“I love you to the stars and back,” I said. “And even if you’re having a hard time imagining a happy ending at this very moment, we’ll get through this, just as we have with everything else life has thrown at us. Together.”

He nodded, and swept the stray curls away from my face. “Together.”

I nestled against him once more, tucking my head under his chin and sighing contentedly. The sound petered out into a snort as a thought came to me. “What a pair we make, huh? Reassurance has to be our love language.”

“Hm, indeed. It’s undeniable that we’re perfectly matched.”

He wasn’t wrong, and I couldn’t have been more gratified with that fact.

“But you absolutely should listen to me more,” I muttered as my eyes closed, my tone light. “My instincts have a track record of being pretty spot on.”

There was a breathy huff, and an arm was placed protectively over my stomach. “I will,” he said before burying his nose in my hair. “I swear it.”

Chapter Twelve

LUCA

A week ago, I had died. I still couldn’t believe it. There wouldn’t be many people who could claim that their life force had left their body for a whole twelve hours, only for their magic to awaken and drag them right back.

Actually, the chances of that were probably below zero.

The rest period had spanned longer than what I’d been promised, but I wasn’t bitter about it—maybe a little. I’d spent those seven days confined to the bed, allowing my body the chance to recuperate as I read up on what it meant to be a mage and even memorizing some spells. It kept my mind somewhat busy, my curiosity preventing a slow descent into madness. Though I supposed I should be grateful I even had the luxury of napping and reading—if I’d been dead a day or so longer, I might have woken up in the middle of a battle.