“It’s this one,” Tempest said as she tried to shove her key in the lock. “I’m sure of it this time.”

Ryder leaned on the metal door of the storage locker and grinned. “That’s what you said the last eight lockers.”

She tried to wiggle the damn key in the lock, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Nope,” she said, shaking her head. “It was definitely that one over there.”

She dragged Ryder to the storage locker that she definitely wasn’t sure was hers. She tried the key and cringed when it wouldn’t fit.

Ryder just smiled as he watched her.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m in no rush.”

That’s what Tempest loved about this guy. He was so patient with her.

“Okay,” she said when she spotted an orange metal door that looked vaguely familiar. “Definitely that one.”

“Definitely.” Ryder nodded with mock assuredness.

She pulled him over and took a breath of relief when her key slid right in the lock. She clicked it open and then yanked the door open.

All of her stuff was exactly how she left it. In a big mess.

“Wow,” Ryder said as he stared inside.

She leapt toward him and covered his eyes. “Don’t look. It’s a mess.”

“Did a hurricane pass through your locker?” he asked with a laugh. “Or was it ransacked by a band of pirates?”

“No,” she said with a sigh as she released his eyes. “That was all me.”

“Is this what our cabin is going to look like back home?” he asked.

“Not yet,” she said with a mischievous grin. “Give me a month or two…”

“Uhh…” Ryder picked up her favorite lamp and tilted his head. “What the hell is this?”

It was a replica leg lamp from her favorite Christmas movie, A Christmas Story. It stood proudly on her night table for years.

“Do you like it?” she asked with a grin.

“Very classy,” he said, carefully putting it back. “Do you know where the spell is?”

She spotted her yellow and pink running shoes right where she left them and her body filled with dread. Her stomach rolled and it suddenly felt like a heavy weight was resting on her chest.

“Yeah,” she said as she picked up a shoe. She reached in and closed her eyes when she felt the folded paper by the toes.

This was it. Now she would know for sure if Ryder was going to bolt. He wouldn’t be stuck to her anymore. He was free to leave. Free to abandon her and let her go.

A sour taste settled in the back of her mouth as she pulled the paper out and opened it up.

Ryder was standing as straight as an arrow as he watched with a tense expression on his face.

“So,” he said, swallowing hard. “That’s it?”

Tempest nodded as she looked down at it. “That’s it.”

She opened the crumbling paper and saw her mother’s handwriting scratched onto it.

“Here we go.”

“Wait,” Ryder said, stopping her. He put his hand on her arm and stared into her eyes. “I just want to say that I really enjoyed being attached to you, Tempest Kole. It was an adventure of a lifetime.”

She smiled and blushed, feeling the nerves float away. This was Ryder. Her mate. She had nothing to worry about. They were going to be just fine.

“I had fun too,” she said. “I’m just happy I didn’t drop a knife or an ax on your foot.”

He laughed. “That wouldn’t have been good.”

They gave each other a loving kiss and then Tempest steeled herself, ready to unleash her mother’s spell that would finally open these handcuffs.

“Skaintée hourtew nurèena,” she whispered, concentrating hard. “Palãpintara fowlinquâ satru.”

The cuffs clicked open and they both gasped in surprise.

“You did it!” Ryder said, staring at her in shock.

“Of course, I did,” she said with a sad smile as she unhooked it from his tattooed wrist, then hers. “I’m a badass bounty hunter, remember?”

She hooked them safely on the back of her jeans and then rubbed her wrist. It had a red mark around it that looked like it would never go away.

“I guess we’re free,” he said, looking sad.

She sighed. “I guess so.”

Tempest tossed her running shoe back into the garage and then closed the door, locking it after.

“Ready?” he asked when she was all finished.

She nodded. “Ready.”

Ryder smiled as he reached out his hand.

What was I worried about?

Tempest slid her hand into his with a happy grin on her face.

They walked back to the car hand in hand.

Joined together, but this time, it was by choice.