Page 44 of Royal Ransom

“Of course she would. It’s half the fun.”

I laughed again, and it hurt. I didn’t mind as much this time.

It took us both a while to realize someone was standing in the doorway of my room, watching us with a knowing smile. Tally had donned her glamour once more, shrugging on hermore careworn face like a favorite jacket. I loved this mundane disguise as much, if not more, than her real face. This was the one she’d worn when we first met. That meant a lot to me.

I frowned at her, suspicion creeping into my thoughts at last. “I was wondering why you weren’t showing up as often. You called her, didn’t you?”

Tally gave me a reproachful look. “She’s your mom, Mav. I’m not going to be pushy, but family matters. If you can repair it, you should. You never know how much time you have with the people you love. We both know that too well.”

I didn’t think she was trying to guilt me about Cain’s second death, but I winced anyway. She looked weary, and every cell in my body wanted to wrap myself around hers. I wanted to hold her until her breath evened out and she slipped into a peaceful dream. But this wasn’t the kind of pain I could ease for her. She’d lost someone very close to her, and it would take time for her to feel better.

Tabitha was trying and failing to hide a knowing grin. I hadn’t said it aloud to anyone but Tally, but Mother knew. She knew I was hopelessly infatuated with the winter royal in front of me. She knew the look. She’d worn it herself once upon a time.

“I think I’ll get food from the cafeteria,” Tabitha said, setting the knitting aside gingerly. “Do you want anything, Chief Morgan?”

“Coffee,” Tally said automatically. “And pour half the powdered creamer into the cup, please. The stuff in the waiting room is foul.”

Tabitha beamed at Tally’s back after she passed out of the room. I could already see her plotting for more grandchildren as she walked away. It was a good thing Tally hadn’t seen it. We had a complicated enough arrangement as it was, without adding a baby to the mix. I had a doll-like daughter, and she had two human boys. She’d adopted her older half-sister, sheltering Prissas a ward of Winter until she was old enough to rule. That was enough drama for any sane couple.

“We’re going to need a bigger house,” I muttered, more to myself than to her, as she took Mother’s place at my bedside.

Tally’s eyebrows shot up. “Pardon?”

I paused, unsure if I should further vocalize the thought. But... what the hell? We’d both almost died in pursuit of her throne. She was right. I didn’t know how much time we had.

“We need a bigger house,” I said. “We have four kids now. You’ll want the privacy that the coven house doesn’t offer. Besides, I don’t want the boys exposed to that much magic. Witches can be bullies sometimes, and they don’t need that after everything they’ve been through. Your house is going to be too small for Sybil and Priss and me. I don’t want to put two magical teens in a room, you know? It’s just asking for a magical mishap.”

I might have continued trying to justify myself, but she pressed two fingers to my lips, stilling them. It was just as well. I never regretted keeping my mouth shut. To my surprise, she was smiling.

“Are you asking me to move in with you, Mav?”

“Yes,” I said quietly, relishing the feel of her fingertips against my lips. She shivered when I nipped one gently. “If you want to—but, yes, I want you to. We’re family. I think we should all live under one roof.”

Tally leaned down, replacing her fingertips with her lips. The kiss was chaste. It had to be, under the circumstances. I wouldn’t be up for anything vigorous for a while.

“And what about...” she murmured against my mouth, “making things legal? To streamline things, you know. For the kids.”

I smirked. “Why, Tally, are you asking for my hand in marriage?”

“I already have that, dummy,” she said, giving my ear a playful flick. “I’m asking if you’ll... oh God, this sounds so cheesy, but... I guess I’m asking if you will… well…”

“Spit it out.”

She cleared her throat. “Will you be the father of my children?”

I leaned up and gave her a fierce kiss.

“I’d love to.”

The End

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