This was normal. This had been my life, and I knew it would be again.
The old Davy was rearing up. She wanted to join in, but the slight tease I had was held back. If I joined in with the joking, they would be quieted in shock. Then, they’d want more. They’d start looking for the old Davy every minute, every hour, every time they were around me and she wasn’t there. Not yet. But she was coming. I felt her in me again.
I turned back to the window and gazed down. Roane was there, listening to Emily who was pointing at a post that was covered with flowers. Her hand movements were sharp, and his frown grew, even as I watched.
Emily never wanted to bother me with anything, so she bothered him. I thought it was hilarious.
“Having fun?” I asked him.
He looked up, knowing exactly where I was. He thought back, “Your old roommate still drives me crazy.”
“Remember when she had a crush on you?”
He groaned. “I was using her to get to you. I should’ve known better.”
Resting a hand to the window frame, I leaned closer. I teased back, “Oh, come on. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re a stud.”
“Don’t start.”
I laughed under my breath. “You’re the last living Hunter. You’re a legend, Lucas.”
“Davina.” He sighed.
I kept going, loving the sweet torment. “I know you’re a legend in my mind. A legend in bed.”
His eyes flashed a warning. “If you keep going, I’ll come up there and show you how legendary you can be, too.”
My hands curled around the frame. “Promise?”
He groaned again, shaking his head. Emily quieted, and stared at him blankly. Her eyes trailed up, following his, and when she saw me, understanding flared over her face. She lifted a hand, giving me an impish grin, and said, “I’ll let you two be alone. Davina, dress.”
I opened the window and hollered down, “Aye, aye, Staff Sergeant.”
I didn’t think, but as soon as the words left my mouth, I cringed. Emily’s eyes widened and she sucked in her breath. That was the old Davy. Sarcastic. Teasing. Still grimacing, I waved back. “I will. Thank you, Emily.”
A sheen of tears showed and her hand waved again. Her smile softened. “I’ll be up in a bit. Your hair looks beautiful.”
She darted around Lucas, hurrying and waving at someone else. Lucas was still there, and my eyes found his again. He asked, “You okay?”
I nodded. “I am.”
“I love you.”
Warmth rushed through me. “I love you, too.”
“You’re going to be my wife in an hour.”
I gave him a half-grin. “You have an hour to run away. You’ve been warned.”
“Never.” His eyes glittered, his love shone brightly there. “Never, Davina of the Roane Bloodline. You are mine forever. You are in my heart. You are in my soul. We are of one now.”
Saren shrieked behind me and both of us grinned at the other.
Roane thought to me, “One day we’ll explain why she’ll age older than us.”
I barked out a laugh. “It’s a hell of a story.”
“Yes,” he answered. “It was, wasn’t it?”