Page 25 of Searching for Thanksgiving

She stared into his eyes, unable to answer for a moment, before she nodded. Her lips parted on a surprised gasp when he leaned forward and gave her a big hug. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back, a silly grin on her face.

“Thank you,” he said, releasing her, rising to his feet, and holding his hand out to help her up.

“Would you like to see the water vines?” she asked.

Creon paused when a soft but firm hand wrapped around his arm. His dark scowl changed at the expression in his mate’s eyes. She was watching Spring and Roam as they walked along a narrow row in the garden that their oldest daughter was creating. He looked back again, studying Spring’s glowing, happy face as she pointed out a long vine with rich purple flowers on it. Roam squealed with delight when one of the blooms squirted him. Seconds later, Spring and Roam’s laughter filled the garden as they directed the squirting blossoms at each other.

“Do you think they know?” he asked with a heavy sigh.

Carmen snuggled into him when he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him. She leaned her head back, watching the two teenagers laughing, playing, and talking with wild exaggerated movements. Spring’s hands were graceful as she practically danced around from one plant to the next while Roam, all arms, legs, and big feet at this age, followed clumsily behind her.

Carmen chuckled and shook her head. “Not really, but they will… one day.”

He pressed his lips against Carmen’s temple and sighed, his eyes still on the young boy who would one day be king of the Sarafin and his young, beautiful, and strong-willed daughter.

Perhaps Ha’ven and Vox are right. Maybe we should go to war… just for a few years. It doesn’t have to be a real one, just until the kids are grown.

He grunted when Carmen elbowed him in the stomach, chuckled, and turned in his arms. He tried to look down at her with an innocent expression but it came out more… sheepish, he suspected.

“No wars. No interference. No trying to keep them apart. It will only make the kids… and us women… more determined. They’ll figure it out when the time is right.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he murmured with a dry laugh, looking over her head toward the garden again.

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