Page 181 of Bride of the Fae Prince

She covers her face with one hand, presses the other to her heart. She’s still laughing, wiping away tears, and squints at the creature in my arms. “A cockroach is a pest humans hate. What—forgive my reaction, I was only startled—whatisthat?”

Relief warms my belly. So maybe I didn’tcompletelymisjudge her. I kneel in front of her, holding up my arm where the idalpuff hangs, its antenna twitching, reaching for Stella. “It’s an idalpuff. It has a smooth shell, and each one is different. This one reminded me of you, with all the many colors.”

“People like crunchy pets?”

“Crunchy?” I ask in horror. “You don’teatthem!”

The idalpuff rears back, affronted.

“No, no! I don’t mean that. I mean that our pets are usually, you know—they’re soft! Fluffy! Like a fluffy little lap dog or a cat.” Still, she reaches out a tentative hand toward the creature, and when it doesn’t react, slides one finger across its beautiful shell. It responds by letting go of my arm with one of its legs and curling it around her finger.

She’s going to be in love with it in no time.

“Well, itdoeshave some fluff,” I tell her, lifting it a little more. “See? It’s got a fluffy tail.”

At that, Stella bursts out in full-blown laughter. “Itisa fluffy tail! What a strange creature! You’re like a giant, beautiful cockroach with a lamb’s tail!”

“It’s friendly,” I say, holding it out.

She gives me a dubious expression, then carefully takes the creature by the sides of its shell and sets it in her lap. Immediately, it rolls over on its back, exposing its belly and wriggling all its legs at her. It lets out a happy chirp. “Do I scratch it?”

“It’ll love you forever if you do.”

She starts to reach toward it, pulls back slightly, gives me a grimace. “It’s sobuggy.” Then she overcomes her qualms and gently starts scratching. The creature lets out a chorus of chirps, rolling and wriggling under Stella’s attentions. She’s laughing before she can help it, and I am once again restored to confidence that I know my wife well.

“There’s one more surprise,” I tell her with a wink.

She looks up from her new pet. “There’s more?”

“Oh yes. Come along, now!”

She skips after me out the door—the idalpuff at her heels—unable to hold back her grin as I take her outside. Through the garden she loves so much, out the gate. Glowing paths curve through the forest, but she carefully steps past each until I find the right one. The one I created just for this.

“I still can’t believe these were right in front of my face,” she grumbles, making me smirk.

It’s only a few minutes’ walk on the path. To a blank plot of land, freshly tilled, beside a quiet pool. Her mouth drops even before I say the words. “Is this what I think it is?”

“If you are thinking it’s your own secret garden, ready to be planted with whatever you’d like—including those herbs you’ve got overgrowing their pots—then yes.”

She lets out a scream of excitement, barrels into me with a forceful kiss, and immediately begins surveying the spot I picked out for her. “I’m going to grow vegetables!” she declares. “Because while I love all the beautiful flowers, there is a criminal lack of potatoes in this place!”

I spend the evening in deep amusement as Stella and the creature she decided to name Richard—I assume because it’s sort of close toroach—get to know each other while she plans her garden. There are many stern warnings to behave from Stella, and even more ecstatic burbling replies from Richard that are often paired with aggressive attempts at affection.

There’s still plenty we’re figuring out about each other. Vastly more to figure out about ruling all of Faerieland together. In a few months, there will be yet more to learn when our first child enters our world.

I’m not afraid of any of it. Where once the future was perpetually dark clouds and a crimson sky, now it is bright stars and a shining sun. Every day is a new beginning, one full of fresh hope and ever-growing love.

For the first time in ages, I am truly excited about tomorrow.

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