Six months later

Galen

I stand in the darkness, leaning against the rough wood beams that make up the shoddy fence around my cottage. It never gets old, watching the sunrise. I’ve done the same thing every morning since Sariel negotiated for my soul to be returned to me. The sky changes from black to deep blue, each star winking out of view one by one. That familiar fear, ingrained deep in my body, begins to build, humming through my blood. The sun is coming. My chest tightens as the sky turns colors, a kaleidoscope of wonder, until I see the fiery ball of light crest the hills beyond the place Reese and I have made a home.

Her hand slides up my back and along my shoulders, startling me. Without taking my focus off the sunrise, I pull her against me, nestling her body into mine.

“Still perfect?” she asks.

All I can do is nod as I look down at her. Her body is full and rounded with our child. Only a few months to go. I can’t believe how lucky I am.

“Have you heard from Devin lately?” Her head rests on my shoulder, the warm vanilla scent of her skin making me want to scoop her up and carry her back to bed.

“No. He hasn’t checked in for a while now.”

“Hmm, I hope he’s okay.”

Squeezing her a little tighter, I mutter, “Me too.”

Devin gave so much up for me, for us. Thinking about it makes my chest hurt.

A slight groan of discomfort falls from her lips, and she shifts on her feet. Her beauty is marred by the ghost of a frown. Fear grips me. It’s too soon, but I know it can happen.

“Are you all right, a ghra?”

She turns her bright gaze on me and smiles. “Yeah, just a foot to the kidney. This kid’s got some strong legs.”

Pressing a kiss to her temple, I rub a hand over her belly. “Sorry.”

She gives a brief, tight shrug. “Galen, are you sure the baby will be all right? Gabriel said he’s got a soul, but Sariel said he’s not completely human? What if it’s …”

I can’t help but laugh. “Everything will be fine. The angels wouldn’t have let this baby be born if there was any risk of it being dangerous.”

“How will we know?”

It’s obvious she’s still afraid, and I don’t blame her. There are so many horrors in our world, we’ve seen so much. How can she not be worried?

“I know. I just do.” I’m telling her the truth. Something has always told me that this was a good thing. “Now, let’s get back to what you said earlier. He? You think it’s a boy?”

She smiles up at me. “Sariel said he early on. I figured he would know better than we could.”

The idea of a son makes my chest feel like it might burst. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”

Nodding, she places a hand over her belly.

“I’ve got something for you,” I say, taking her hand and pulling her back toward the house.

“You do? Is it big?” She’s got a wicked gleam in her eyes that sends a bolt of lust straight to my crotch.

“Nope. But I can give you something big a little later.”

A pout turns down her luscious mouth as we walk through the door and into the home we’ve created. “But I want it now.”

“Patience,” I murmur as I close the distance between our lips.

Sitting her on the couch, I motion for her to stay where she is. “Don’t look until I say.”

She does as she’s told, and I quickly move to the old rolltop desk, sliding open the secret drawer in the back. Pulling out the handmade box, I walk to her, hands shaking.

I drop to my knees before her and take a steadying breath. “Okay, open.”

Her gaze is full of love as she looks deep into my eyes, not even registering that I’m on my knees. “You’re shaking. What is it?”

“I’ve thought about this moment nearly every day since Gabriel gave me a second chance at life. He gave me a soul, but you gave me a reason to want it. Reese, I’ve been on this earth over a hundred years. I thought I’d lived my happiest days, until I met you. You bring so much love to my life. I want to spend my days building a life with you and my nights loving you. You’re my soul mate, my one, a ghra. Will you give me your heart?”

Tears shine on her lashes as she watches me with a smile. “No,” she whispers.

Shock knocks the breath from my body. “What?”

“I can’t give you what you already have. But I will marry you, if that’s where you’re going with this.”

Relief floods me. Opening the box, I pull out the ring I’d picked out six months ago. She doesn’t even look at it, just smiles at me, happiness radiating from her.

“I love you, so much.” I have to fight to get the words out.

She nods and when she blinks, big tears spill down her cheeks. Her lips crash against mine as I put the ring on her finger, and she pulls me to her, fierce and uninhibited.

I know I’ll spend the rest of my life loving this woman, needing her, wanting her. It wasn’t Reese who woke the Watcher. It was my heart recognizing hers.