“Finnie,” he muttered as I held him tighter, my body pressing into his like I wanted him to absorb me.
“I said things –” I started, my voice hoarse, my throat clogged with tears.
“We will not discuss this now,” he said quietly but firmly. “I wronged you, my love, but I will explain –”
My head shot back and I whispered fervently, “You did but it was me… me who said unforgiveable things and –”
I stopped when his thumb came to my lips and pressed as his face got close.
“It is for me to forgive or not to forgive and you said no less than I deserved,” he stated, again soft but firm. “But I have an enemy to vanquish, Apollo and my men are standing behind you getting more and more impatient by the second having ceased being touched by lovers reunited about five minutes ago and now wishing my ear. So, we will discuss it later.”
I stared in his beautiful, beautiful olive green eyes with their thick, lush lashes.
Then I whispered, “Okay.”
He grinned.
My eyes dropped to his mouth.
God, I loved his grin. I loved his eyes. I loved the feel of his arms around me.
And I loved him.
Therefore, I blurted, “I love you, Frey Drakkar.”
He closed his eyes, dropped his forehead to mine and whispered, “And I you, Finnie Drakkar.”
I closed my eyes too and sighed, my body relaxing into my husband’s.
But my husband’s body didn’t relax against mine. His head tilted, his lips found mine, they opened, mine reciprocated and he kissed me. He took his time, he did it right and it was the best kiss I ever had.
Save one.
The one he gave me at our wedding.
That would always be at the top of the list.
Even if, with this one, cool-as-shit dragons were watching.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The Aftermath
One and a half weeks later…
Mother and I stood, both of us wearing black suede cloaks, black leather gloves, our hair free around our shoulders, our crowns in place, our booted feet on the rocky shore and we watched the boat with its square sail patterned in red and gold diamonds catching the wind, making it drift into the Winter Sea.
It was lined in red and gold silk and in its middle, on a platform, my father’s remains were shrouded in dark red and surrounded by flickering candles protected from the wind by red tinted glass.
Just behind me to my left Frey stood so close I felt his chest brush my shoulder even through the cloak.
A vast gathering of silent Lunwynians stood behind the three of us, along the sweeping hill that met the icy sea, its glaciers drifting in the distance.
I stared at the boat and kept my shoulders straight, my head high and endured the burn in my chest as the boat and its precious cargo floated out to sea.
Then Frey raised his fisted hand and lowered it.
Thirty seconds later we heard the flap of powerful, huge, leathery wings.