Chapter 40: Chapter 40

The black cloud drifted off into the sea breeze, and the four men stood before the City by the Sea’s gate guardians. The fresh salty air carried the faint scent of Imara, and Ben covered his chest with his hand as his teary eyes rolled to Daniel. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.”

The Darke King’s lips pressed together as he shook his head and glanced around his old home. “We’re family, Ben. I’d do anything for my family.” Like reaching into a mirror, the Elder warlock stretched across the odd space between them to offer his hand. “Remember the things I’ve shown you.”

Big, pink lips trilled as the young, old man shook his head and grabbed at the straps of his pack. “I’m not sure I could forget if I wanted to.”

It didn’t take a psychic to feel how uncomfortable Thorin was when Daniel reached out his hand to him, and he narrowed his eyes a little to mess with the proper gentleman. “I’ll be seeing you soon…son.”

A nervous huff of laughter came from Thorin before he wrapped his fingers around the King’s. “Yes, of course, Your Majesty.”

After a fake punch to his gut that made Thorin jerk away, Daniel slapped his back. “You can just call me Daniel now.”

Haldir tipped his head in respect as Daniel patted his shoulder. “See you soon, old friend.”

The leaves kicked up off the ground and swirled around him when the black mist rose from his feet and swallowed the Master warlock whole. A sigh of relief escaped Thorin’s chest as he slumped over and glanced up to his ancient uncle. “What the hell, Haldir? Didn’t you think mentioning that my mate is Daniel Darke’s only daughter and a goddamn psychic was a tad important? Jesus! That was more terrifying than waiting for Selvin to show up.”

His shoulder shrugged as the old man pulled his hand down over his beard. “I had to make sure you wouldn’t try to run away.”

Dirty fingers pushed through his hair as Thorin suddenly realized his new position in life. “Oh my God, I’m going to live in an honest-to-goodness castle.”

A throaty chuckle came from between Ben’s lips as he grabbed his brother’s shoulder and pulled him towards the gates. “Holy shit, Ben, I’m a prince now. I’m going to be a proper ass prince.”

“Mmm-hmm.” The brute wrapped his arm around the professor’s neck and nodded as he tugged him closer. “That’s true, but your father-in-law’s a psychic, and every time you sleep with his daughter, he’s going to know what you’re doing to her. What do you think about that?”

A nauseated cringe drew upon his face, and Thorin rubbed his fingertips across his forehead.“Oh, sweet Jesus. He’s going to kill me.”

Ben’s foot crossed the city’s threshold, and he stepped down onto the cobblestone street where Nicholas was waiting for him. “Hello, Ben Logan. Welcome to the North Woods.”

He shook the wizard’s hand as his eyes darted around the cliffs and buildings that surrounded them. “So good to be back again.”

The ancient sorcerer nodded towards the caw of seagulls and crashing waves against the shore. “I believe you’ll find her watching the ships leave. Would you like me to show you the way?”

A click came from Ben’s tongue as he shook his head and placed his hand on Nicholas’s shoulder when he passed him. “No, sir. I know exactly where I’m going.”

While Ben made his way down the road, Nicholas swept his hand aside to the dormitory behind him and motioned for Haldir and Thorin to follow. “If you’ll come with me, I’ll show you to your rooms.”

The farther Ben’s feet carried him into the city, the stronger the aroma of apple pie became, and he rubbed at his chest as the pressure in his old wound got tighter. As much as the wolf in him wanted to be set free so he could track down his mate, Ben held the beast back and made him wait.

With no more fear or danger lingering in his mind, he wanted to take his time and savor the first glimpse of Imara. Seeing her standing in her front yard was his favorite memory of all, and he’d walk through fire to see her for the first time all over again. “I’m coming, Baby.”

His palms were sweaty from nerves, and he wiped them on his filthy pants as the ripples of the sea shot beams of light onto his face.

He stepped over the peak of the last hill, and he saw the fiery red glow of her hair as she sat on the dock with her feet hanging over the side. The sound of her humming Greensleeves to herself hit Ben’s ears like a bolt of lightning as the reality of it all set in.

With a shimmy of his shoulders, he worked off his backpack and set it along the roadside, then pushed his trembling hands through his dirty hair. His foot met the boardwalk’s wooden slats, and when it creaked, the melody ended.

A smile curled up on her lips as he approached the dock, and when his shadow blocked out the surrounding light, she sighed and tossed a stone into the water. “You wanted a cottage by the lake. Do you suppose one by the sea will do?”

After a week of hiking and sleeping on the hard ground, his knees cracked as he groaned a little when he plopped down beside her and rested his legs over the side. Taking a deep breath of the sea air, Ben nodded as he looked out over the water. “Yeah, I reckon that’d be nice too.” He laced his fingers in hers and brought their hands to his lips. “Wherever you are is home.”

Pulling her into his side, Ben wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead. “You like it here?”

Her fingers slid around his cheek and combed through his thick black beard. “Mmm-hmm. Everyone’s just so nice. You know, a lot of people are waiting to see you.”

While his lips rubbed into her hair, his mind drifted back through their lives together, and he cleared his throat when one face smiled back at him. “Well, they’re going to have to hold on a little longer because one little girl’s been waiting long enough.”

A pointy finger poked him in his chest, and Imara nodded back to the road. “You ready to become a Daddy again?”

“Oh, yes, ma’am.” His teeth gritted as his aching body pushed itself up and pulled her with him. “I’ve been ready for this for about a hundred years.”

A smile came to Ben’s face when they stopped in front of a cottage, and he nodded. “It looks like that house we lived in up in those mountains.” His fingers felt the intricate carvings on the lintel above the door, and his eyes narrowed as he tried to read it. “What do you reckon that says? Is it a spell or something?”

With a giggle, she skimmed her pointer finger from right to left underneath it. “It says Ben and Imara’s home.”

“Oh!” He shrugged at it and pulled at the straps of his bag as his foot kicked at the doorway. “Looks so fancy; I thought it must be something really special.”

He stumbled sideways when she poked her finger into his shoulder. “It is special, Ben. This is our home, forever.”

His arm slid around her waist, and he tugged her closer to kiss the top of her head. “Yeah, you’re right. That is special.”

When he walked through the door, Ben took a deep breath. The scent of his mate filled the little house already, and whatever doubts he may have had about living there disappeared.

While Imara squirted soap into the bath, he sat down on the side. After kicking off his shoes, he stood and unclasped his belt. “You going to come in here with me?”

“No, sir.” A finger wagged at him before she turned off the taps and set the pitcher of water on the table beside them. “I don’t want all that mess on me. You go on in there.”

As she washed his hair, Ben leaned back and closed his eyes while her fingers massaged his scalp. “I could get used to this.”

“You go right ahead. We got nothing but time now.” She poured the pitcher over his head as he pushed the water out of his eyes.

Holding out a towel for him, Imara wrapped it around him as he stepped out of the tub and smacked his bottom. “Go snuggle up in bed while I take care of all this.”

The hums of his wife working in the bathroom took him back to the days on the farm, and Ben rubbed at the bittersweet pain in his heart. Looking down at his hands, he smirked, then lifted them both to his face. “We did it, Shaw.”

Her naked form in the doorway caught Ben’s attention through his fingers, and he patted the space beside him as she came closer.

She straddled his lap and wrapped her hands around the back of his head. “Get to work, Mister.” His hand entered the softness of her hair, and he gripped it in his fist as he rolled her over onto her back.

While his strong, calloused hand traveled down Imara’s body, he whispered sweet words into her ear and promised never to leave her side again. Like it was the first time all over again, she bit into his shoulder as he pushed inside her.

Between shallow and deep thrusts, she closed her eyes and wove her hands into his hair, and whimpered for more.

With his eyes half opened, Ben gazed at his wife’s face as it changed from pain to pleasure over and over again until he joined her. Still quivering inside her, his wet hair tickled her neck when his swollen lips kissed her cheek, and he breathed in her ear. “We’re home now. All three of us.”