I kept staring but said no more.
“Cora, we will win.”
“They almost beat us with the first wave,” I reminded him.
“We will win,” he repeated.
“You can’t know that,” I told him.
“I do,” he replied.
“How?” I asked.
His hands lifted to frame my face and his head dipped so he was all I could see. “Because, after these last weeks, I know I will allow nothing to keep you from me. I will not go down fighting. I will stay standing until I taste victory.”
I pressed into his strong body, my hand lifting to curl around his neck and I whispered, “Tor.”
“Now, I must know, are you certain you choose my world?”
“You would stay here with me?” I asked.
Without hesitation, he replied, “Absolutely.”
I smiled into his face, feeling the weird sensation of my heart singing just as it broke.
“Then that’s good enough for me,” I whispered, his hands grew tight, his face asked his question and I turned my head to Clarabelle who was standing outside the trailer next to Noc. Tor’s hands dropped but his arms circled me again right before I called, “Send us back, please.”
She nodded. Noc looked at his feet. Tor’s arms grew tighter.
Then he let me go and moved us closer to Salem but I pulled slightly away, looked at his beautiful face and whispered, “One second.”
Then I ran to Noc, threw myself in his arms and gave him a big hug. He immediately hugged me back.
“Cora,” he whispered in my ear.
“Thanks, Noc,” I whispered over his shoulder.
“Can’t say it was fun, babe, but I can say it was an experience.”
I smiled into the darkness.
Then I said softly, “Sorry about your truck.”
“Shit happens,” he replied and I held on tighter.
I hesitated only a moment before I whispered, “I was right, you are perfect.”
I felt his face move to my neck.
“Be happy, baby,” he said on a squeeze of his arms and I nodded.
Then the tears filled my eyes.
“You’ll tell them?” I asked on a broken breath.
Another squeeze then, “Absolutely,” then another squeeze and a whispered, “Go to your man, Cora babe.”
I nodded my head, held on tight for another second and then let him go. Not looking back, I ran to Tor. The instant I got within arm’s reach, he caught me up and planted me on Salem, swinging up behind me before my bottom even settled.