Page 229 of The Spider Queen
“Wow.”
“What?”
He grinned. “You’re still you. Still the woman who likes to have all answers.”
“I’m no longer human. That doesn’t mean I got a personality transplant.”
Thane threw back his head and laughed. It carried across the battlefield to startle others. His joy brought tears to my eyes, and I tried to compose myself.
“Hey,” Thane said, gently grasping my shoulders to turn me to face him. “Why are you crying?”
I flung myself into his arms. “I never thought I’d get to hear your laugh again. I never thought I could be so happy, so grateful for being alive—and so unhappy at the same time.” I leaned back to look up at him, my cheeks stained with tears I no longer bothered to conceal. “I deserved to die, Thane. What I did to Hunter—”
“Poppy,” he said, his voice harsh. “Listen to me very carefully.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “I’d do it all again. Every single thing. And I don’t care if it’s selfish. Or that he was the better man. I get to love you. I killed my own brother. I’d gladly do it every day for the rest of eternity if it meant getting you. So you can mourn and feel guilty over the choices you made when it came to Hunter. But I’m going to remind you that you’re allowed to be happy.”
It would be so advantageous to believe his words. My heart grieved as much as it rejoiced. How was I supposed to move forward without coming to grips with what I’d done?
If only I could talk to Hunter. If only I could apologize. But what good what that do? It wouldn’t absolve me of my sins or alleviate the guilt.
Thane brushed the tears from my skin and then gripped my hand. “We should join the others.”
Auri was sitting by a campfire, talking to a man with silver hair. When she saw us, she shot up from her seat. Auri pulled me into a quick hug, startling a squeak out of me.
“How are you?” she asked.
“Fine,” I said automatically.
She threw me an amused look. “Just fine? After a night with this one?” She pointed to Thane who was pretending to look annoyed, but he quickly gave way to a smile.
“You overwhelm people, Auri.”
Auri waved her hand and rolled her eyes. She tugged on my arm and led me toward the man who was sitting on a log, his blue eyes following me. “Poppy, I’d like you to meet my brother, Argentum.”
Argentum rose and bowed slightly. “A pleasure.”
“Likewise,” I said, trying to register his show of respect.
“Don’t mind him. He’s always a bit formal.”
“And you’re not formal enough,” he chastised. “Would you like something to eat?” He gestured to the large black cauldron that hovered over the flames without being propped up by stakes. Magic cooking, apparently.
“Sure,” I said. “Thank you.” I took a seat on another log, and Thane sat next to me, cradling me close. I didn’t know if it was a show of affection or possession, but either way, I soaked it up.
“Where’s Gabriel?” Thane asked Auri. “I thought he’d be back by now to give us an update about Heaven.”
Auri took the wooden bowl from her brother and brought it to me. “He’ll be back soon.” She winked. “Trust me.”
Thane chuckled. “Like that, is it?”
Auri and the fallen angel had obviously spent a night together, but I thought it had been nothing more than a one-night stand. Maybe I was wrong.
“He can’t resist me,” Auri boasted. She handed Thane another bowl.
I downed a spoonful of the stew. It was rich and gamey. Exactly what I needed. “This is good. Thank you.”
“Thank my brother. He made it.”
Argentum laughed. “Because you can’t cook.”
