Page 51 of Hers to Keep

He showed her a sheepish smile.“They are working on finding a weapon forged by Ephemeral magic for me.”

“I love you.”She reached up to stroke his horn.“And I adore your drive to protect me.”She paused and reconsidered her choice of words.“Us.”

“But you’d like it very much if I didn’t kill him?”

“Please.”She kissed him, holding his mouth to hers longer than was necessary.

“I love you too,” he whispered against her lips.“And I can’t wait to spoil our babies.”

Mari pulled back and smiled.“You’re more excited about that than I thought you’d be.”

“Are you kidding?I can’t wait to see Rio be the bottom of a napping baby dragon pile.Gods, that’s the sweetest thing I can possibly think of.”

She giggled at the image that conjured of tiny dragons climbing all over Rio, tugging at his hair and ears.When she’d made the split-second decision to conceive, she hadn’t known what to expect from her partners—if the ones she hadn’t chosen to go first would be pleased or envious—but none of them seemed anything but elated.Cisco’s only hesitation had been that their lives were still currently in danger, and he wanted that resolved before their children arrived.

“You’re going to be such an amazing dad.”

“I’m going to try my best.”He picked up her hands and kissed each of her palms.“How are you feeling?”

“Good.After last night, I’m fully recovered.”

“I’m glad he treated you right.”He wrapped her arms around his neck.“Have you got anything on your schedule today, or can I enjoy your company for a while?”

“Pricilla is off with Emil today, so I’m free this morning.Dante will be along eventually to feed me something.”She let out an exaggerated sigh.“He has a whole list from Dohal of things I need to eat for optimal dragon production.”

Cisco huffed with amusement.“Are they at least delicious?”

“For the most part.”She honestly had no complaints.The food Dante had started bringing around was rich and satisfying, but she had to keep up appearances of being grumpy about it.

Cisco smiled wide.“It’s pretty adorable how much they both want to take care of you.”

“It is.”She leaned against his shoulder.“Don’t tell, but I’m not even a little annoyed by it.”

Chuckling, he kissed the top of her head.“I’ll take your secret to the grave.”

Reminded of the danger they were all in, her in particular, she shivered against him and clutched him tight.“If something happens to me, you’ll stay for Rio, won’t you?”

“Considering what happened when you fell, I think it’s unlikely.”His voice was low and serious.“I was a heartbeat away from frenzy.”

She rested a hand against his heart for a long while before she could find more words.“I’m sorry I hurt you.I just couldn’t let him sacrifice himself for me.”

“Never apologize for caring, mi tesoro.”He ran a comforting hand down her back before hugging her around her hips.“Your kind heart has always been my favorite thing about you.”

Mari hadn’t allowed herself to voice her doubts with anyone yet.She was too scared of what the implications were to say it out loud, but in this moment alone with Cisco, it felt right.He’d been her anchor for so long.“I don’t feel any different aside from really understanding the goddess now and having her memories.I don’t feel more powerful.I’m not sure what I was supposed to get from completing the circle, aside from the memories, but I don’t think it happened.”

“You’ve got a lot going on right now, both physically and emotionally, that probably makes it difficult to tell what’s happening with your magic.”

“I’m just worried I still can’t beat him.When he comes for Dohal again, I don’t know what to do.”

He pressed his face into the top of her head and exhaled a long breath.“We’ll figure it out.”

They sat together for a long while quietly talking, until Dante showed up around noon with a tray of cloches that had been spelled by Giselle to retain temperature piled high.Somehow, he’d known she wanted breakfast for lunch and set the most perfectly gooey omelet overstuffed with veggies in front of her.She didn’t question whatever his culinary sense was and dove in immediately, because it was exactly what she’d wanted.

Rio wandered in just in time for lunch and made himself at home in the seat next to Mari with an entire mountain of pigs in blankets that he snuck her bites of when Dante’s back was turned.

Dante caught her sucking syrup from Rio’s fingers and pretended to be angry, but he couldn’t keep a straight face while trying to be stern.Cisco made a joke about pouring syrup over various body parts to enjoy them as much as she clearly was Rio’s fingers.And that had Mari considering all sorts of delectable options.Maybe the goddess had been right—for a little while at least, everything seemed exactly the way it should be.

She tried her best to put the danger from her mind and live in the lovely moment, and she almost succeeded.Still, the threat of the Old One stretched over her, casting a long shadow that made her shiver despite the warmth and love surrounding her.

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