Page 62 of Sprite Wedding
“You think so? It’s not as exciting as in the past, maybe.”
“You’re joking, right?”
She shook her head.
“I have so much more now. Not only do I have the fulfillment of working at the Network and thinking I’m part of something, but I have you.” I placed my hand on her cheek. “And that is more than I ever dreamed I could have in my life.” I caressed her soft skin. “Don’t you know that I love you?”
“I do—but I don’t understand why. I’m not wild and spontaneous and fun like you are.”
“Do you think I want to be with someone like me? I’d drive myself nuts.” I laughed.
She did as well.
I tipped her chin up. “Since I’ve been with you, I’ve grown. I’ve learned there’s more to life than shaking my ass, half-naked, to a crowd of rowdy women. I’ve learned so much from you and am proud of being part of a bigger cause. And I’ve never been as happy as when I’m with you. I don’t care if we’re sitting around listening to music or hanging in the garden. There’s something about you, Zoe. Maybe I don’t understand it myself, especially enough to put into words, but I know it as truth. My dragon and I both know you’re the only one. You’ve gotten under both our skin and scales,” I said with a lopsided grin. “I love you.”
Her mouth opened as if she was trying to speak, but then she turned her head. “Oh, I should never have doubted you. I’m sorry, Lucas.”
“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kept anything from you, even the little things. Especially if it’s going to cause you any anguish.” I took a deep breath before continuing. “Remember, when it comes to you and me, nothing comes between us.” I put my hand on her chest and then mine. “You understand that, right?”
She gazed at me with warmth. “Right.”
I bent down and kissed my mate. Tingles of heat traveled through me. I finally had my mate back in my arms.
ZOE
Over the next few days, I stayed at Lucas’s place. We made up for the nights we were forced to be apart. With my generous lover, I likely had a smile etched on my face most days.
He calmed down about Marty and even warmed up to letting the sprites live on the property on a temporary basis. I wasn’t surprised. With his good-hearted nature, I couldn’t see him bearing a grudge for long.
Shadow helped soften Lucas up as well. After our cruise and Lucas’s stint in stone, Shadow was super affectionate. Lucas doted on him, and it was sweet.
Lucas might turn to mush around Shadow, but I turned to jelly when I saw Lucas around Shadow.
Marty returned after a few days. He apologized again to Lucas and the sprites for causing trouble. Lucas reamed him out first, but then softened.
“If you tell the witches at the Network exactly what you did to curse me like that, you can stay with the others here for a little while,” he offered.
Marty agreed and joined the other sprites.
After we walked away, I told Lucas, “That was clever. The more information we have about magic, the better.”
He cupped my face and smiled at me. “I learned from the best.”
Pandora and Cassandrawere thrilled to talk to Marty and learn from the sprites. Their magic was different from any they’d experienced.
My roommate Lucie talked to the sprites about relocating, but they were indecisive about where they wanted to live. After several days with them in Lucas’s back yard, the topic about moving was dropped.
A couple of weeks later, Lucas and I walked home from having dinner outdoors at a local pub.
“You know what’s weird?” he asked. “Now that I’m used to the sprites in the back yard, I kind of like it.”
“Really?” That was quite a turnaround.
“Yeah. They keep me company and talk about plants. They’ve actually been useful in identifying mysterious ones that I wasn’t sure were friend or foe. It’s much better than an app.”
“Nice. I’m glad it’s working out.”
“They tell me stories about living in Bermuda and all about the gardens there. You know I’m all over that. I do get the sense that they miss it.”
