Page 77 of Bewitchingly Hers
Barrett looked over, noticing the man standing inside the door, and interrupting before I could find out what washappening. “Cassius,” he said, coming over to shake his hand. “Thank you again for the help.”
Cassius gave a curt nod. “I was just doing my job.” He looked over at Wendy, and then back at my mate. “They are taken care of, and shouldn’t bother the town again.”
“We owe you one.” Barrett shoved his hands in his pocket.
Willow stood up from the table slowly, Damien instantly at her side as she curved a hand over her belly, almost waddling across the floor towards Cassius. “Thank you,” she repeated Barrett’s sentiment. “For keeping my mate safe.”
Cassius shook her hand, nodding again, and she nuzzled back against Damien’s chest.
I smiled, imagining Barrett and I like that one day, when we decided to start our own family. For so long, the idea of having a husband and kids had seemed so far off, but now it was within my grasp, and the idea made bats flutter in my stomach.
Yes, I wanted that. I wanted everything with Barrett.
One day at a time, I reminded myself. After all, we had an entire lifetime together.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
barrett
Now that the imminent danger had passed, I just wanted to spend time with my mate, to curl my body around her and wring orgasm after orgasm out of her body until she was crying for me.
Unfortunately, that hadn’t happened yet.
Ezra, Damien and I were all around the table, discussing how to keep the town safe now that it was open to any number of paranormal beings.
“I think I’ll stick around,” Ezra was saying, adjusting his sleeve.
Cassius’s dark eyes seemed to wander over to the couch. “I will as well. There’s a chance that there are still more nearby. It would be neglectful of me to ignore my duty again.”
I frowned. “But didn’t you just say?—”
He glared at me. Shrugging, I gave up on that. If he wanted to stay, who was I to stop him?
The witches hadn’t known what to make of Cassius’s being, and it was clear there was still so much they needed toknow about other paranormal beings and this world they’d just opened themselves up to.Baby steps.
I wasn’t going anywhere. My job, being a hunter, meant I normally traveled, but I had more important things to keep safe here. My mate, and her family. This town that she loved.
And from Ezra and Cassius’s expressions, it was clear they felt the same. I didn’t pry, but I wondered if it had something to do with the two witches in the other room.
Maybe I’d been right, posturing that there were witches here who had never found their fated mate because the town was closed off. Maybe they’d find the same happiness Eryne and I had. Only time would tell.
Eryne’s eyes drifted shut again, and I stood up. “I should take her home,” I told the table. “It’s been a long day.” Most of the coven had already left, leaving Rina and Wendy curled up on the couch with Eryne, and Willow had gone to bed an hour ago after one too many yawns.
Even Zain had departed, saying he needed to return to his wife and their newborn twins. I understood—I couldn’t imagine leaving my pups after becoming a new father. Eryne and I hadn’t talked about having a family yet, but I hoped she wanted one. I already couldn’t wait to get her pregnant, to see her grow round with our pups.
“That’s an understatement,” Damien said, gripping the back of his neck. “But I agree. My mate’s exhausted, and I want to hold her as she sleeps.”
I looked at all of them, feeling more grateful than I could ever put into words. “Thank you for helping me find my mate—for not hesitating to risk your own safety for hers. I’m forever in your debt.”
With that, I went and scooped up my sleeping mate, letting her rest her head on my shoulder as I carried her back to my car, buckling her in and driving us back to her cozy house.
As I stepped onto the porch, I marveled at the thought that in such a short time, this felt like my home, too. That as long as she wished it, it would be our house, the place where we started our life together. And every step felt monumental. Like the world was changing, rearranging itself beneath my feet to fit this new life we’d created together.
Eryne stirred in my arms before I crossed over the threshold, sleepily blinking up at me before her eyes lit up, a soft smile curling over her face. “Hi.”
“Hi, Sugar,” I said, taking another step. “We’re home.”
“Mmm.” She cuddled into my chest. “No place I’d rather be.”
