“What?”
“Seeing as how I love you too.”
Seymour swallowed hard, eyes blurring. “Wow. Yeah, that is some damn coincidence.” He kissed Sariel and hugged him tight, never wanting to ever let go. He knewthistime that the flutter in his heart, this sweet ache, would never end, and he’d never been so happy.
The empty void inside of him had finally been filled, and he wished his mother was alive. He wished she could see him right now, to know the family and the love he’d found. Considering all the other crazy magical weird things Seymour had encountered this week, maybe thinking that she could wasn’t so far out from reality.
He had the love of an angel and an adorable kitty girl, and he couldn’t ask for anything more.
Day meowed.
“Hmm?” Seymour smiled. “What is it?”
She eyed them both suspiciously. “Are you two going to make the Great Cat with two backs?”
“Day!”
“What? I’m just asking!”
“Let’s go the fuck home.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Home wasn’t exactly an option since Mr. Heiss remained the king of assholes and had removed Sariel’s access to his house, but it turned out that getting a place in Somerstown was pretty easy being a millionaire. The typical delays of probate court were hardly an issue when the lawyer involved happened to be a magical robot man who could infiltrate the system and fill a bank account with a thought.
The money made it effortless to start their new lives together, including the replacement of Sariel’s lost books. Sariel had been so devastated, and Seymour had done everything he could to find the exact print and editions. In fact, Seymour took the time to find a plush condo that had a study with multiple built-in bookshelves, and though Sariel’s collection was small now, Seymour was determined to make sure he’d have a full library soon enough.
Day got her own bedroom with a big window seat so she could look outside whenever she wanted and never feel trapped again. She got to pick out her own furniture, decorations, and plenty of floral linens and pillows.
Plus a machine that made Frosties for the kitchen, of course.
Seymour was happy to let Sariel play decorator too, and most of the home ended up with a bright star and galaxy theme. Constellations were painted on the ceiling, the linens were all patterned with zodiac creatures, and Seymour got the best telescope he could find so Sariel could go up on their rooftop patio and look at the real thing whenever he wanted.
Granted, he could do that anyway because, well, wings, but still.
Their first night there was spent on that patio, checking out the stars and cuddling on overstuffed furniture. Seymour and Day dozed off, and Sariel had to carry them back inside to put them in bed.
Seymour had always heard that money didn’t buy happiness, but it sure did help.
In only a few weeks, they were settled into their new home, and Seymour was enjoying the spectacular thrill of sitting on his butt.
No more lab, no more twelve-hour shifts—just him, his angel, and their kitty girl.
They shared meals together at the table, cuddled on the couch to watch movies for hours, and Sariel regularly baked all kinds of treats and filled the house with delicious smells.FernGullyquickly became a family favorite along with Sariel’s snickerdoodle cookies. When Seymour had yet another nightmare about the troll he’d killed, Sariel was right there beside him to talk him through it and hold him and tell him everything would be all right.
And it was.
Better than all right—it was perfect.
Well…
Maybe like ninety-nine percent.
Sariel’s new job with Lou’s family meant weird hours, disappearing at random times of the night, and lots andlotsof worrying on Seymour’s and Day’s part. He’d thought that gaining Sariel’s freedom would be the most difficult part of their future journey together, but the long and sleepless nights were their own monster.
Ha.
