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CIARA SAT ON LIAM’S old bed. Her eyes were sore from crying. She was still exhausted, but she had gathered enough strength to send her enchanted bag to her flat.
She would have teleported herself, too, if she had had the strength.
When she had gathered herself somewhat, she went downstairs.
Shawn and Hugo were in the kitchen. She could hear them talking, so she made her way there.
Hugo’s eyes widened. “You look...”
“I know.”
Shawn frowned. “What happened at the warehouse?”
“A lot.” She didn’t want to think about Theo—or the possibility of him being dead.
Shawn nodded. “Are you okay?”
Ciara shook her head. There was no point in lying. Shawn had asked only to be polite, but he knew she wasn’t.
The three fell silent. Ciara looked towards the front door. She wasn’t sure who she was expecting, but she wanted something to happen. She wanted action—anything but having to think.
“Liam knew,” she said out loud. She didn’t look at Hugo and Shawn. They had probably known, too.
“We knew too,” Hugo said. “He told after we reformed the group.”
“He didn’t—” Shawn’s talk was cut short as Ciara turned to look at him sharply.
“Can we not? Not now.” She didn’t want to hear any excuses.
Shawn nodded and looked down.
Ciara’s presence made everyone in the room uncomfortable. She wouldn’t feel any better alone, but she couldn’t handle the tension.
“I’m going,” she said
“Where?” Shawn asked.
“Just out.” She left through the front door.
The chill air hit her skin. It was freezing, but there was no snow on the ground. Ciara breathed out, and it looked like smoke in the air.
She cast a warming spell, luckily having enough strength for that.
Then she started walking.
She tried not to think about Theo. Even thinking about her injured friends was easier.
She was worried about Jenna, wondering if she would even make it. The two had been friends since their first year at school. Jenna had been there for Ciara too many times to count. She felt guilty for not being there for her. But she couldn’t go to the hospital, in fear of running into Liam.
And she couldn’t even teleport.
Ciara didn’t know if Bill was alive. He was her closest friend in the team, and she regretted failing him.
If she had gone with Theo, a lot would have gone differently. But she couldn’t make herself do it. Not after everything she had been through because of the witch hunters.
Ray had also been severely injured. Ciara didn’t know how bad it was, but she feared the worst.
And Theresa had stabbed Iris. It couldn’t be good, especially with Liam so worried.
Her Liam.
Or at least he had been. Jealousy gnawed in Ciara’s chest, but at the same time she didn’t want to see him. She was furious at him for lying to her. He had known about Theo for months and hadn’t told Ciara. He had even talked to Ciara about Theo.
But others had known, too. Had lied, too. Ciara wasn’t sure if everyone but her had known.
And it hurt.
She had mistakenly trusted all of them when she should have only trusted herself. She couldn’t tell truth from lie anymore. Not after all the lies.
She had never missed Doherty so much. He would have told her the truth. She could have trusted him.
But he was dead, for real, and she had no one.
No one to trust. No one to offer her a shoulder to cry on.
She had no one to talk to. There wasn’t a single person she could trust. For all she knew, Mary and Ray had hidden the truth from her, too. Perhaps even Henry and Jenna.
Liam had told everyone but Ciara, and it hurt.
Even Theo had lied to her.
Her entire life was a big lie.
Exhaustion hit Ciara. Exhaustion from merely using a warming spell. So she sat down on the cold ground.
Ciara needed someone to talk to. But she couldn’t call Estella. She wanted to—even just to tell her what had happened—but she didn’t dare to. She had just killed her son, and there was nothing Ciara could say or do to make it right.
There was nothing she could do to make it right for herself, either.
She sat and let her tears fall. She had been on many missions that had ended in the worst ways possible, but none of them had left her a mess like this one.
She had never had to kill someone she loved—not even to save other people she loved. She had killed Theo for the lives of people who had lied to her.
Nothing could make that right. Not even in her own mind.
***
THEO SMILED AT CIARA. “I’m really glad we got to meet again.”
Ciara bit her lip, trying to contain her smile. “Me too.”
“Really?” His eyes shone with surprise.
Ciara chuckled and nodded. “Yes, really.”
Theo grinned. “T-that’s great...to hear, I mean.” His cheeks reddened.
Ciara smiled, noticing it. She took a sip of her drink to keep herself from smiling more. “I’m glad you invited me over tonight.”
Theo still hadn’t stopped smiling. But hearing Ciara’s words made him relax, and he eased against the sofa cushions. “Yeah. Me too.”
***
“I-I WAS SO WORRIED about you.” Theo’s hands were shaking as he cupped Ciara’s face. His caress was even gentler than usual. “You were hit with that spell and...and...and then—”
“I’m fine.” She took his hands into hers, peeling them off her face and giving them a comforting squeeze. “I’m fine,” she repeated, noticing how much his hands were still shaking.
“Thank God,” Theo mumbled and pulled Ciara into a loving kiss.
Ciara was the one to pull away. “Everyone’s looking,” she hissed, even though she was smiling.
Theo chuckled and pecked her lips. “Let them watch.”
“Theo!”
***
THEO TOOK A DEEP BREATH, setting down his glass.
“Is everything okay?” Ciara asked, turning to look at him instead of the movie they were watching.
He scratched the back of his neck. “It’s just...you know...I’ve been thinking.”
“Thinking about what?” Ciara asked worriedly.
“This is going to be the most unromantic way to do this,” Theo warned.
“Screw romance. Just spit it out,” she encouraged.
Theo laughed. “Alright then. If you insist.” He smiled at Ciara, gazing into her eyes. “I want you to move in with me.” He paused, waiting for Ciara to say something back. When she didn’t respond within a few seconds, he began to panic. “Unless you don’t want to, of course! Or...or if you want to, I don’t know, like—”
Ciara grabbed Theo’s hands and smiled at him. “I’d love to move in with you.”
Blinking, Theo asked, “Really?”
Ciara chuckled and pulled Theo closer to give him a short but sweet kiss on the lips. “Yes.”
“I love you!” It was a spontaneous response, but it was true.
She was taken aback by the confession, and it took her a moment to regain her composure. Before she said anything, she made sure she had thought it through. “I love you, too.”
Theo grinned.
***
THEO AND CIARA WERE walking along a beach. It was November, so it was cold. But nonetheless, the view was beautiful.
Theo had his right arm wrapped around Ciara to keep her warm. His left hand was in his pocket, making sure the black velvet box didn’t fall out.
He was afraid she could hear his heart drumming in his chest. He was shaking from nerves.
He knew they were a great couple, and they loved each other. They had talked about getting engaged in the past, but he wasn’t sure if she was ready for that step. He hoped she was, though.
He wanted to commit to her for the rest of his life.
Once they reached a cliff with a beautiful view of the sea, they stopped. Ciara waved her hand, using magic to shield them from the strong wind.
Theo swallowed. “I have something for you.”
Ciara turned to look at him, tearing her eyes off the beautiful view. “What is it?”
Theo smiled. He let his arm drop from around her and went down on one knee. “Ciara Veronique Jareau, I am utterly in love with you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you if I can. Will you marry me?”
They were both surprised—but for different reasons. Theo couldn’t believe he had said the words just the way he had planned.
And Ciara hadn’t expected the question. She stood frozen, her eyes widening and her face going blank.
Theo had no idea what she was thinking until he cleared his throat and she finally reacted.
Her face lit up. “Yes! Yes. Of course yes!”
Theo chuckled. Swiftly, he slipped the ring on her ring finger and stood up. “It fits. I was hoping you’d like it, but if—”
“I love it, Theo!” Ciara said, astonished. “It’s beautiful.”
Theo smiled. “That’s a relief.”