My lover glowered. “Yes, I do want children with you at some point in my life. Not any time soon. But…at some point. We would make sweet, beautiful babies together.”
I shook my head and chuckled, dumbfounded and confused. “Well, we know what they would look like.”
Bel’s lips twitched. “Indeed.”
I swept my eyes up to his, and asked seriously, “Are you saying you want us to be mated and have children together, Bel?”
“Would it scare you if I said that?”
“Fuck yes, it would.”
My lover hummed under his breath. “Do you want me to lie to you to make you feel better or do you want me to tell you the truth?”
“The truth. I think.” I bent and grabbed a leaf off the ground and pinched the stem. Lost in my thoughts, I twirled it between my fingers. “Actually, don’t answer. Either way I look at it, I don’t think I’m ready for the answer.”
He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. “I know, little one. It’s all right.”
I squinted in his direction. “I let that kiss slide, you know.”
“If you say so.” Bel’s deep chuckle tickled my ears.
I whacked his chest again for good measure.
He snickered harder. “Fucking adorable.”
I flashed my fangs in his direction but quickly simmered down when I saw humans. A playground was in full use right outside the forested area. I sighed and pointed a finger. “You can’t tell me you really want one of those. Look at that little boy running around and yanking the other kids’ underwear up their ass cracks—”
“I believe they call that a wedgie.”
“All right, awedgie. How undignified is that?” I exclaimed. “That child’s poor parent has to be embarrassed.”
Bel’s lips twitched at the corners. “I think you forget I saw you for a time when you were still living with your parents at the stronghold. I remember one instance with porridge that was quite memorable. The managers use that story as a warning to new employees to this day.”
I stared straight ahead, sputtering, “They do not!”
“They do. I promise you.” He shook his head of long black hair, the slight breeze ruffling it. “How did you get into the kitchen anyway? No one has ever been able to figure it out.”
My grin was tiny. “You keep your secrets, I’ll keep mine.”
He grunted. “Very mature, Gwen.”
I giggled as we passed the playground. “You can say whatever you want. I’m still not going to tell.”
Frustration flickered in his eyes. “And you call me cruel? There’s a reward for anyone who can figure it out. Every year, a little money is put into a reward account. I think it’s up to six hundred dollars now.”
My head tipped back, and laughter danced past my lips. “I’m not going to let you cheat. That’s not right.”
He shrugged his shoulders and adjusted his backpack, the sidewalk much smoother to walk on with our bulky loads than a forest floor. Bel grumbled, “Fine. I’ll figure it out one day.”
“Where exactly are we going in Edinburgh?” I surveyed the morning joggers and people rushing in their cars, late for work. The architecture was absolutely darling, new and old structures smashed together for a creative smorgasbord of style. “I’ve never been here before. This is new for me.”
“Lonzo lives on a busy street full of retail shops. That’s where we’re headed.”
“Does he know we’re coming?” I asked.
“No,” Bel stated very slowly and rubbed at his bristly chin with the palm of his hand. “He and I had a small argument the last time we saw each other. I doubt we’ll be welcome.”
“Small argument?” I lifted a brow.
