“Maybe because I jumped into another world with you, or because I’m crazy in love with a guy who can sprout wings and rides a freaking dragon, or maybe because you lit that fire there without a match. Stuff like that. But mostly?”
Turning to her, he gripped her chin, gave it a quick wag. “Who knows you like I know you?”
“Nobody. Nobody in any world anywhere.”
“My best friend’s a demon witch. Or it’s probably witch demon, because there’s more of the witch.”
“There’s Sidhe and human, too.”
“That’s a big punch in one package.” He patted his knee so Bollocks came over to put his head on it. “And she’s got the best demon dog ever.”
“Who’s waited patiently for his supper until I got through this. I’ll take care of that and set the table.”
“Great. I want to make some biscuits—not cookies—to go with the roast.” He rose with her, and sensing what was coming, Bollocks raced into the kitchen to sit by his bowls.
“We make a good team,” Breen said.
“Always have, always will.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
She saw Keegan off before dawn, and watched Bollocks take his first swim of the day as the light began to shimmer in the east. She imagined Keegan flying on dragon-back toward the sun.
She’d miss him, but she couldn’t deny the archery practice would be more pleasant under Morena’s gentler touch.
She stood, her cloak wrapped around her pajamas, drinking coffee as the early light began to play on the mists spiraling up from the bay.
She heard the cottage door open, glanced back as Brian stepped out. As he did whenever they crossed paths in the morning, he brought her a piece of toast.
“Thanks.”
“I have early duty the next few days, and I wanted a moment with you.”
“Sure.”
“I couldn’t find the words last night. I still search for them. The cottage you offer.”
Distress came first. “You don’t want it?”
“I do,” he said quickly. “We do. This is the answer to everything, for both of us. I can’t find the words to thank you. That you’d do this for him.”
“Not just for him, and for you, but for me. As much for me.”
“I know this.” He let out a breath that whisked away into fog. “And knowing it makes the gift even more, so I can’t find the words.”
“I think all of those work just fine.” And started her day off on a bright note. “We’re all going to live in two worlds, and that’s a strangebalancing act. But at the same time, we can have the best of both of them. After.”
“I’d go anywhere with Marco. That it can be here is another gift. I want to take him to meet my family. They know of him, of course. I’ve told them I found the one, and so they want to meet him. And when they have, I would ask him to pledge to me, and me to him.”
She shot out both hands, pushed them against the morning air.
“Wait, wait! You want to marry him? Oh my God, oh my God.” She turned two circles, sent the rest of the coffee sloshing. “Now I can’t find my words. Oh, oh,yes!”
Heart in his eyes, Brian grinned. “You approve. I thought you might think it too fast.”
“Oh, hell with that. I can’t tell him, can I? Crap, crap, I can’t spoil the big moment. Give me a second.” She shoved the nearly empty mug at him, then turned more circles. “Okay, it’s zipped.” She mimed zipping her lips. “In the vault. Not a word. I swear, pinky swear, cross my heart, whatever it takes.”
“I wanted your approval because you’re his family.”