that last burst of magic was the captivity spells breaking? What if somehow, some way, you triggered the one thing that could end your lifetime sentence?”

I watch a succession of emotions flicker through his expressive eyes. Bright hope and excitement . . . quickly followed by resignation. “I can’t even hope for that, Cerise. If my shackles did break when I destroyed the ring, they will be replaced.” His fingers trail down my cheek. I recognize that look of renunciation, but I’m not about to accept it.

Reaching for my future with everything in me, I say, “I love you, Benoît Ayad. Life is never easy, and no future is guaranteed. I’ll be a prisoner along with you if that’s what it takes. I’m no stranger to hard work. And nothing important in life is easy. We have to choose love and duty every day to make it work.”

He listens. He ponders. When he finally nods, his eyes glint with determination. Rising with no evidence of stiffness or pain, he pulls me to my feet. “Let’s go report to the Council. Together.”

“Well spoken, young man.” I hear my grandpère’s voice even as the world changes around us. Clutching Ben’s arm, I close my eyes. When I open them, we stand in a round chamber packed with well-dressed, dignified people seated in stepped rows of carved wooden seats. One of them is Rina, who wears a lovely lavender gown. She gives me a secretive, self-satisfied smile.

What happened to the pocket world?

While I stand and stare, Benoît bows in respect. “My lord. My lady.” He also nods to our seated audience. Apparently he’s used to being picked up and moved around like a game piece.

“Benoît Ayad, formerly known as Barbaro, that last wave of magic was the final dispersion of your lifetime-service curse. I apologize for not arriving in time to warn you before it struck. I don’t imagine it was a pleasant experience.”

Ben stammers, “I-I don’t understand.”

My heart feels like it’s exploding. “You’re free, Ben!” I cry, flinging my arms around his neck. “You’re not a prisoner anymore!” I then burst into tears, but no one, least of all Benoît, seems to mind my complete loss of composure.

“It has been a process,” Grandpère says, his voice formal and authoritative. I step aside, mop my face, and try to listen and behave like a lady, but Ben keeps hold of my hand. “During the past few years, the prisoner known as Barbaro has demonstrated reliability, resolve, respect for authority, and ingenuity while serving the council with increasing autonomy. In the course of this latest assignment he worked almost entirely alone to solve a complex mystery involving historical research along with magical forensics. He proved himself trustworthy and honorable while in sole charge of a girl for whom he harbored romantic feelings.”

My face went hot. How much did my grandparents—and the entire council—know about those kisses in the park?

“And today, he freely risked his life to save not only her but our entire party. In doing so, he sustained our world’s current magical community along with generations to come. Everyone at the scene, along with many of you across the world, sensed the magical chaos when he violently separated the vile ring from its host, dispersing the stolen magic as well as the fae magic in one burst. This selfless heroic action completed the dissolution of his life sentence and the magical fetters he bore for more than ten years.”

Rina nearly bounces in her seat. “And that’s not all,” she blurts.

Grandpère Gauthier gives her an indulgent smile. “A moment more, petite,” he says, and she sits back in her seat, lips compressed but eyes alight.

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