“Am so,” he retorted smoothly as he nudged her cheek affectionately, his mercury gaze softening as he studied her russet features. He had not meant to worry her as much as he did but the opportunity to trick her had been too good to pass up. The shadow wasn’t always all doom and gloom; occasionally he possessed a sense of humour. It just took a pretty strawberry blond to break him out of his dark shell.

The cool air was a welcome change from the recent heat and Greer wanted to savour the moment for as long as he could before they had to return to the heights. To their daughter and their never-ending responsibilities. Much had changed since he left the monadnock to start a new life with his scarlet mountain girlfriend wife but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He was beginning to realize that the mountains had always been his home, even if he had resided in the forest west of the rocky outcrops. They had been intimidating at first, for they stretched threateningly toward the sky. But the longer he remained atop the stone the more he realized that he was always supposed to end up here. With Kyna.

His eyes flitted over to her as she spoke, a single ear twitching at the suggestion. He gave a typical short, Greer-nod in response, his lips curving toward the sky. “Yes. Greer won’t scare Ky this time,” he hummed in response as he pressed his nose to her cheek once more.

Fade.