She shot him a quizzical look, but he just smiled and squeezed her hand. “Patience, love.”
Footsteps came from inside, and then, the door swung open.
Brynleigh stared, blinking repeatedly. She opened and closed her mouth, but words were hard to find.
“I… This… Zanri?”
No matter how many times she closed and reopened her eyes, he remained standing in front of her. He looked… well, probably as good as she had when she’d first gotten out of prison. He was leaning on a cane, his skin was a collection of bruises, and he was far too thin.
But he was here.
Alive.
She turned to Ryker, her brows furrowed. “How?”
Her fae captain smiled and squeezed her hand. “After the Reunion, several teams searched Jelisette’s safe house. They uncovered information about her nefarious dealings. She was blackmailing dozens of people, including Zanri. Once we had that, I petitioned the Chancellor to release him as an act of goodwill.”
Silver lined Brynleigh’s eyes, and she held a hand over her mouth. This was… it was… Unexpected. Generous. Considerate. She’d felt so horrible about leaving her friend in Moonwater Prison, especially after everything that had happened.
“Thank you, Ryker.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Thank you so much.”
She couldn’t seem to think of any other words that would adequately convey the depth of her appreciation, but she’d show him later just how much this unexpected gesture meant to her.
Would this man never cease to surprise her?
He untangled their fingers and gently pushed her inside.
“Go ahead, catch up. I’ll make some dinner and warm up some blood for you.”
Ryker was so gods-damned considerate.
And he was hers.
Forever.
CHAPTER 41
He’d Chosen Well
Three months later
Snow fell leisurely from the midnight, star-speckled sky, dancing towards the ground. Ryker inhaled deeply, the crisp air infiltrating his lungs. The Northern Region was always cold, but it was even more frigid than normal after the winter they’d just had.
It didn’t bother him at all. No amount of cold could chase the warmth that had taken up residency in his heart since the Reunion.
Ryker hadn’t known that happiness could be so consuming or that it could completely alter every aspect of one’s life. Everything he did was made easier with Brynleigh by his side. She made him a better man; each day was better than the last.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured from beside him.
Marlowe barked as if emphasizing her point. The dog sat patiently at Ryker’s feet, waiting to be allowed to run around.
The fae wiggled his fingers in his gloves, the cold permeating every layer he wore. It was true that the Northern Region was especially stunning in the winter, not that there were many seasonal differences this far north.
In the land once known as Eleyta, winter reigned ten monthsout of the year. Snow-capped mountains speared the skies. Evergreen trees wearing white coats rose all around them. The Black Sea was in front of them, stretching as far as the eye could see. A massive hunting lodge was at their backs, and the vacation rental was exactly as pictured.
It was perfect.
Ryker looked to his left. Brynleigh was staring at the mountains, and Ryker unabashedly studied his beautiful wife. Her cheeks were tinged in pink, and golden tendrils escaped her braid. A black scarf and mittens only added to her vampiric beauty, accentuating her pale skin and goddess-touched features. Cast in the moon’s silver light, she had an ethereal air that drew him to her.