Allie raised her eyebrows, but then turned her head to peer at their reflection in the mirror again. She knew the scars were gone, had already seen that, and yet the sight of her unmarred back struck her anew. Dear God, there wasn’t even a slight dimple to hint that the scars had ever been there. Her back was as pure and untouched as a newborn baby’s. The thought made her recall Mabel’s words.

Well, this is like a rebirth. You’re going to go through a period of pain and suffering and come out immortal born.

“Immortal born,” she murmured.

“Yes.” Magnus met her gaze in their reflection. “You are immortal born. The nanos have removed the scars from your old life.” She saw his eyes drop to her, and then he caught her chin and turned her face so she would look at him as he said solemnly, “This is a new life for you, Allie. A new beginning. You do not have to carry any of the past with you if you do not want to. You can be Mrs. Brady or a freak as you wish.” He paused briefly, letting that sink in, and then said, “And you are not alone anymore. I am not like the others in your past. I will never harm you as your father did. I will not turn from you like Bethany and her brother. I will not abandon you as your mother and Stella did. You are my life mate, and my life. I will spend however long I live cherishing you, adoring you, and keeping you safe and happy, because your very existence makes me happy.”

Allie was staring at him wide-eyed, his words still rolling through her head, when he suddenly stepped back. Her thoughts immediately scattered as he slid out of her, and she gasped in alarm and tried to pull him back, but he simply caught her hand and tugged her off the dresser, then led her to the bed.

“Magnus,” she groaned unhappily. “Now I’m going to heal and—”

“The half hour is up,” he interrupted gently as he paused next to the bed and turned toward her.

“Oh,” she said with surprise, and then glanced at the bed and back before asking uncertainly, “What are we doing?”

“I’m going to show you some of that cherishing now,” he said, his voice a deep rumble that sent shivers through her as he lowered his head to kiss her.

Allie kissed him back and let her arms creep up around his neck as he began to run his hands over her back and sides. She tried to move closer then, but his hands slid between them, preventing it so that he could caress her breasts, and she eased her hold and moaned into his mouth in response, and then gasped when he tweaked her nipples.

Breaking their kiss then, he nuzzled her ear and murmured, “Put one knee on the bed.”