Page 33 of Siren in Love
“If you say so.Will you be needing advice for the prenup?Or will you take a witch to seal your vows?”
Heat rose to Mike’s face.“I hadn’t thought that far ahead.It was just another rom-com, and he was in my lap again, and then later when he was asleep, I looked at a few rings, okay?”
Peter clapped his hands.“Of course.You must have an island ceremony.Something close to the ocean.”
“Are you even listening to me?”
“Obviously.You will be asking Corvin to commit to you in whatever type of ceremony you both are comfortable with.I love the idea, except there’s one clear flaw to it.”
Mike’s heart fell.“What?!”
Peter shrugged.“Cart, horse.You have to tell him what you truly are first.”
“I know that.”
“You cannot use marriage as an excuse not to tell him.That would be a terrible injustice to the both of you.”
“I know that too.”
“If recent history has taught us anything about hiding who we really are—”
“Please stop.I’m telling him.”It was Mike’s turn to give the grain of the table a closer examination.“I want him to know, you know?I want to sing to him so damn much, every day.It’s like when I see him, I can’t help it.And…is it normal for love to grow stronger over time?”
Peter gave Mike a flat look.“How would I know?I’ve never loved.Immortality is ill-suited to love.Your kind are different.Your heart is in your song, and you can’t hide it.”
“Peter, I know.”
“So tell him.”
Mike closed his eyes and heaved a sigh.“I will.I made plans.Look, all I’m saying is, I need your werewolf to keep his mouth shut about stuff.”
“Corvin saw me kill a yule cat with my bare hands and never much questioned it, so like most humans, he’s bound to search out ignorance.And as I said, use your song on John.Do it kindly, but do it if he needs it.”
Kindly?Maybe I should feel sorry for the werewolf.
“All right, I’ll try that.It’s not going to be for long, right?”
“Only days.I’ll hurry.”
“Fine.Yeah, fine.”
Peter nodded.“And bring him to work with you.He can do temp work.It’ll be good for him.”
“Yeah, sure.”Mike stood, ready to head back home to Corvin.
“Michael, please tell Corvin, sooner rather than later.You know it’s required here in New Elvenswood.”
Mike nodded.“I know.Lord Laurette of the Silver Moons has decreed it.”
The elven lord had lived in New Elvenswood for ages and protected the city and her people like a mother hen her eggs.If a mother hen came with powerful brute strength magic that could unalive a dinosaur, that is.
“Indeed.I believe a year is the customary grace period, and you are cutting it rather close.”
“I’m going to tell him, Peter.I…I love him.I want him to hear my song and know that it’s a part of me.”
Peter’s smile was sharp rather than warm.“That’s good.I truly wish the two of you happiness.And thank you for taking John.”
“Sure.I’ll manage, and so will Corvin.”
