I was still rooted in place when Ori joined me. “You okay?”
Everything had been so magical the last two months. Our trip, moving in, our family’s reaction. I thought I’d be able to go back to my old life. “Did you know?”
“That’s a vague question, Zeke. Give me a hint.”
Ori wouldn’t have kept this from me if he knew. “This new assignment. Uriel’s has gone silent after he told Michael that Nick is the fourth heir. No one knows how Nick could be an angel. Any of it.”
“I knew about Uriel but didn’t think it concerned us. The rest I learned when you did.” He wrapped me in a hug, and I shamelessly leaned into him. “Don’t worry about what we don’t know until we know it. And then we’ll handle it.”
When he put it like that, nothing seemed too terrible. “You’re right. But?—”
“No buts, unless it’s yours naked on the bed,” he whispered in my ear. Pushing back, his thumb on my chin, he pulled me down until my lips parted so he could kiss me again. “Think of it this way. We’re not getting sent off, so we can live in this house. You can still take some clients, and if you need a large assistant who’s good in a fight to watch your back, I’m available at very reasonable rates.”
He was so sweet, it gave me a sugar rush. “Very reasonable rates?”
“The most. I’ll take my pay in kisses.”
I still didn’t like having so little control, but this wasn’t so bad. “Fine. You’re hired.”
“Great.” He brushed his lips against mine. “You promised that kid a tour. Good luck. He’s so awkward, it’s painful to watch.”
I laughed because that was me a century ago. “I’ll manage. Go enjoy spending time with everyone.”
He graced me with one last smile and disappeared into the swarm of family. I stood there for a second, happier than I’d ever been.
Let Michael throw things at us. We could handle it.
A burst of laughter rang out from the kitchen, Ori’s baritone among them. I steeled myself for one or more siblings to give me shit. Thankfully, I had a tour to give, so my embarrassment would be brief.
If life could get any better, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
