"What?"
"That it's impossible to tell the bad actors from the good. That guy in the market looked so mundane. Just a pudgy human who looked no different than the other people standing in line. Nothing was menacing about him, nothing to indicate that he was evil, a monster plotting to murder tens of thousands of people."
Din lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. "The Fates intervened and saved all those lives. I am grateful."
"So am I." She leaned against his arm. "But the Fates will not always be there to prevent disasters, and I have zero confidence in humanity. Now, every human I look at is a potential terrorist, a mass murderer. I don't know how to get past it."
He wrapped his arm around her. "I will not let anything happen to you. You can trust in that."
"I know." She reached up to touch his face. "That's what makes it bearable."
"I love you." He kissed her softly.
"I love you," she said when they came apart, the words feeling so natural now that she had gotten accustomed to saying them. "Think anyone's taking bets on whether we'll make it home or just scandalize the neighborhood?"
"We are fortunate that the shutters are down for the night. No nosy neighbors can watch us from behind their curtains."
She pulled him down for another kiss, longer this time, deeper.
"Home," Din said roughly when they parted. "Now. Before I forget that I'm no longer a Highland barbarian."
Her hand flew to her chest in mock horror. "A Highland barbarian?" She let her expression turn teasing. "I would love to meet him, but all I get are empty promises."
"Oh, really?" Din's eyes began glowing. "I wouldn't want to be known as the Highlander who doesn't keep his promises." Moving faster than she could track, he scooped her into his arms and broke into a jog.
Fenella laughed. "What are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm taking you to my lair so I can ravish you in private."
