Kieran felt emotion rise through him, hot and powerful. He couldn’t tell if it was his or hers. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears and a soft smile drifted across her beautiful face.

“And here I thought you’d be mad that I…did whatever I did,” she said, and a tear wobbled free, cutting a trail down her cheek.

He held out his hand, inviting her closer. She scooted along the bench immediately, sliding against him. His cock hardened with the contact, and his desire for her burned through his veins.

But he kept it at bay. He was pushing her away. He didn’t want to confuse matters by giving in to his desire.

“The tickets have been bought,” he whispered, falling into those deep brown eyes. “I can ship whatever you want from your house. The house in Sydney is fully furnished, but I’ve set up accounts so you can change it however you want. The kids will have their own rooms. And new clothes, because Alexis, they look homeless.”

She shuddered with a soggy laugh. “They were at one stage.” She wiped her face with the back of her hand. “So…you’re forcing me away?”

“Yes,” he said, and this time, the burning ache in his heart was all his. The first woman he’d cared for, and he couldn’t keep her. Life had a way of kicking a guy in the balls. “I’m sorry. It’s for the best.”

She nodded, and wiped away another tear. She took a deep breath, and a surge of feeling rose within her. He could feel it. It mirrored his own.

But it wasn’t meant to be.

“Don’t waste your heart on me, Alexis,” he said softly, looking out at the ocean. He couldn’t bear to see her tears. It was bad enough that he could feel her pain. “I’m not what you need. There’s a full life waiting for you in Sydney. Live it.”

“What about my father?” she asked, and he jerked his head toward her.

That had come out of left field.

“Uh…” he said stupidly, regrouping. The woman didn’t think in a linear line. “We’ve had to go about determining who your father is under the radar. It’s taking longer than usual.”

“So you still don’t know which one he is?”

“No.” It dawned on him why she was asking. “Even if it is Magnus, he won’t find you. How could he?”

She shrugged. “How did you?”

He opened his mouth, but closed it again before he said “fate.” He didn’t need to pour salt in the wound.

“Thank you for helping me, Alexis. Thank you for…everything.”

She nodded, but didn’t speak.

He wasn’t sure what else to say. “I’m just going to sit here for a while…”

She nodded again, but didn’t get up.

“What makes you think that I’m going to do anything you say?” she said finally.

“This isn’t up for discussion—”

She surged up from the bench and spun toward him, her face flushed and eyes shooting fire.

“I love taking handouts, don’t get me wrong,” she started, and he couldn’t help a smile. “But if you think I’m going to let you walk into danger all by yourself, after everything you’ve done for me and my family, you’ve got a screw loose. I’m in this now, Kieran. I might not know what the hell I’m doing, and I might not be an incredible asset like the others, but I’m really good at plucking souls out of dead bodies. And I’m excellent at banishing souls. And…communicating with them. And that’s something.”

She balled her fists and dug in her heels. “Don’t waste my heart on you? Fine. I won’t. But I also won’t waste my life hiding from a fight because it might not go my way. I’ve lived in that dual-society hellhole all my life. If anyone should fight for the people in the magical government not to be such turds, it’s me. I have a score to settle, too. Someone has to get Valens back for treating spirits badly. For killing fairies and illegal game. I mean, fuck that guy! So screw you. I’m joining this fight. I’m joining the ranks. There’s nothing you can do to stop me. Besides kill me, and I’ll haunt the shit out of you.”

He surged up before he knew what he was doing. He’d wanted to do what his mother had said. To do the right thing. He’d tried. But if the woman wouldn’t go…

He grabbed her neck and reeled her in, crashing his lips to hers and kissing her for all he was worth. She shoved him back, making him butt up against the bench and fall back onto it. Her hands yanked at his pants and his fingers ripped at her jeans buttons. He pushed down the fabric as she stroked his cock, her touch fanning the fire inside him.

She stepped out of her jeans and straddled him on the bench, no hesitation. Passionate and headstrong, like he liked ’em. She lowered and rubbed the tip of his cock down her wet slit, already ready for him. Eager, like he was for her.

He grabbed her shoulders, and when she’d lined them up, pulled down. He groaned as her tight warmth sank down on him, his world bursting into color. Her middle—her soul— throbbed and her touch stroked the very center of him, an incredibly intimate feeling that heightened the sensation of her physical body wrapped around his cock.

She bobbed with abandon and he reached between them, massaging her clit as he thrust, hard and deep. Pleasure tugged on his gut and the sensations wound, tight and hot. Electricity raced through his body and he lost all semblance of control.

He stood, wrapping his arms around her waist and taking her weight. He rocked his hips up, crashing into her. Loving this feeling of her hanging off of him. Of plunging into her wet depths over and over.

His balls tightened and the pleasure dragged him under to a place where only she existed. Only the feel of her body and the connection between their souls.

“Don’t leave,” he commanded. Or maybe he begged. “Stay.”

“I was…always…going to,” she said, then moaned, a low, feminine sound. “I’m not…going…anywhere.”

His world exploded as he climaxed. A delicious, incredible climax. He groaned as he emptied into her depths, soaking up the exquisite sensation. She cried out, and then she was shaking, too, calling his name. He thrust again, riding the intense wave as bliss washed over him. One more time and the strength went out of his body.

He staggered back, trying not to drop her, feeling her shiver again before she relaxed against him. He sat down, hard, onto the wooden seat. His breath came in heavy gasps, hers was ragged.

“Hmm,” she moaned, before lightly trailing her lips against his neck. “I have one request, though.”

“Let me guess…” He leaned back, holding her firm. He didn’t want her getting off of him just yet. That would mean the moment was over, and he would have to face the hard truth of what lay ahead of him. “You don’t want me to tell the kids about any of this.”

She laughed against his skin. “Just until I can break it to them gently. I need to figure out the right angle.”

“And you think that angle exists?”

She didn’t say anything, just lay against him, her middle throbbing happily.

Fear wormed into his gut. Ten minutes ago, the worst thing the future could bring was death. With Alexis safe, and his mother freed, that was a fate he’d been willing to face.

Now, however, it wasn’t just his death on the line. It was hers. And they both knew some things were worse than death. Specifically, what Valens would do to her if he found out what she was.

Success was now infinitely more dire.