Page 133 of The Silent
“I have waited so long for you,” Leowhispered.
Kyra put her arms around his neck, holding him so tightly he nearly lost hisbreath.
“I have crossed continents,” he continued. “I have fought battles. I have seen wonders, my love. But nothing that could ever compare to thismoment.”
She couldn’t speak, but he heard her in his mind. He more than heard her, heknewher.
Iloveyou.
You aremymate.
You are myreshon.
You aremyhome.
Leo felt his magic rise and meet hers in a kiss. Kyra rocked over him as her body tightened around him. He felt the latent power of his climax starting at his toes, growing and building as their bodies and soulsbecameone.
Kyra’s lips met Leo’s, and he saw stars when he closed his eyes, rising and chasing each other across the sky. He heard the chorus of the heavens and the harmony of their union. He heard it as they came together, falling astheyflew.
Epilogue
They stayedin Phuket for two weeks, experimenting with magic, touring the islands by boat, and resting. They slept late. They made love in the middle of the day. They went to night markets and swam under thestars.
And then theywenthome.
The plane to Istanbul landed in midafternoon; they heard the afternoon call of the muezzin as they crossed the HaliçBridge.
Kyra had been in Istanbul many times, but this time she was returning as a member of a large family, not as a visitor. She’d spoken to Ava on the phone, and her friend had been ecstatic that Kyra and Leo would be living at the house. She was eager for company beyond Malachi’s brothers and Mala, who split time between Cappadocia and the city. She was full of plans and news for her new sister, eager to introduce Kyra to more magical practice as well as having another female in the housefull-time.
Kyra was still unsure how well she would manage in a large communal environment. She realized she was tapping her toes and pulling at the seam of the dress she’d bought inThailand.
Leo squeezed her hand. “Nervous?”
She smiled. “Alittle.”
“If it gets to be too much, you have totellme.”
“Iwill.”
“My brothers can beannoying.”
“I’lltellyou.”
“Especially my cousin. He meanswell,but—”
“Leo, I promise.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’ll tell you if I need some timealone.”
Their cab wound through the old streets of Beyoglu, dodging pedestrians and pushcarts. When they pulled up to the familiar wooden house, she saw Malachi and Ava standing outside, two small children held intheirarms.
“The babies?” Kyra asked, her mouthagape.
“Not so smallanymore.”
“No, they’re not.” Kyra’s heart leapt at thesight.
The little girl and boy bounced in their parents’ arms, excited and waving at the bright yellow cab. Ava and Malachi scrambled to hold them, picking up a toy that went flying and laughing at their children’santics.
“Can we have one?” she asked withoutthinking.
