“Really? I love me some blonds.”

“You must think I’m mad.”

“Believe it or not, I completely understand.”

“I’ll never hear the end of this from Zachary. I’ll be teased for this crush until the day I die.”

“You’re going to tell Zach?”

“We try to tell each other everything. In fact...he told me while I was in the States I could be as wild as I wanted to be as long as I was careful and didn’t give him any details the next day. I told him I was jealous of all the fun he got to have in your world. He said I could have my turn.”

“Oh, you’re having your turn all right before Zach knocks you up and you get boring again.”

“I don’t think—”

Nora started to shush Grace’s objections but a soft knock on the door interrupted her train of thought.

“This conversation isn’t over.” Nora pointed at Grace. “You wait right here. I’ve only just begun to interrogate you about what sick sordid things you and Blondie have been up to while I was languishing in captivity. If there’re no pics, I’m going to be pissed.”

Nora opened the door and saw Wesley standing across the threshold. Her heart plummeted just at the sight of him looking so humble and nervous.

“Hey, stranger,” she said, closing the door behind her and slipping into the hall. She couldn’t stop herself from wrapping her arms around him. He held her close, held her tight, and when she winced from the pain she whispered, “Don’t let go.”

“I’ll hold you as long as you want me to.”

Forever. She only thought the word and didn’t say it. She’d missed these arms, this comfort.

“I’ve been going crazy waiting for a chance to talk to you. Søren—”

“I know.” Nora sighed as she pulled back to look at him. “He’s keeping everybody away so I can rest. But you’re you so you get to skip the rope line.”

“That’s good to know. I’m feeling a little shut out here, and then I remember what you went through—”

“Wes, you’re allowed to have feelings about this situation. Just the same way as I’m allowed to milk it for all it’s worth for sympathy points and cookies and stuff.”

“You want cookies?”

“I think they would help with the healing process.”

“I’ll bake you some cookies.”

“Please don’t. I feel shitty enough about you as it is.”

“Why?”

“The ring?” Nora crossed her arms across her chest. “The engagement ring...I lost it.”

“I don’t think you lost it.” Did he know she’d traded his priceless family heirloom for a square of white linen? “I think she took it. Didn’t she?”

Nora swallowed hard. She couldn’t tell him the truth. A lie was far more merciful.

“Something like that.”

“It’s okay.” Wesley dug into the pocket of his jeans and pulled the ring out. “We took it back.”

“Holy shit.” Nora stared at the diamond glinting on the palm of his hand.

She’d been in such shock after Søren and Kingsley had come for her that she hadn’t even thought to try to find Wesley’s ring. She had the maniturgium tucked inside her shirt. The ring she’d given up as dead and buried with Marie-Laure.

Wesley raised his hand and rubbed his forehead ruefully.

“Kingsley brought it to me. I don’t like having a reason to like that man. Now I have tons of them.”

“Tons?”

“Yeah. Tons. The ring, you being alive and standing in front of me—that’s pretty much all the reasons I need. The ring made us even. You being safe sent us into infinity.”

“I can’t believe...” Her voice trailed off. Yes, she could believe. From out of so much hell had emerged so much heaven. She could believe anything right now. “I’m so glad King got it back to you.”

“He’s an interesting guy, that Kingsley. Going to make an interesting father.”

“Wait...you know?”

“Yeah. He told me his girlfriend is pregnant.”

“What?” Nora almost fainted. “Juliette’s pregnant?”

“Yeah, wasn’t that what you were talking about?”

Nora shook her head, struck utterly dumb. Marie-Laure had told her about Kingsley’s bastard, who was in his twenties and living somewhere in France. And now Juliette was pregnant? Something welled up in Nora, a fearful sort of joy. It rose in her high and fast and came bubbling out of her in holy laughter.

“Nora?”

“I’m sorry,” she said, holding on to her bruised and battered side. Laughing was excruciating but she couldn’t stop doing it. It would hurt worse not to laugh. “Kingsley...everything...life is good. Life is weird and wonderful and terrifying and good.”

“You’re alive. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Her laughter finally died and she stepped forward to rest her head on the center of Wesley’s chest. She raised her head and rose on her toes, intending to kiss him. But he moved his head and her lips met only his cheek.

“Wes?”

“Nora...we should talk. I’ve been thinking about things, about this ring, about us—you know, since we got you back. Kingsley gave it back to me, and I’ll admit I was relieved. Didn’t know how to explain to Mom and Dad we’d lost the family’s most precious heirloom. Then I thought, why am I happy he gave it back to me? Why am I not pissed that he gave it to me instead of you?”