Page 47 of Secondhand Garagyre

“TodayisChristmasEve, sugar.Thatmeans it’s the day before my version of what you call the winter solstice.Afterall the excitement of yesterday,Ithink it best we stick close to home today and most of tomorrow.I’vealready texted my parents and let them know we won’t be over until tomorrow evening forChristmassupper instead of midday.”

“Ithink there is much you need to tell me, little one…” my words trailing off in question.

“Ehm.Yes.Isuppose there is.”Tuckingher glorious red hair behind one of her ears, she seems almost…bashful.Pullingher more firmly between my thighs,Iwrap my tail around her waistand gently roll us onto the bed.Ignoringher shriek of protest asIposition her to my liking.

Which, considering my healing state, is cuddled up next to me with her head across my chest. “Nowthat we are more comfortable.Tellme what happened afterIlost consciousness,”Iurge.Takinga deep breath, as if she’s preparing herself for my reaction.

Shetells me everything.

Shetells me how she facedRulzik.

Shetells me how she shot him many times with hergun.

Shetells me how he fell.Shetells me that she retrievedBaldrfrom my fallen figure.

And, finally.Shetells me how she beheaded the foul beast namedRulzikand banished him to the abyssal hellscape all demons hail from.Pridefills me andIfeel her body relax as she feels my feelings flow to her across our body, her scent calming as her stress dissolves as if it never existed.

Turningmy head,Ifind hers tipped up, gazing at me, relief filling her beautiful golden eyes. “Youdid well,Paisley.Iwill not admonish you for what you did.Youprotected us and did something others far more powerful and skilled have tried for centuries to do.YouvanquishedRulzik.Hiserror was underestimating a human woman, and it was his demise.”

Mywords are the final validation she seems to be seeking because all the ridged tension leaves her body as her breath gust from plush parted lip. “Laithog, sugar…there’s somethingIwant to tell you.Iknow you felt it after you boundMerryandPippintous.Getthat look off your face!I’mtrying to confess my undying love to you and you’re glaring at my dogs!”

Theedge to her tone doesn’t bode well for me at all, soIassume an innocent expression after one last glare towards the little bastards loitering at the foot of the bed. “Iam listening intently to what you say, little flame.”

Sherolls her eyes at me in exasperation.“Anyways,asIwas saying before you sorudelyinterrupted me, was thatIlove you.BecauseIdo love you, deeply, without reservation or end.”

Herwords fill me with delight bordering on ecstasy.Ofcourse,Ifelt her love for me the evening past, but hearing the words hits all that much deeper because she admits her love with a conscious mind to me willingly.It’snot a developing feeling submerged in her subconscious and it makes all the difference in the worlds.

Justbecause you love someone doesn’t necessarily mean youwantto love them. “Thankyou for giving me the words.You’vemade me the happiestGaragyrein existence.KnowthatIwill love you until the breath leaves my body and we ascend to the next life, and thenIwill love you there for the rest of eternity as well.”

Myheartfelt solemn words cause tears to well in her eyes, until they spill, unchecked, down her rounded cheeks, as she beams at me in happiness.

“Ipromise you thatIwill wake each day beside you and do my best to make every day worth your acceptance of me.”

“Oh,Laithog, you already do.Didn’tyou know that?”Isher profound response.

Chapter Forty-Eight

LAITHOG

TodayisChristmas!

Myeyes snap open in excitement asIlook down at the warm weight draped across my chest.Adamp spot tells me she’s drooled on me again, butIdo not care.Ihave been covered in entrails before.

What’sa little spittle?

Jostlingmy mate,Iease her into wakefulness.Itmust be said that she does not care for mornings.

Atall.

Groaning, she rolls over and stretches as her eyelids flutter before she semi-glares at me out of one cracked eye. “Whatchuwakin’ me up for?” she grouchily asks.

“ItisChristmas!”Iretort with merriment.YesterdayPaisleydisappeared into her jewelry room for several hours, and while she thoughtIwas napping,Icrafted her gift.Icannot wait to give it to her, even thoughIam slightly nervous.Thisholiday is new to me and my mate is notGaragyre, she’s human.Withthatin mind,Imade a backup gift in case she doesn’t care for the first one.

Havingmagick is truly a blessing sometimes…andIdo not care if other beings consider using to craft gives as cheating.

Theycan jump off a cliff.Mymate is still staring at me balefully, asIscoop her up into my arms and set her on her feet next to the bed.Witha patronizing pat to her backside,Ishoo her towards thebathroom.“Gotend your morning ablutions, andIwill meet you in the communal room.Merry,Pippin, let us go outside!”

Cringingat the raucous yodels bothdogslet out,Ihead towards the back door, following the two bouncing balls of hair asIgo.

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