Page 31 of Spellbound and Gagged

"Of course, I'll marry you."

And they sealed their vow with another kiss.

Chapter Ten

The next morning, Juno and Thaddeus stood before their newly merged office, mouths agape. The room looked like it had been hit by a tornado, if tornados were selective about academic disciplines and had a flair for the dramatic.

Juno's collection of rare herbology texts was interspersed with Thaddeus's carefully organized research journals, creating a library that defied all logic of alphabetization or subject matter. Her collection of colorful, hand-painted flowerpots clashed spectacularly with his sleek, utilitarian planters. And in the center of it all, their desks had fused together, forming a strange, two-headed monstrosity of a workstation.

"Well," Thaddeus said after a long moment of stunned silence, "at least the plant life seems happy."

He wasn't wrong. The various magical plants they'd each been cultivating appeared to be thriving in their new, chaotic environment. Juno's chattering chervil was engaged in an animated conversation with Thaddeus's watchful wolfsbane, while her twirling tulips danced merrily around his stoic steel-leaf shrubs.

"This is a disaster," Juno groaned, taking in the mess. "How are we supposed to work like this?"

As if in response to her distress, a nearby flutterby bush extended a branch, patting her consolingly on the shoulder. Unfortunately, its good intentions were overshadowed by itsnatural propensity for, well, fluttering. The movement sent a stack of papers flying, adding to the general chaos.

"Oh, thank you," Juno said sarcastically to the plant. "That's very helpful."

Thaddeus, to her surprise, burst out laughing. "Look at it this way," he said, gesturing to the room. "It's a perfect blend of both our styles. Chaotic and orderly, nurturing and defensive, all at once."

Juno smiled at his optimism. "I suppose you're right. Though I'm not sure how we're going to find anything in this mess."

"We'll figure it out," Thaddeus said, pulling a small vial from his pocket. "Just like we figured out how to solve your green skin issue."

Juno glanced down at her hands, now fully restored to their normal color. The reversal lily antidote he'd given her had worked wonders, and faster than expected.

"And just like we solved your amorous plant problem," she added, pointing to a small pot on the windowsill where the formerly lovesick flutterbloom now sat contentedly, showing no signs of its previous inappropriate affections.

"Our combined solution worked better than either of our individual approaches would have," Thaddeus noted. "Your calming influence plus my containment spell created the perfect remedy."

"It seems to be a pattern with us," Juno said, moving to straighten a shelf of books. "Competition that leads to collaboration."

Thaddeus nodded, joining her. "The competition pushed us both to improve. I would never have considered incorporating nurturing elements into my defensive formulas if I hadn't been trying to outdo you."

"And I wouldn't have explored defensive properties in my nurturing elixirs if I hadn't been determined to prove I could beat you at your own game," Juno admitted.

They worked in companionable silence for a few minutes, gradually bringing order to their shared space. As they arranged their research notes on the fused desk, their hands brushed, sending that familiar spark of magic between them.

"So," Juno said, looking up at him. "Joint Department Heads. I never saw that coming."

"Are you disappointed?" Thaddeus asked, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. "I know how much you wanted the position for yourself."

Juno considered the question seriously. "No," she said finally. "I think this is better. We balance each other. And frankly, the paperwork will be half as much."

Thaddeus laughed. "Always practical. That's one of the things I love about you."

"Speaking of practical matters," Juno said, setting down the stack of books she'd been organizing, "we should probably discuss some things."

"Ah, the dreaded 'we need to talk' conversation."

"Not dreaded," Juno corrected. "Just necessary. We're colleagues and romantic partners now. That's going to get complicated."

Thaddeus sat on the edge of their joined desk, pulling her to stand between his knees. "All right, Professor Runeheart. What specifically do we need to discuss?"

"Well, for starters, where are we going to live? My quarters or yours?"

"Mine are bigger," Thaddeus said. "But yours have that lovely eastern light that your plants adore."

---