“I am.” Flynn dropped to his knees beside Kayleen, with wonder in his eyes. “I am.”
“Flynn!” She threw her arms around him, dragging him close, breathing him in. “You’re real. You’re alive.”
“I am restored.” He dropped his head on her shoulder. “I am freed. The Keepers.”
He was breathless, fighting to clear his mind. Drawing her back, he framed her face in his hands. Solid, warm. His.
“You’re free.” She pressed her hands against his. The tears that fell from her eyes shimmered into diamonds on the ground between them. “You’re alive! You’re here.”
“The Keepers said I have atoned. I was given love, and I put the one I loved before myself. Love.” He pressed his lips to her brow. “They told me it is the simplest, and most potent of magic. I took a very long time to learn it.”
“So have I. We saved each other, didn’t we?”
“We loved each other. Manim astheee hu,” he said again. “These are the words I give you.” He opened his hand and held out the pearls. “Will you take them, and this gift, as a symbol of betrothal? Will you take them, and me?”
“I will.”
He drew her to her feet. “Soon, then, for I’ve a great respect for time, and the wasting of it. Now, look what you’ve done.” He trailed his fingers gently over the scratch on her cheek. “There’s a mess you’ve made of yourself.”
“That’s not very romantic.”
“I’ll fill you with romance, but first I’ll tend those hurts.” He scooped her off her feet.
“My mother’s going to be crazy about you.”
“I’m counting on it.” Because he wanted to savor, he walked for a bit. “Will I like Boston, do you think?”
“Yes, I think you will.” She twirled a lock of his hair around her fingers. “I could use someone who knows something about antiques in my family business.”
“Is that so? Ha. A job. Imagine that. I might consider that, if there was thought of opening a branch here in Ireland, where a certain wildly-in-love married couple could split their time, so to speak.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She laughed as he spun her around, pressed her lips to his, and held on tight as they leaped into space and flew toward home.
And happily-ever-afters.