" And what did you want?”
His eyes sparkled with laughter. “I wanted to find the nearest bar and drink until I forgot a certain orphan with bewitching green eyes. I kept telling myself it was my Mori who wanted you, but the truth was, I noticed you before my demon did, and I wanted to see you again.”
Warmth pooled in my stomach. “Would you do it differently now?”
“Yes.”
“What would you do?”
“I’d do this.”
I squealed as he swung me up over his shoulder and started striding back toward the waterfront. “Nikolas, put me down, you big lug!” I yelled through my laughter.
He patted my backside. “This time my Mori and I are in complete agreement.”
“You do know I can zap your warrior ass, right?” I squirmed and he held me tighter.
His deep laugh warmed me to my toes. “But you won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you like me... a lot. "

― Karen Lynch