All four watched me with different expressions: Koa with bright-eyed curiosity and a gentle smile, Zane clearly encouraging whatever mischief I was about to stir up, Casimir with his usual alertness, and Brummy with his head tilted, likely wondering if more play or treats were about to happen.
Drawing myself up to my full height, admittedly unimpressive compared to theirs, I took a deep breath. Then I bared my own teeth at them, scrunching my nose and curling my fingers into claws.
“Rawr!” I tried to be fierce, but knew I sounded more like a kitten with a hairball. “Fear me, dhampirs!”
For a second, there was silence. Complete, stunned silence.
Then Zane collapsed back onto the grass, caught in a fit of giggles so intense that he nearly choked trying to breathe between them. A deep rumbling started in Koa’s chest and exploded outward as he clapped a hand over his heart like I’d delivered a mortal wound.
And Casimirlaughed.
Not just a quiet chuckle or one of those bitten-off barks. A real, unguarded, belly-deep laugh that transformed his entire face. Itsurprised Koa and Zane so much that they both fell silent to stare at him. As for me, my chest warmed at the sound. It was rare,sorare, that he let himself drop his walls completely.
AndI’ddone that.
I grinned at him as his laughter faded, but something fond and exasperated remained in his eyes.
“Ridiculous woman,” he muttered.
Feeling victorious, I returned to his lap, settling myself comfortably in the triangle of his legs.
“And yet, you love me.”
No one argued. They didn’t have to.
Before I could declare my victory complete, Brummy decided to participate, too. He lifted his head, yawned wide, and flashed his absurdly long, prehistoric-looking teeth, a display that madeeveryone’sfangs look like baby teeth in comparison.
“Okay, okay, you win, big guy.” Koa threw up his hands in mock surrender. “We all know you have the best. No need to rub it in.”
Zane grinned and clapped Brummy on the side with pride and approval.
“Attaboy, Brumeister! Show ’em who therealking of fangs is around here.”
And I waswheezing. I absolutely hadnotexpected Brummy to get involved, but it couldn’t have been more perfect if I’d planned it. His timing was impeccable, his execution flawless.
“My life has become a circus.” Casimir rubbed the bridge of his nose like he was getting a headache.
“Yes.” I leaned back against his chest, savoring his scent and strength. “You are all my rabid little gremlins, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“No.” Casimir’s arms came around me, holding me secure against him. When I glanced up, his eyes had gone tender in a way that made my heart skip. “We wouldn’t.”
Overhead, the wisteria swayed gently in the breeze, releasing its sweet perfume in waves that mingled with the scent of fresh-cut grass. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment, storing it away to remember later.
When I’d arrived at Evermere, broken and bleeding, I’d been convinced I was walking into another prison. Arabesque had intended this arrangement to be another form of torture for me. Another cage. Instead, I found something I’d never expected.
“What’s that smile for?” Zane nudged my foot with his.
“Just thinking that sometimes, things work out in ways you never expect.”
“Like when your evil stepmother tries to marry you off to monsters, but the monsters turn out to be your fated mates?” Koa suggested with a grin.
“Exactly like that, although I’d argue the ‘monster’ part.”
“No, that’s accurate,” Casimir said. “We’re monsters, Seri. We’re justyourmonsters.”
“Well, then,” I turned to brush my lips against his stubbly chin, “I’m the luckiest woman alive, to have three monsters all to myself.”
Brummy whined, clearly feeling excluded.
