Page 155 of Savage Throne
Lei spoke. “You’re the only one I’ve shared this place with. As many times as Duck, Hu, and Chen have been up on Mount Utopia, they don’t even know about it. I know this because when we have been on this mountain. . .sometimes I escape here and just sit for hours looking at the fireflies and the stars and the moon. . .and I just think of happier times.”
I gave him a sad smile. “And they never find you?”
“Never.”
“I bet that pisses Chen off.”
“It does. He hates that I’m able to disappear here. In fact. . .he has a secret team searching Mount Utopia to figure out the location.” He chuckled and then let out a long breath. “He’ll never know. The path is too narrow. The trees too thick. It almost doesn’t even look like a path at all.”
“Then, I’ll keep your secret.”
“You will. However. . .I don’t ever want you tonotknow where I am. I want you to always be able to find me.”
Aww, baby.
“Lei. . .thank you for bringing me here. Thank you for telling me how much you love me, because I damn sure love you. And thank you for sharing this place and part of you with me.”
His bottom lip quivered as if he was nervous.
He let out another long breath and let me go.
I blinked. “What’s wrong?”
“This place. . .it holds my happiest memories.” He stepped away from me.
“O-kay. . .”
“I wanted another happy memory here.”
Before I could respond, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.
My heart damn near stopped.
Lei sank down to one knee.
Oh my God. Don’t pass out. Don’t you fall out.
I steadied myself as much as I could.
The moonlight caught the sharp lines of his face, the hint of clear vulnerability in his gaze. He looked up at me, and the world stilled.
Oh shit. Oh shit.
“You’re officially the Mountain Mistress to the East.”
I could see the tension in his hands as he held the box and the way his fingers shook.
He cleared his throat. “And. . .I’m proud of you for earning that title, but you’remine, Moni.”
I widened my eyes.
“You’ve always been mine from the first moment I saw you in that church to the moment I put those handcuffs on your wrist and the moment I took you on this mountain weeks ago and even when I showed you off to the East. You’ve always been mine. And now, I want you to officially be mine under the eyes of the law, of God, in every way that matters.” He opened the box, revealing a big ring that sparkled like the stars overhead.
It was a miniature galaxy—diamonds and sapphires and some twinkling pale blue stone that was framed by a platinum band.
“It’s good that you’re my Mountain Mistress. That’s great.” He nodded. “But I want you to be mywife.”
The breath left my lungs in a rush.
