My heart thunders against my chest as I stare up at him and remember how he claimed me and how much I want him to do it again.
He takes my hand and guides me up the stone steps. As soon as I throw open the door and yell, “I’m home,” I reel back.
The house is alive and doing things I’ve never seen.
A shirt is draped over the ironing board, ironing clothes without anyone attending it. A full laundry basket sits on the floor, each piece of clothing waiting its turn to be wrinkle-free.
A duster lightly brushes over the surfaces, and a broom whisks across the floorboards, darting to me and smacking my foot.
I move out of its way. “Sorry.”
The house rattles in response.
A second later Dallas storms down the stairs. “Look at it, Chelsea! Look what the house can do now that you’re married.”
“Wow. The magic’s really strong, huh?”
“Yes.”
Eryx clears his throat. Right. This isn’t why we’re here. “Where’s Mama? Dad?”
“In the kitchen, finishing lunch.”
“They’re okay?”
Dallas’s eyes narrow. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t they be?”
“Everyone’s okay?”
“We’re all just fine,” my nana insists, slipping through the wall. “Even though you pulled that little magical stunt.”
My cheeks heat. “It wasn’t intentional.”
Her gaze darts from me to Eryx. “Well, keep it down, will you? Some of us were trying to sleep.”
Eryx coughs.
I glance up at him to see his jaw has gone tight, like he’s still worried. But everyone seems fine.
“Thanks, Nana. I’ll just say hi to Mom and Dad.”
I take Eryx’s hand and tug him into the kitchen. My dad sits at the table reading, and my mom is taking the last bite of a sandwich.
When Dad spots us, he puts down the book. “What a nice surprise. How are the newlyweds doing?”
“Great,” I reply. “We just, um, came by to say hi.”
“Well sit down.” Dad rises and shakes Eryx’s hand. “Stay awhile.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“How’s the Nightmare District?” my mom asks me.
“It’s good.”
“Are the people treating you well?”
I think back to my first visit to the market, to how Eryx’s staff is so kind. “They are.”
