They wrap their arms around me, shielding me from the whipping wind and the horrors just beyond. It’s so warm and comfortable and right, I can’t help but sob.

“It’s okay, wildfire,” Malice whispers, brushing away my tears with the pad of his thumb as he tilts my face up to meet him. “We’re here. You’re safe. You don’t have to cry anymore.”

“I… know,” I choke, trying to breathe past my broken cries. “But I… you were gone. You were all gone and never coming back and⁠—”

“Shh,” Cyprien soothes, rubbing his palm gently up and down my spine. “I know it doesn’t seem real right now. I know you think you’ll blink, and everything will return to the way it was. But that’s not true, bunny. We’re here. Here to stay.”

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, wiping the back of my hand across my eyes. “This is so stupid… I don’t know why I’m crying.”

You’re crying because it matters. Kaebl reaches down, grabbing my wrist and placing it to the center of his chest. My heart. My Dagny. My beautiful, ineffable mate. It’s okay to break. It’s okay to cry. And when you’re through, we’ll all still be here, waiting to put the pieces back together.

“Always,” Fenryr promises, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck. “And we’ll love every jagged part of you. Protect them and keep them close, no matter how deep they cut. No matter how hard it is.”

“Because you belong to us,” Roark adds, his gravelly voice rolling over my skin and piercing the center of my heart. “All of us. Just as you have saved us, nurtured us, cared for us… we will always do the same for you.”

“We love you,” Lir murmurs, taking my hand in his and giving it a gentle squeeze. “From the very first moment we locked eyes, our souls were irrevocably, inexplicably linked. And we never, never, ever wish to be apart from you.”

Malice leans forward, pressing his forehead against mine with a rare, genuine smile. “I hope that’s okay with you.”

I nod, that seed of hope blooming into a magnificent flower, standing tall and proud against the harrowing storm. And for the very first time in my life, I believe everything will be okay. As long as I have my mates, as long as I have their love, I can get through anything. And it will always—always—be worth it.

“Nothing has ever sounded better.”

38. Malice

38

Malice

1 year later…

“I’m going to fucking kill you.”

“You can try, but you’ll have to get through her first.” Cyprien crouches behind Dagny’s spread wings, hiding his insufferable smirk from view. “Good luck, kitty cat.”