Page 104 of Witches Be Damned

Mom covered her mouth.

Janet looked a little green.

The rest of the team chuckled.

“Oh, Superguy, you’re so sweet.” Supergal cupped my jaw and stroked my chin with her thumb. I loved seeing her surprised face morphing into joy after a long stretch of tension.

Eager for her answer, I flipped open the box’s lid, exposing the mermaid pearl encased in a rose gold band. “I want you to be mine, forever, Supergal. I want this ring to serve as a reminder of everything we’ve been through. Tests of our endurance and resilience and the strength our love surpassing it all.”

She gasped and rocked backward.

I knew she was the woman for me when she freed the team and me from The Hole. Merciful, loyal, forgiving, kind-hearted, and that damn sassy mouth and fierce determination won my heart.

“Oh, Victor.” My mother’s shaky hand rose to her mouth.

“Uncle Tor loves Astra.” Molly made kissy faces, and Janet chuckled.

My three brothers grinned, in on the whole thing and supportive of the proposal, even though Knoxe and Pascal weren’t hearing wedding bells yet, and Raze was ready to fill her belly with pups.

Supergal’s hand reached out to stroke the stone, then recoiled. “Wait. Is this legitimately obtained? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a yes. A thousand percent I want a forever with you.” My heart swelled with more love for my romance queen’s answer. “But…” She worked her bottom lip between her teeth.

I took her meaning. She didn’t want threatening visits from people who seized her goodies when I owed them money. I was grateful for her not voicing that in front of my family. They didn’t need to know about the lengths I went to for all of them.

I let out a chuckle and repeated the hand sign. “Scout’s honor.”

She snorted at that and let me slip the ring onto her finger. I got the exact measurements by using a thread from my shirt and winding it over her finger while she slept.

My future wife lifted her hand to examine the jewel. “It’s beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful you, Mrs. Helms.” I kissed her cheek, keeping it PG for the family.

“I love you, Mr. Helms,” she whispered, and I loved the sound of my surname on her lips, and the idea of her signing off as my wife.

“Ewww!” Jack pretended to vomit, and we broke away.

“No, it’s not, it’s romantic,” Mom corrected him. “Janet, do we have any wine to celebrate?”

“We brought a little something.” Knoxe got up and went to his bag and removed two bottles of champagne.

Yep. Life couldn’t get any more perfect. I got my happy ending and more, and more importantly, so did my Romance Queen.

CHAPTER 32 - ASTRA

Sand kicked up on the beach as my four gorgeous boyfriends and I set up our beach picnic. Pascal arranged the shade cabana and put on the tunes for a relaxed day lazing on the beach. Knoxe carried the cooler full of chilled drinks, handing them out once we were organized. Tor lugged a box of snacks, sitting them on a little bamboo table. Raze sported the chairs and positioned them facing the water, rumbling so loud he sounded like the motor on a boat. I laid down towels for anyone who wanted to sunbathe and got out my paperback—romance, of course—and sunblock.

“Can you pass me my hat, Supergal?” Tor asked. “I don’t want to get any premature lines on this handsome face.”

Such a classic Tor line.

I snorted at him, reached into my bag and pulled the straw sunhat out for my bad boy fiancé, settling it on his head, kissing him, then tugging it down playfully.

I hadn’t stopped smiling since his proposal last week. Nor had I stopped examining the gorgeous ring he fashioned with the mermaid pearl to symbolize all the trials we went through and came out on top.

He righted the hat, then proceeded to model it with different poses. “What look should I go for? Wanky tourist?” He tightened the drawstring and made himself look dorky. “Sexy yacht playboy?” He set the hat normally on his crown. “Rich sugar daddy?” He twisted it sideways and made sex eyes at me and heated the space between us.

The rest of my men voted for yacht playboy.

I laughed and tipped the back down slightly. “None of those. How about hot criminal?”

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