A Thief of Nightshade(87)

“I happen to know an eligible bachelor in my kingdom who would make a great husband.”

“Oh?”

He leaned in, brushing his lips against her cheek. “Yes, I do. His name is Lipsey, and I’m sure you’ll find him a fantastic conversationalist.”

Given socked him playfully in the stomach. This would have been cute were it not for the bruising to his left side that she’d forgotten all about. He grunted as he doubled over.

“I forgot! I’m so sorry. Ah.” She hissed in her breath in sympathy. “I bet that hurt.”

Aislinn looked up and forced a smile as she placed a hand over where she’d hit him. “It did, but you can make it up to me.”

“Anything.”

“Marry me.”

“Are you serious?”

Aislinn groaned. “Quite. My brother spoke of love when we were children still, as if he’d know it the moment he saw it. I never understood him until now.”

This shook the seriousness from her face. “You did not love me the moment you saw me. You threatened to send me off on my own into the forest, cold and hungry.”

“This is true ... but...”

“Hmmm? But what? Marriage is a big deal, Aislinn, not something that you can just—”

Aislinn pulled her to him and before she could finish, kissed her. “Did I already mention that you’re in love with me?”

She threatened to sock him in the stomach again and he lifted his brows in mock horror.

“But,” he continued, “I don’t think I’ve told you yet that, regardless of how we met, I’m in love with you. You can say no, Given. You don’t have to marry me.

But, I’ll pine away and wind up dying old and alone and—”

This time she shut him up with a kiss.

“Yes, you big dramatic oaf. Yes, I’ll marry you. But promise me one thing ...

you may consider it a wedding gift.”

“Anything.”

“Tear it down.”

“You’re going to have to get more specific than that.”

“My mother’s court. I don’t expect it to happen overnight, but eventually...”

He ran his flesh-and-blood hand through her hair. “We’ve already started.”

“What?”

The remaining Sidhe had already moved of their own accord into the forest near Koldavere, this much Given knew.

“Jullian and I talked about it yesterday. I was going to wait and be all romantic and take you there, show you in person. But you had to jump the gun. It will be months before they begin new construction.”

“You’re so full of it. Has the destruction really started?”

“Yes,” he said gently. He kissed her forehead. “You’re not the least bit curious about the new construction part?”

“I didn’t think...”

“We’re building a Fae monastery and there will be winter gardens for reflection. It will be a place for anyone who wishes to go and find peace. I thought it fitting, since it was such a place of sorrow.”

“Thank you.” Given sniffled. “Shut up. I can’t help it.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “I wouldn’t want you any other way.”

“Really?” her voice sounded muffled against his chest.

“Well, maybe without the snot

dripping from your—”

She blew her nose into his freshly pressed shirt.

“I asked for that, didn’t I?”

She laughed and hugged him tighter.

“Would it help to tell you that I love you, too?”

Grant flexed his hands, his fingers stiff from driving, and glanced at the rearview mirror.

Samantha opened her eyes and lifted her head from Harry’s shoulder to look around them. Before she answered him, she took the sippy cup from where Grant’s daughter had dropped it to the floor and tucked it back into the shoulder bag beside her. “I’m not picking that up again, kiddo.”

The little girl smiled, her bright green eyes shining. “Sorry, Aunt Sam.”

“It should be just ahead,” Sam said.

“There’s a driveway to the left, um, no on the right. Gravel. You can’t miss the mailbox, it’s a giant bear.”

“Sam,

I

know

where

it

is.

Remember?”

“Oh, yeah. I forgot.”

Dana, Grant’s wife, stirred once they’d found the drive and sat up.

“Finally. I was having the worst dream.

Where the hell are we?”

Grant caught Sam rolling her eyes at Harry and couldn’t help but to smile. He considered himself lucky to have gotten the five of them into the vehicle together, especially considering

that

Sam’s

hormones seemed worse than ever now that she was in her last trimester. She couldn’t stand Dana on her best days.

Grant had only been to the cabin a handful of times while Jullian and Aubrey were alive, but after Aubrey drowned, he’d practically lived there for two years.

Dana had threatened to leave him. His practice went under. After a while, he’d broken down and when Brooke and Harrington came to the cabin together to confront him, he’d finally had enough.