The Shadow Princess (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 6)

“Clearly,” Bastien agreed. He truly hoped Amell wouldn’t suffer too much. “But the night is young, my wife has danced with far too many people who aren’t her husband, and I’d like some alone time with her.”

Thalia laughed as Bastien led her away, not toward the musicians and the other folks frolicking, but into a copse of pressian trees that, while a bit dim as they blocked out the moonlight, still provided a magical atmosphere with their glowing leaves.

They walked hand in hand, silently, and then Bastien said, “It seems odd to be this happy. Years of war and death and… emptiness. I’m filled now with so many good things, it just… takes some getting used to.”

Thalia squeezed his hand, leaned in, and wrapped her other around his bicep as they strolled. They reached an area where the branches of the pressians didn’t meet and a sliver of pink light came through. Bastien halted, turned her toward him, and marveled at how the lighting made her look otherworldly.

But then again, she was to him in all ways so much more than this world had to offer.

Thalia tipped her head back, pink moon sparkles reflecting in her eyes. “Want to know what’s odd?”

His arms went around her waist. “What’s that?”

“When I was in Wyoming, I always felt something was missing. I had an emptiness inside me. I always attributed it to my parents being dead—or at least the memory that was created for me. But when my memories were returned, and I realized the truth of what happened… that I had lost you… I realized that emptiness was because of that.

“It was a different feeling when my true memories of my parents returned. I think even across time, distance, dimensions, and false memories, a deep part of me still always felt the loss of you.”

Bastien took her face in his palms and bent to kiss her softly. “I think that means a love like ours can’t be extinguished. Damaged, perhaps. Lost, even. But never extinguished.”

“Never,” she agreed fiercely.

Bastien took her mouth again, and this time it was full of years of lost passion he needed to reclaim. Thalia was breathless when he lifted but managed to ask, “Do you think it would be rude for us to leave for Wyoming now so we can start the honeymoon?”

Lips twitching with humor, he nodded. “Sadly, it would be rude. People will want to celebrate with us until dawn.”

“Rats,” Thalia said through pouty lips. “I’ve been thinking about a dozen different dirty thing we might try—”

The kiss Bastien gave her knocked her senseless, and then the world tilted as he bent distance and transported them to his cottage back in town. “It’s rude to leave for the honeymoon now, but no one is going to begrudge us sneaking off for an hour.”

Thalia beamed at him, and it was now his turn to be breathless from that one grace she gave him. In fact, he could look at her smile for hours and be satisfied.

Somewhat.

He glanced back to the bed, picked up his wife, and carried her there. The smile was great and all, but he really would rather start the honeymoon a bit early.

So he kissed her again and…