Page 161 of Married to the Devil

It’s a testament to how far we’ve come that the memory doesn’t darken her features. I was terrible to her that night, cold and menacing, stuck in a fight with myself that nearly tore us apart. Yet she was strong enough to not only forgive me, but to tease me about it now.

Stella shrugs. “I thought it was fitting since Ben chose it.”

“It does highlight his work well,” I tease. My hand brushes over the barely-there swell of her belly, and I take a moment to admire the sight of the labradorite protection ring Stella crafted for me against the curve of her. I’m as viciously satisfied to wear a piece of her as I am that she carries a new future for us.

It’s early yet, but Ben and I can’t get enough of marveling over every change in Stella’s body as she grows our child.

I’d never given much thought to being a father and can only take comfort that it’s a role I’m sharing with Ben.

It’s why I’m so adamant that we have this ceremony.

The exchanging of vows at sunset is the traditional way gargoyle clans make their matings official. It’s odd to use the heritage that I’ve cast aside, but I want something that marks Ben as a part of us for all to see. Our guests have already started congregating on the roof, and I know there are separate parties occurring in our honor around the territory.

This area has calmed a great deal over the last month after the vote. It helped that the ally of the harpies was able to bring down the fae lord financing the disappearances. How harpies have a fae prince for an ally is a mystery, but I’m betting there’s a story there.

We’ve even been able to recover some people. Unfortunately, others may never be found, but we’ll keep looking.

“You didn’t explain about the plant. You know I don’t have a green thumb, right?” Stella asks.

“Your mother warned me. I promise that the plant is mine. I own it.” My lips curve when she still doesn’t understand the meaning. “Once upon a time, you told me if I wanted to own something, to get a plant.”

Stella’s confusion clears, and I think back to that very memorable car ride when she rejected being owned by me and told me that if I wanted to own something, to adopt a plant.

Her laugh is loud. “And so you got a plant. You own a great many things now.”

I nod, my smile knowing. I still want to own everything, but having such riches tempers the craven need.

“Now I have you, Ben, a babe on the way, and a plant.” I swallow. “And so much more.”

She leans against me, and I wrap my arms around her. The light of humor in her eyes softens with my meaning.

“And we own you just as much,” she says. “Maybe not the plant though.”

I snort, and we rock back and forth, looking at the monstera that Stella’s mother assured me is impossible to kill.

Eventually I check the time, arching my brow. Maybe I don’t quite own a certain demon yet.

“Do you think he’s going to be late to his own ceremony?” I ask.

Stella bites her lip and lifts a shoulder. “He likes his job, but he’ll be here.”

BEN

I’mlate to my own wedding.

It’s not a wedding exactly, but the end result is the same. It’s a union of me to the couple I love, and I’m late.

But Timmy was missing his dad and wanted to play an extra game of checkers and knows I’m a sucker for that if he’s done with his homework. His mother had to pull him away with a good-natured apology. The emotional scars of the family are healing well after their ordeal.

I’d taken a seat on the board that runs many of the programs in the territory with my focus being on the ones aimed protecting the children here. This after-school program is my brainchild.

It allows all children to receive mentoring by others in the community, and we’re able to have a high enough security that even the rarer types of paranormals are comfortable with it.

It’s an initiative to spark more unity in the territory. Our people should feel protective of the younger generation, especially rarer types that lack the built-in community of covens and packs.

And it’s working.

But I have a tendency to stay too long, and sunset is approaching quickly.

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