Tears and apprehension shone in her eyes as she searched his. Her hands settled over top of his, holding his palms to her cheeks.

“But what about your house? Your mother’s garden? The fountain and all your businesses and money?”

A grin turned up the corner of his mouth. “I promise I’ll keep you well cushioned in all the nothings you allow me to shower you with. I already told you what will happen to the business and the property. Charites mostly. As for the rest, stuff. Lots and lots of stuff tainted with memories I don’t want anymore. I lived in that nightmare long enough. I want new ones with you. But if you want to stay here, then I’m okay with that too. I’ll figure out another way.”

A tear slipped and he caught it with his finger. He smoothed it away gently, but kept peering into her eyes, willing her to see just how much he needed her to take this step with him. How much he needed her to help him forget.

“Okay,” she whispered at last. “Let’s do it.”

He kissed her lightly. “I won’t let you regret this,” he whispered against her mouth.

She peered up into his face with a small smile. “I won’t. I want this.” She touched the side of his face with cool fingertips. “I want you.”

“All right now.” Maraveet moved forward. “That’s enough of that. There’s only so much I can stomach. Besides, we’ve got work to do if everyone’s in agreement.”

Vi nodded before anyone else. “I’m in.”

“Me too,” Juliette murmured.

Killian only nodded when his sister caught his eye.

“Lovely.” Maraveet clapped her hands once and rubbed them. “Well, that’s our meeting for tonight. Everyone off to bed. We’ve got a full day tomorrow.”

Pulling out of his arms, Juliette hurried to Vi and tugged her out of the metal container. Killian watched them a moment before turning to his own sister.

“How long have you had this in the works?” he asked.

Maraveet shrugged. “A while. Every great escape artist needs a final act.”

“Does this mean you’ll be joining us?”

Her nose wrinkled. “Not yet. I’ve got plenty of plundering left in me before I take the final plunge.”

Killian went to her, stopping when she had to tilt her head back. “You know what that’ll mean if you don’t.”

Her eyes lowered, but he saw the pain in them. “I know, but it won’t be forever. I’ll still find ways to see you.”

“Come with us, Mar. Hang up your hat. This could be a second chance for both of us.”

Her gaze went to where Juliette and Vi stood. “Not sure I’m ready for that.”

He knew pushing would make no difference, so he relented. “Don’t take too long.”

There were tears in her eyes when they rose up to his. She gave him a lopsided grin. “Think you’d be getting rid of me that easily, little brother?”

He pulled her into his arms. “Better not.”

They stood that way for several minutes before she drew back, sniffling and rubbing at her cheeks.

“Do something for me?” At his nod, she pressed on. “Don’t do anything stupid, okay? I can only make you disappear once and if you screw it up…”

“I won’t,” he promised. “I’m done with all of this. I just want her.”

She expelled a sharp breath. “Good.”

She hurried past him to stand with Juliette and Vi in the filmy shimmer of twilight. Killian watched the trio with a sense of tightness blossoming in his chest. Fear and uncertainty coiled beneath a plume of excitement and joy. He could feel himself shedding tens of thousands of pounds as the weight of the world shifted off his shoulders. He felt no loss at the prospect of never having the things he now possessed. He felt no sadness for walking away from the chains binding him to the past. If anything, the anticipation made him want to break down and sob like a baby.

It was over. The nightmares were gone. He was finally free.

“Hey you.” Juliette crossed over to him, a teasing smile making her eyes twinkle. “What are you looking so happy about over here?”

Without missing a beat, he took her hand and spun her in a flawless twirl straight into his arms. Her squeal echoed off the metal containers around them, followed by the sweet chime of her laughter as she collided with his chest. Her arms went around his neck and she peered up at him with so much love shining in her eyes he felt momentarily dizzy.

“Are you sure you want this?” she asked him softly. “I’m so afraid you’ll come to hate me later for—”

“I could never hate you,” he broke in. “And I have never wanted anything more than I want this.”

She exhaled. “Okay, good, because I want to be with you for the rest of my life and the thought of you not feeling the same—”

“You are never getting rid of me.”

Her head rested on his shoulder. “I’m holding you to that.”

He made love to her that night in his bed. He held her close through every thrust, every delicate bow of her body, and every gasp of his name. He held her long after she’d fallen asleep curled up in his arms. It would be the last time they’d be in that bed together. The last time their joined satisfaction would fill those walls. He waited for some shred of regret, a whisper of uncertainty, but nothing came. If anything, he felt like a prisoner finally getting out of a twenty two year long sentence. He couldn’t wait for dawn.

Stroking a kiss to Juliette’s mouth, he slipped out of bed. He pulled on his trousers and quietly left the room. Silence followed him through the familiar corridors, but it rang differently. It felt foreign and complex. He ignored it all the way to the conservatory. The cold stones nipped at his bare feet as he padded to the heart of his mother’s pride and joy.

Three urns greeted him. One for each of the people he’d lost. Unlike his mother and father’s, Molly’s glinted like a shiny coin.

“I’m leaving,” he told them quietly. “I’m going to marry Juliette and have as many babies as she’ll give me and I am never coming back.”

He couldn’t see it, but he felt the shift in the air. While he didn’t believe in ghosts or spirits, he liked to think his parents were happy with his decision. That they supported it.

Carefully, he gathered the three pots up and took them with him from their stand. He tucked them away inside the hallway closet; he’d promised Maraveet he wouldn’t bring anything with him, but he wouldn’t leave those behind.

That done, he returned to his room, to Juliette who hadn’t moved in his absence. He shut the door and padded back to the bed. The rustle of his pants sliding down his legs had her stirring. She turned her head and squinted through the predawn glow at him.

“Why are you out of bed? Something wrong?”

Kicking off his trousers, he went to her. His fingers hooked in the sheets covering her and he tugged them free. Immediately, her eyes darkened. Her breathing quickened. She was reaching for him even before the condom had snapped properly in place.

“Nothing.” He climbed between her legs and cradled her to him as he pushed inside her. Her low groan pulsed through him as her willing body gripped him tight. “Not a damn thing.”

He took her with slow, even thrusts, working her the way to the very brink before letting her tumble over with a quiet whimper of his name whispered in his ear. Her heat engulfed him, sucking him deeper into her folds. He took his time building her up a second time. Building her up only to demolish her all over again. Only he went with her this time. He let himself get lost in the silky confines of her beautiful body as dragged the very last shudder out of both of them and collapsed in her arms.

“I’m going to miss this bed,” she whispered, her fingers lovingly stroking his hair as he nuzzled into her chest. “It holds so many good orgasm memories.”

Killian burst out laughing. The sound echoed through the room and tangled with hers. He raised his head and peered down into her partially shadowed features.