Great and Precious Things

by Rebecca Yarros

“Cam,” I whispered, letting my forehead rest against his back as I gripped a fistful of his coat. “Are you okay, Willow?” he asked, so softly that I would have gone with the hallucination theory if I hadn’t felt his deep voice rumble through his chest.

Cam couldn’t be here. He hadn’t been here in years. And he definitely couldn’t stop a bullet. But a feeling of safety drenched me anyway.

The boy I’d been would have cried. The teenager I’d grown out of would have cursed at him and walked away. The man I was now stood there and took it because I was finally strong enough to.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, just like he always did. Most people were content to let me live in my head, or they tried to bring me back to the conversation. Cam had always pried my thoughts loose, and I let him, even if he’d usually mocked me for them right after.

“That I always figured you just left and never looked back.” My finger lightly traced the outline of the hot springs, his skin smooth and warm under mine, then paused at the inked rendition of the abandoned structure we used to jump from as kids. “But you took us with you.” Where had he found the drawing? Did he realize it was mine?

Willow was so untouchable that she didn’t even go on the untouchable list. She went on the unthinkable one.

“I know you’re a good man, not because of who you were as a teen but because that reckless boy grew into the man who came back when his family called.

“Even if it were, he’s the one asking for it. It’s his life. His body. His decision. The fact that you have his medical power of attorney means you’re the only one who can legally do it for him.”

“I never hooked up with Cam for a reason. He only had eyes for one Bradley girl, and it wasn’t me.” There was zero teasing in her tone or expression. “Wh-What?” I sputtered. That was definitely not the answer I’d expected. “Think about it. You’re the only girl who’s lasted more than five minutes in his orbit. He may have glanced at other girls, but he only saw you.”

“Really, girls? You with the whole ‘my life, my rules’ thing.” She pointed at Charity. “And you with…” “The truth?” I offered.

“For the love of God, Willow, that skirt can’t possibly pass the fingertip test.” Mom’s lips pursed. “It doesn’t,” I assured her, dropping my hands straight down my thighs to show her that it was a few inches shorter than her ridiculous mandate.

“I’m so scared that I let the silence speak for me,” I whispered. “Well, you seem to have found your voice now. Use it for good. You know, the whole ‘with great power comes great responsibility’ thing.”

“I’m so sorry you had to come.” “I didn’t have to, Willow. I chose to.”

“It’s beautiful, in its own little, dangerous way,” she remarked, her helmet resting between my spine and right shoulder blade. “Most everything that can hurt you is.”

I hadn’t gone after her because it was the right thing to do. I’d gone after her because I couldn’t bear the thought of her not existing.

“No, you don’t. I was most angry at Sullivan, because he had the right I would have died for and never even used it. Because when he passed, it was Mom’s name on his lips, when I knew mine would have been yours.”

Darkness is drawn to the light, right? And there’s nothing brighter in this town than you.”

“It was always you, Cam.” She closed the inches between us, resting her hands on my chest, on the heart she didn’t realize only beat because hers did. “I’ve loved you since forever. I’ve been in love with you since I was old enough to understand what that meant. No one else ever had a shot of getting close. How could they, when you took my heart with you?”

“I see. You take care of my girl, Cam.” She pointed a finger at me. “You take care of mine, Charity,” I countered as I turned…and barely swallowed a swear word.

He’d thought that part was important enough to remember—the concept that maybe he, too, could choose to be what he wanted and not what he’d been told to be.

“I believe a strong woman may be stronger than a man, particularly if she happens to have love in her heart. I guess a loving woman is indestructible.”

I’d known by the time I was ten that the only world I wanted to live in was hers.

“You don’t have to. You’ve always been bigger on actions than words. I don’t need you to say it. What I need is for you to realize that my love isn’t going to change or lessen because someone makes a comment or you have a bad day. I love you unconditionally, Camden. At your worst? I love you. At your best? Yep, still love you. And until you can accept that, I’ll be right here proving it to you. Choosing you.”

“Shh. My turn now. I’ll never walk away,” I promised, holding her face in my hands. “I’ll never not want you. Wanting you is all I’ve ever known. You’re in my blood, my bones, my soul.” My hands dropped to her ass, and I lifted her until she was eye level. “There is no me without you.

“More than anything in this world.” I ran my fingers through his hair, more for my comfort than his. “Okay.” He took my hips and guided me until I sat across his thighs, facing him. “Then, this is where you do that. Where you love me. That’s all I need.”

“Thank God, because I’m not sure I’d know how to let you. I’m so damned glad you came to me instead of making the decision alone.” The relief in his eyes punched me in the stomach. I’d almost done it. Almost walked away. “We’re partners, right?” “Right.”

“You’re not a complication in my life, Willow. You’re the reason.”

I’m hers until she decides otherwise, not you.”

I pushed off the counter and headed toward the door, only to pause and look back at him, my thoughts tripping over something he’d said. “If you want my intentions, here they are. I’m going to marry your daughter. Then I’m going to spend every day of my life making her as happy as possible. But when I ask her to be my wife, you won’t know. I won’t ask your permission because she’s not a piece of property, and I won’t respect your tradition because you don’t respect that it’s really her choice. And if she says yes, you’ll only know if she tells you. You’ll only know if we get married if she chooses to invite you. You’ll only know if we have a child if she deems you worthy to know, worthy of being in her life.”

“I love you,” she promised, her hazel eyes red and her cheeks blotchy. “I love you.” Her thumbs swiped at my face. “Do you understand me, Camden Daniels? I know your truth. I love you, and I have always loved you. First and always. You.”

“I told your father on opening day that you were lonely,” she told me. I turned my head, and she lifted hers. “He replied that all great and precious things are lonely.” My brows knit together, and she nodded. That line… Holy shit. The same man who’d mocked me for always having my nose in a book as a kid took the time to read the one I’d declared my favorite, and not just once, but enough to recall that line.

Losing Willow wasn’t an option, and maybe I didn’t deserve her, but I was sure as hell going to earn her every day.

‘You’re free to make your own choices, but you’re not free from the consequences of that choice.’”

“Not if you want to do some good.” She kissed my nose. “You’re my good.” I settled my hands on her hips and tugged her closer.