Just as Katarina had finally found freedom. Christabel had been so proud.
Her emotions must have shown across her face because Emmanuel cupped her cheek in a firm grip, his dark eyes latching onto hers.
“I’ll play nice with the werewolves,” she muttered tightly.
Tasting the sharp metal points her teeth had turned into, she dialed Heath again. “Pick up.”
* * * *
Six weeks later
Trumansburg, New York
The band started strumming for the song “Lazy Eye,” and Alex disappeared before Leila’s eyes.
Well not exactly. He leaned down for some reason, almost completely obscuring himself in shadows. Maybe his shoe was untied? Leila wasn’t paying him her full attention; this band was good, and she’d been waiting to see them for weeks. It was pure luck her work hiatus had come at such a convenient time.
“Leila,” he commanded, amusement clear in his voice. The fact that she could hear him over the music was amazing. She was beginning to think some of his super werewolf hearing had rubbed off on her.
His earth abilities sure had. It was how she’d crafted the flower crown sitting atop her head. She put a petal between her fingers and kneeled down so she could see what Alex wanted.
The ring glinted in a sliver of light that fell over the crowd.
Words failed her. She produced some sort of strange sputtering sound that she sincerely hoped the guitar riff drowned out.
“Leila Sinead Newman, woman of my dreams, love of my heart, would you allow me the profound privilege of being your husband?”
His voice shook with emotion, his blue eyes glittering. Her heart clenched. Leila had to keep herself from flying up, away from him. They were mated, and she’d even moved in with him, unable to resist the studio he’d built for her as well as the new, mundane books he’d filled his bookcases with. Not to mention, she couldn’t resist him.
She wanted to be his wife too, she realized. They were everything to each other, so why not make it official? Leila grinned, reached out and took the ring from him so she could slide it onto her finger.
At sight of her wearing his ring, he took her face in his hands and kissed her breathless. Happiness left her lightheaded, letting her soar without using her wings. There was nothing to be afraid of now, nothing to mar her future with this man. Above all, she felt peace.
Music swirling around them, people laughing and dancing in the background, they kneeled on the dirt in upstate New York and kissed in the chilled air, both forgetting everything else.
“Find me a priest,” she managed, her smile so wide she was surprised it didn’t crack her face. “I’m there.”
The End
Publisher’s Note
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About Samantha Stone
Samantha Stone is a twenty-something graduate student studying speech-language pathology in Alabama. She’s proficient in French and Signing Exact English, and considers New Orleans the home of her heart. Most days you can find her doing fluency-related research, chasing her creatures around New Orleans (in her head), or curled up with a good book. She’s convinced her dog is a coyote…or maybe a cadejo sent to protect her from all things that go bump in the night.
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Other Titles by Samantha Stone
The Crescent City Creatures
Punished
Hunted
Enspelled
Healed
Returned Page 29
