She ended his words with a kiss.

Velkan growled as she explored every inch of his mouth and buried one hand in his hair. “Esperetta—”

“No,” she said, tightening her grip in his hair. “I won’t hear any protests from you.”

He laughed at that. “I wasn’t protesting. I only wanted to say welcome home.”

Retta drew her breath in sharply at his words. “Really?”

He nodded, but even so she could tell that he didn’t truly believe her. But at least he was allowing her to stay. It was a start, and it was one that gave her hope.

The door opened again as Viktor and Andrei brought in the next trunk. They paused in the doorway.

“Should we come back later?” Andrei asked.

“Yes,” Velkan said, his voice thick. “And take your time about it.”

The men reversed course.

Retta laughed until Velkan kissed her again. Yeah, this was what she needed, at least until he pulled back and glanced at the trunk. “You didn’t arrive here with trunks.”

She bit her lip sheepishly. “It’s symbolic,” she confessed. “They’re actually empty.” Then she frowned as she realized he was dressed. “Where were you going?”

“No place.”

She arched a brow at that as a sneaking suspicion went through her. “No?”

She saw him hesitate before he spoke in a deep, emotionally charged voice. “I was going to find you and ask you to stay.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “I don’t want you to leave, Esperetta.”

“You’re willing to trust me then?”

He hedged. “Well…”

“Velkan!”

He kissed her lips, melting her anger. “I will trust you, but only if you swear to never leave here again.”

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and met that dark gaze levelly. “I will only leave if you’re with me. Promise.” Then she rubbed the tip of her nose against his before she met his lips and sealed that promise with a scorching kiss.

Epilogue

In all the centuries, Velkan had never bothered with The Order. He’d left them alone to run amok without his interference. But all that was about to end.

They’d threatened Esperetta and had almost killed her. Now that he had his wife back, he wasn’t about to let anyone take her from him again.

Without preamble, he used his powers to open the door to Dieter’s home. Velkan strode through the doorway as if he owned it. Dieter and Stephen looked up with a gasp, as did five other men.

And before Velkan could move, an arrow was shot at his chest. He caught it in his fist and tossed it to the floor. “Don’t even try that again,” he snarled.

“W-what are you doing here?” Dieter said as a fine sheet of sweat appeared on his forehead.