Page 128 of Serpent & Saviors

Nik leaned over and kissed her, silencing her.

“Sorry,” she mumbled once he pulled back.

I laughed at the contrite look on her little face. She still had something else to say, and she was brimming with the need to complete the thought.

“What is it, Mouse?” I teased, and both she and Pasha’s heads turned toward me. Pasha cocked his to the side.

“You call her Mouse too?” He seemed to approve.

“Yes, I hope it’s okay,” I said, feeling bashful. “When we were all held together, I refused to call her Spring in my head. She was always Mischa or Mouse and, in my heart, I know one of them is too painful to use, so yeah, in my head she’s a dancing little Mouse and always will be.”

Kinsley pushed her guy’s hands away and ran over to me. “I love you so much. I was going to say that in conjunction with the parade, the fireworks will light the night sky like a thousand wishes. It’s the one place where even a grown-up can be a kid again. You’re going to love every magical moment of it, and I can’t wait to hear all about it,” she concluded, her eyes sparkling with tears of joy.

“You done trying to steal my thunder?” Andrew asked, pulling her away.

“Yes, Sir. You may resume, but you have my vote. I love your idea. It’s perfect.”

A mischievous twinkle lit up his eyes as he shoved her back toward the King brothers. “Ivan, my next plan is to secretly take notes on every little thing she mentions she’s curious about. I have a few up my sleeve already. The plan is to surprise her with all the experiences that hopefully will leave her as breathless as my kisses and grinning like Declan when he has a chocolate ice cream cone in his hands.”

He leaned back, a thoughtful expression taking over his face. “I make a promise to you right now, here before our family, that I will never forget the everyday magic—quiet mornings waking up next to you, drinking a cup of tea on lazy Sunday mornings where time stretches for us. Spontaneous dance parties in the living room, and movie nights snuggled under a cover. It won’t always be grand gestures, there will be so many small, quiet ones along the way that will leave a legacy that extends beyond just the two of us. I task you, Ivan, with the job of ensuring I don’t lose focus.”

“You can count on me, Brother,” Ivan said.

The moments stretched on, and I wanted to drag him back to our room, but the girls still had their questions. I tore my eyes away and looked over at them.

“I’m up next, it seems. Interesting. I think before I pose the question, I’d like to hear why you chose this one for me,” Isabella asked Marcel.

“Simple. I’m proud of the journey you’ve started. We all are. Everyone should have dreams. I was hoping it might get you to think of some of your own. Plus, maybe it would open a conversation between you three.”

I laughed and shook my finger at him. Now it made sense. Right before the trip, he’d cornered Kinsley and me. He’d posed a question similar to what was probably on her slip of paper. He wanted to know what steps we, as a family, could take to help Bella along on her journey. He tasked us with brainstorming and putting a presentation together for him.

He understood we knew her best, and if we suggested it, it would make the difference between her thinking about it or flat out refusing. A sense of excitement washed over me, and I longed to hear his answer to this question.

“Very well. What’s a dream you have for Victoria that you will stand by her side to see accomplished?”

“Earlier, I told you she writes poetry. As everyone knows, she’s an avid reader as well. She casually mentioned she used to create stories in her head all the time. So I did this.”

Andrew walked over to Nikolai, and he handed him a folder. His eyes held mine as he made his way back.

He spoke, “I’m having one of the rooms at Nan’s house that overlooks the garden renovated as a writing room for you. It’s being gutted as we speak. I have a meeting scheduled with Nan’s designer to meet with you. When we return home, the two of you can custom design it. To make it your very own happy space. I’ve also taken the liberty of gathering information on the top colleges in London with exceptional writing programs.”

His long fingers traced the outside edge of the folder with a tenderness that mirrored his words. “Angel, I want to encourage you to explore your gift. I’ll forever be in debt to your rescuer for starting you down that path. Callahan was a brilliant man. Maybe you can dedicate your first book to him. I know there is a fantasy novel waiting inside you.”

“I’d read it,” Isabella stated confidently, and tears filled my eyes.

“You promise?” I asked, feeling vulnerable yet excited.

I was in awe of everything, but especially the fact that on some random night between bathing and putting our son to bed, he’d paid that much attention to me mentioning being published one day. My mind raced, and I reached out and pinched Andrew’s arm.

“Hey, what’s that for?” he yelped.

“Well, someone needs to be pinched because this has to be a dream.” I threw my arms around him and ravished his lips. My teeth pulled his lower lip before I sucked into my mouth. My hand fell to his nicely shaped ass, and I smacked it. “And it’s one I don’t ever want to wake up from. Never, Andy.”

“Never,” he flared passionately. Without taking his eyes off me, he said, “Kinsley, will you do the honors and read out the last question for the love of my life?”

“I’d be happy to. Just so you know, Isabella and I will skin you alive if you don’t follow through with every last one of the answers to this one.” She sat up straighter. “Andrew Marcel, if you could grant Victoria three wishes, what would they be?”

“You’ll have no need to flay me. Two of them I’ve already done and, well, the third is all on her.”