Page 152 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
“Now I know which one of my friends would fight Death himself for me,” he teased. But whatever lightheartedness he aimed for melted away. “Don’t ever”—he shook his head—“ever?—”
“Actually.” Teddy smiled, and I felt a wave of magic spill from her fingertips.
I gaped down at her fingers, where a small swirl of peach magic twirled from her open palm.
“I have an open invitation to the astral realm and some cool new tricks,” she said.
I huffed out a relieved sigh. Only Teddy would fight the Guardian of Death and return with gifts. I kissed her temple and felt my shoulders relax when she nestled closer.
“He gave you magic?” Brenton asked.
“After I shot him in the face.” She raised her shirt to show the gun she kept at her waist. “Twice, not sure where the third shot hit.” She grinned. “He. ..explained some things, helped me with some footwork and swordplay. He’s not to be feared, as death is part of life.” She shrugged. “He even laughed at my jokes, which I think makes us besties.”
I huffed out another laugh.
“We have a lot to talk about,” she said, her voice going serious. “But I’d kill for a cup of coffee right now.”
If a cup of coffee was what my brave mate wanted, that was what she’d get. I bent space so that we were inside the coffee shop in town. There weren’t as many tables or chairs asthere once was because of the riot from a week ago, but everything else had been fixed.
I brewed her the best cup I could make while she messaged her friends to meet us. While we waited, we sat at a small circular table with me on one side of Teddy and Brenton on the other. One of the overhead lights had gone out, so the space wasn’t too brightly lit. I preferred it as it reminded me of the warm hue of our spheres of fae light back home.
Brenton was uncharacteristically quiet and seemed to track Teddy’s every movement, which made sense. It wasn’t every day someone fought Death to bring you back to life.
I owed her so much. She’d fought for my friend’s life. For Brenton, but also for me.
There had only ever been three times in our recorded history that someone had gone to the astral realm to fight Death. One had been successful, while one had returned empty handed. The last fae to fight Death had never returned. Of those three, each had been aware they could die in their battle. Each had been willing to sacrifice their own lives for that of another’s. Teddy had done that. Had set her own life aside to save Brenton’s.
It made her a warrior, yes, but also a female who loved so fiercely, so openly, she’d risked herself for another.
She seemed different somehow. Happier. As if some burdens she’d carried were no longer weighing her down. When I told her, her eyes seemed to brighten.
“I learned something from Death, or Eiran, today,” she said. “One day, I’m going to die. I don’t know when that’ll be, but until that day comes, I’m going to live life the way I want. The life I want is with you, and yeah, that still terrifies me, but I’m more scared to die tomorrow without telling you I love you.”
I stilled, everyone around us going silent.
“You love me?” I breathed out.
She kissed my chin. “I love you very, very much, Elias.”
My breath caught in my lungs.
She loved me.
“I didn’t want to,” she admitted, her voice low. “I feared what I feel for you. I was scared of what you feel for me. It’s so much and so big, and I was scared because what if you went back to your world and left me? What if you found someone else?” She rubbed the center of her chest. “I’d be empty, and I don’t want to feel that emptiness again. I was angry when you told me everything about. . .” She waved her hand without saying anything else, which was fine. I knew what she meant. “You were willing to take on all the blame and made it easy to feel like I was right to be angry. And it was a lot easier to be angry with you than to be scared.” She gave me a sheepish, crooked smile.
I brushed her hair back, letting my fingers trail over her neck. “It’s only you, Teddy. It’s only ever been you. I look at you, and sometimes I wonder if love isn’t a big enough word for what I feel for you. You consume me,mo elma.”
She slipped off her chair to sit on my lap, where I wrapped my arms around her waist, my fingers grazing the soft skin beneath her sweater. She dipped her head down, and with her arms sliding around my neck, she kissed me. This time, it wasn’t just a simple touch of our lips but our souls dancing together.
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
ELIAS
Another potof coffee brewed as Teddy spoke to her friends. Donnie fussed over her while Ryenne beamed, proud her friend had kicked Death’s ass, though Teddy insisted she hadn’t kicked anyone’s ass.
I love you very, very much, Elias.
