Novak Raven (Harper's Mountains #4)(69)

Avery wrapped her towel tighter around her and padded into the bedroom to get dressed.

On the bed, resting on the shorts and tank top she’d laid out, there was a pocket knife, neatly folded, the handle a rich walnut woodgrain and polished. Avery lifted it gently in her fingers and read the inscription Weston had carved onto it. W + A. She smiled, deeply touched at his gift. He’d told her he would make her a knife and teach her to use it. She opened it carefully, and the blade gleamed in the soft light streaming through the window. It was beautifully crafted. She would carry it in her pocket always.

Full of emotion, she closed the blade and picked up the folded letter that had been resting under the knife.



Ave,

I hope you like it. I made this out of a wood that reminds me of you. It’s pliable where it needs to compromise, but it’s strong, just like you. I have put together something for you today. Don’t freak out, it’ll be fun. I hope. I told you I would write you a lot of letters, and this is the beginning of that promise. Today you will get a couple. This is the first clue of a little scavenger hunt. Come find me, little phoenix. I’m waiting for you where you first saw me, back when we didn’t trust each other yet. Things are different now, and I trust you with my life, but come find me at the beginning.

Later gator,

Weston



A scavenger hunt? This was awesome! Avery hurried to dress, shoved the knife deep into her pocket, shoved her feet into her hiking boots, and barely bothered to tie them up before she bolted outside and climbed into her Civic. She took the shortcut through Harper’s mountains to reach Big Flight and skidded to a stop in front of the shop.

Weston was sitting on a bench, elbows resting on his knees and a slow, stunning smile for her. He’d shaved his jaw, and his dimple showed easily. That was just for her. He wore his favorite camouflage baseball cap and a black T-shirt under a red and black plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up his muscular forearms. He wore dark wash jeans over his work boots. Why was he so dressed up? They had a tour starting in an hour.

With a confused frown, she jogged up the porch stairs and said breathlessly, “I got the knife. I got it, and I love it so much.”

“God, you look beautiful,” he murmured in that deep, rich timbre she adored.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

He pulled her hips until she was standing close to him on the bench, and then he looked up at her and said, “Do you remember the vision I had last night?”

She nodded, confused. “It was a good one, right?”

“It was the best one. But I didn’t tell you part of it.”

“What happened?”

He smiled and traced the scar from the glass on her shoulder. “This mark wasn’t yet healed. It was red and angry, just as it looks right now.”

“I don’t understand,” she whispered, shaking her head.

Weston sank down to one knee on the porch, right in front of her. In his hand was the turquoise ring she’d been admiring in the shop.

“Weston,” she whispered, shocked.

“You deserve more, and I’ll get it as soon as I can afford it. I’ll get you whatever ring you want, but this one felt right for some reason. I kept looking at it, thinking about it. About how pretty it would be on your finger. About how pretty it would go with your eyes.”

“I love it, I love it,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.

Weston licked his bottom lip and slid his palm against her left one. “I bonded to you when we were kids. I clung to your letters and fell in love with your voice through them. I didn’t want other girlfriends after you because all I wanted was what we’d had. Your people convinced you that you were flawed, but to me you are perfect.”

Avery’s face crumpled, and her shoulders shook. How those words filled her heart. How she’d longed to hear that she was good. That she was okay. “You’re perfect to me, too,” she forced out past her tight throat.

He smiled up at her, the morning sunlight highlighting his chiseled jaw and that dimple that said he was happy. “I choose you. For now, for always, I want you to be the one I wake up to. I want you to be the one I share my visions with, and hold, and laugh with. and struggle with, and grow old with.”

“I’ll protect you always,” she whispered.

“I know.” Weston’s voice broke on the last word, and his eyes rimmed with moisture. He laughed and looked away. Over and over, he swallowed, shaking his head like he was trying to gain control of himself again. In a steadier voice he said, “I know you will. And I’ll protect you for always, too. My body is yours. My heart is yours. It has been for a long time. Avery, you are my match. I’ve claimed you, and you already feel like mine, but you said once that claiming marks aren’t recognized by ravens. And I want you in every way. Ave, will you marry me?”

She was already nodding because she wanted nothing more than to bind herself to him completely. His eyes full, he slid the ring onto her finger. Clenching her fist around the new weight, Avery fell to her knees in front of him and hugged him up. A long sob wracked her body as he rocked her back and forth, back and forth. Weston eased away and kissed her. Clinging to him hard, she kissed him back, tears streaming down her cheeks. She didn’t know how long they sat like that on the porch of Big Flight. Maybe it was only minutes, but it could’ve been hours. Time had never made sense when she got lost in his arms like this. Mate, mate, mate. He’d chosen her. How had she gotten so lucky? Their story was long and winding, and so much had conspired to keep them apart, but look what had happened?