Authors: Cate Tiernan
Eternally Yours (42 page)
Henrik, Molly’s last puppy, was growing into a showstopper, with a finely molded head, beautiful, perfect
conformation, and an elegant gait. Dúfa was Dúfa, but she was bigger.
As Brynne and I walked toward the house, I nudged her with my elbow. “Soooo?”
To my surprise she blushed and put her head down, her bouncy corkscrew curls making a halo around her head. “He succumbed,” she muttered, and I stopped short on the first porch step, my mouth open.
“Reeaaally?” I said. “And are we overcome with joy? Did we hear angels sing?”
Brynne nodded, still blushing, and I made a mental note to say something embarrassing to Joshua later. He’d decided to stick around River’s Edge for a while, first to help repair the house and get things back together, then because he’d realized just how much he’d missed connecting with family, and now, apparently, to make kissy-face with the Brynnster.
“You go, girl,” I said, and we slapped high fives.
“Well,” she said self-consciously, “I figured if he and Reyn could have a bromance, there was no reason why he should hold out on
me
.”
“Very true,” I agreed, and we went inside.
Yes. Joshua and Reyn, sworn enemies for
several hundred years
, were now likethis. Every couple of weeks they had horrible, scary, loud swordfights in the yard at River’s Edge. Anne kept begging them to stop because they did occasionally
make contact with each other, requiring stitches, tea, and healing spells. But it seemed to satisfy something in them.
Inside, River was just coming out of her office. She had changed, since March. After thirteen hundred years of dealing with whatever came her way, this last battle had taken something out of her. She had lost weight and looked like she had aged ten (human) years in the last two months. I was worried about her, but she kept insisting she was fine.
“Hello, my dear,” she said, and we did the double-cheek-kiss thing. “How’s your real-estate empire doing? I forgot to ask you yesterday.”
“Going well,” I said, rubbing my hands together mogul-style. “I was talking to that guy who gives away T-shirts if you buy a T-shirt, you know? I think I may have lured him into my old factory, out on Devan Road. I think the crew can fix it up in about ten weeks, and then he could open an arm of his T-shirt conglomerate there. Maybe Skunk could be one of his designers.”
“That sounds awesome,” said Brynne.
“Mwa ha ha ha,” I said. “Soon I will own this whole town!”
River laughed and hugged me. I loved my real-estate empire.
In the dining room, Rachel was putting out a platter of salmon on the sideboard, and Charles was behind her with the last of the season’s spinach. I was glad they had come
back—Lorenz hadn’t. But that’s how rehab is—you come and go as often as you need to, for as long as you need to. I thought he’d be back eventually.
Amy had left several weeks after that night—Ottavio had died, and she seemed a bit lost. Everyone asked her to stay longer, but she’d taken off. I knew what that was like—in a new place, she wouldn’t be reminded of everything every time she turned around. She could be someone different, someone who hadn’t just gone through what she’d gone through. She’d be back, too, someday.
Reyn arrived just as we were sitting down. Okay, we hadn’t been together very long, but I was still taken aback by how happy I was to see him, over and over. He kissed my cheek as he sat next to me, and then we all held hands and gave thanks for the food.
Asher stood up and tapped on his wineglass. “Everyone? Can I have your attention, please?”
I quickly took a chunk of salmon—who knew how much would be left the next time the platter came around?
“I’d like to announce that my friend Petrov will be joining us later this summer,” Asher said. “I don’t know of anyone with a greater knowledge of the history of immortals, and he’s also very gifted in spellcraft. His addition will benefit our community greatly.”
“Yay!” said Anne, raising her glass. “I’ve met Petrov, and he’s lovely. I know you’ll all like him.”
River smiled and raised her glass with the rest of us.
“And another thing,” Asher continued, and turned to face River. She raised a quizzical eyebrow. “The last seven decades with you have been the best of my life,” he said, and we all went very still and quiet. Under the table, Reyn took my hand. “I mean, it’s been really hard, also.”
We all chuckled, including River.
“But they have been the best, because I’ve shared them with you.”
River’s face softened, and her eyes shone as she gazed at him.
“And I’m asking you, before family and friends, to marry me.”
No one was expecting this, and there were many quick, wide-eyed looks around the table.
As for River, she seemed stunned, staring at Asher with her mouth open.
Looking unsure but hopeful, Asher took a small box out of his pocket and opened it. Inside was a gorgeous, old-fashioned ring, with a huge emerald in the center flanked by two rose-cut diamonds. Even from where I sat, I could see that the yellow-gold band was engraved with flowers.
Reyn held my hand more tightly.
River was still silent and staring.
“Wow—it’s hard to surprise River, but you did it, Ash,” Anne said, to break the tense silence. We laughed nervously,
hoping this didn’t turn into a train wreck right in front of us.
Still Asher stood there, warmth rising on his cheeks as he waited.
“Marry!” River said, her voice thin.
“Yes.” Asher raised his chin.
“Marry!”
“You heard me.”
“I… I’ve never been married.” River actually looked frightened at the prospect.
“Whoa—never?” said Rachel.
“I love weddings,” said Charles. “Like, a September wedding.”
“No… never,” said River, still looking stunned.
Asher just waited.
“Why… well, yes,” said River bemusedly. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
I was such a soft, little, gushy, emotional clam these days that I actually teared up and had to sniffle. Reyn put his arm around my shoulder and kissed my hair.
Anne started clapping, and of course we all joined in. River was both laughing and crying as Asher slid the ring on her finger, and then they kissed and hugged, standing there holding each other while we all cheered.
Reyn leaned over and whispered in my ear. “So… even River fell.”
I quit laughing and looked at him quickly. He had his “I will be victorious” face on, and I felt a prickle of alarm. “Oh
no,” I said, uncomfortably remembering the
five
other leaves on the vine in my vision. “River’s different. Sure, she should try it once. But
no one
wants to
keep
doing it.”
Reyn just gave a slow smile.
Hmm.
Immortal Beloved
Darkness Falls
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2012 by Gabrielle Charbonnet
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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ISBN 978-0-316-21559-6