Page 44 of The Tides of March

“Aye.”Tony raised his head and pinned Ronan with a threatening look. “This is where I belong and you’re just going to have to accept it.”

“Are ye sure?” Ronan asked carefully, not wanting to jinx himself. He never thought he’d get to see or touch Tony again,let alonekeep him.“Ye can’ make that kind of a vow to a merrow lightly, ye know.”

Tony nodded. “I know. Just like I know I don’t belong at Georgetown anymore. Nox doesn’t really need me and I think I can be more useful as an oracle.”

“An oracle?” Ronan couldn’t help smiling, he was so proud ofhis man.The last thing he hadeverwanted was a man on his island, but fate and the gods had sent Ronan a beautiful wonder. It seemed just as unlikely that Tony would want Ronan or welcome a lifetime of isolation on an enchanted island, but apparently, oracles had terrible taste in mates. “Aren’t we a pair?”

“We are,” Tony agreed. “And from now on, we take care of each other. The next time there’s a kraken or Godzilla shows up, we face it together.”

“What’s a Godzilla?” Ronan asked, suddenly worried but Tony laughed softly.

“Just a monster from some old movies. I doubt we’ll be seeing the likes of him.”

“There’s a blessing, although I wouldn’ have expected to see a kraken in my lifetime.”

Tony’s lips pulled into a hard line. “Nelson’s been working on that. Apparently, someone created a digital siren to lure young, virgin men to feed to it. Nox and Merlin believe it’s the same warlock who created that zombie child who attacked us.”

“Aye, that seems like a safe assumption… I hope they mean to do something about him,” Ronan said, earning a sneer from Tony.

“If I know Nox, he won’t let it rest but I wouldn’t mind a few moments alone with him myself.”

“You and me both.” Ronan eased an arm around Tony, pulling him close. “I’m real sorry about all the terrible things Isaid. I didn’ mean a word of it and just wanted to get ye as far from the island as fast as I could to protect ye.”

“I understand that you panicked. Just don’t expect that to work ever again. I’ll never believe you.”

“No?”

“Nope,” Tony stated firmly. “You love me, you grumpy idiot, and I belong here with you.”

“If ye say so...” Ronan replied wearily, but he was humbled by how proud he was and how much he loved Tony. “I guess I can keep ye,” he teased, making Tony laugh.

The sound filled the cottage and warmed Ronan’s heart. “Hallelujah, he’s finally seen the light. Once you’re back on your feet, we can start making room for my things. I have a feeling my mom will be on the next boat out, after she hears that I’m staying. She’s going to want to meet you and get a look at this place, so batten down the hatches,” Tony warned.

Suddenly, Ronan had a new reason to be nervous.“I can behave if it’s yer mam,” he said, grimacing. “She won’ be too thrilled, though, once she gets a look at me.”

Tony waved dismissively. “My mom? Nah! All she’ll care about is that I’m happy and well fed.”

“I can certainly promise I’ll feed ye well and I’ll do everything in me power to make ye happy,” Ronan promised and Tony made a knowing sound.

“Or else,” he whispered and narrowed his eyes at Ronan. He kept a straight face for half a minute, then burst into giggles. “I can’t believe we did it and I’m actually back! I tried my best to settle in and move on without you, but it was like I’d left my heart here.”

“And to me, it felt like ye’d taken me heart with ye,” Ronan replied as he caressed the hair away from Tony’s eyes. “I dreamt of ye every night and it was the memories of yer face and yer voice that kept me alive. I’ll never let ye go again.”

“Good.” Tony nodded in approval, then slid Ronan a sheepish look. “Is there anything else you missed because I’m exhausted but I kind of feel like celebrating,” he said with a wiggle of his brows.

“Do ye now?”

Tony hummed as his fingers walked up Ronan’s chest and brushed through his beard. “If you’re feeling up to it…”

“Up to it?” This time, Ronan laughed. “Ye might have to take the lead because I’m still a tad weak. But if ye remember, there’s no better medicine.”

“Oh?” Tony scrambled up onto his knees. “I can heal you with sex? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“Well… It mighta been awkward with so many people in here and ye were busy fightin’ that kraken and savin’ the day.”

“Will we always heal each other?”

“Dunno…” Ronan shook his head. “Never known a merrow to keep a man—or an oracle—for more than a season. We’re usually a fickle breed and will toss a man back to the sea when we’re done with them.”

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