Fifth a Fury (Goddess Isles 5)

Fuck.

Rubbing my face, I pinched the bridge of my nose, cursing the fear still in my thoughts. I supposed it would take time for my mind to heal as well as my body.

Drake was dead.

That Q bastard was mollified.

Cal had restored the sensors and snares hidden around the reef.

No matter what happened, I would always protect Eleanor—by shield, sword, or my soul. If she died, it would be an impossible task for me to continue so I might as well die in her stead.

Cricking my neck and doing my best to dispel unhappy thoughts, I massaged the areas of healing bone in thigh and shin where aching had magnified. My legs still looked fucking horrendous, but I’d proven Louise’s predications wrong by walking in a month instead of two.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t deny that it cost me a lot. Christ, the walk from Nirvana—along the shore, and back into my villa—had taxed me to the point where I almost asked Eleanor to go get Cal to carry my ass.

If it hadn’t been for her and the stick she’d found for me to use as a crutch, I would’ve happily slept outside with the Komodo dragons.

Sitting in the dark, I stared at her. I ran my gaze along the sensual curve of her back and the mounds of her ass. When we’d first met, I’d seen a stunning girl who’d enticed and intoxicated me. Now, I saw a queen who I kept falling in love with. Each time I found out something new about her, I slipped further. Each time she let down her guard and said something stupid or made a face or mocked me with sarcasm, I became hers until not a single shred belonged to me anymore.

Tonight, I’d walked farther than I had since Geneva with broken bones and a hole in my thigh, and I was closer to my goal. She’d carried a lot of my weight with no complaint. She’d accepted my flaws with no judgment.

She never said no to me.

No matter if it taxed her or shoved her well past her comfort zones.

She was mine, and I was sick of waiting to make it official.

Grabbing my phone from the side table, I settled back against the pillows and pulled up the contact details for an event planner in Java. Normally, I used their services for guest stays in mainland hotels before they were flown to my shores. Occasionally, I’d enlisted them to host a few of my corporate contacts if flying to the States wasn’t possible.

Now, they had a new task.

From:

To:

Subject: Wedding

Hello Jaya,

Please arrange a celebrant, bridal gown fitting the girl in the attached photo, and basic decorations for a beach wedding in six days. Catering will be done in-house. Small ceremony. Vows will be supplied. Please ensure no expense is spared on the dress but the rest…it’s merely perfunctory.

I have faith that you will deliver another perfect event.

A helicopter will collect you, the celebrant, and items at seven p.m. the night before.

Kind regards,

Sullivan Sinclair

A smile twitched my lips as Eleanor shifted beside me, her gentle sigh making my heart fist. She slept beside me still bearing the name Grace. Unlike so many unfortunate surnames, that one suited her. She was the very embodiment of elegance and beauty. But in six days, she would become a Sinclair.

Eleanor Jinx Sinclair.

Sharing in my sin for eternity.

I went to turn off my phone, only for it to vibrate with two new messages.

One from Jaya and her planning company confirming my requests and another one from a friend who had perfect timing.

To:

From

Subject: Ring

Sullivan,

Your rings are finished and are flying to you as we speak. I took the liberty of fashioning a male version of the wedding band, so your wife-to-be has something to claim you as hers in return. There’s something about seeing a diamond flash on your finger, knowing that it chains you to her, that soothes a man’s soul. I know it did for me, and I expect the same for you.

Wish we could be there to share in your day, but I expect details when you visit Hawksridge next.

Until then, stay safe and congratulations to you and Mrs. Sinclair.

P.S. Nila sends her apologies that she couldn’t design a dress in time.

Jet

Chapter Forty-Two

“SULLY IS ACTING WEIRD.”

Jess chuckled from where she did her exercises on the deck of Cal’s villa. “What do you mean weird? Isn’t he always weird? You know…weirder than say a normal boyfriend working in an office who likes slabs of cow for dinner?”

Even though she broke her coma before Sully had, she hadn’t gained her mobility as fast. She could stand and walk now, but not for long periods. Unlike Sully, who had the relentless need to walk on his own so he could marry me as fast as possible, Jess had a man who enjoyed doting on her.