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“M—”

“Please let me finish.” She sighed. “I’m…fuck, you were right this is far too difficult to put into words. If only two emotionally challenged people made one mentally stable person. Look, what I’m trying to say is I’m sorry for everything, the heartache, the lack of trust…” Miko grumbled quietly, eyes unmoving from our canoodling hands. “I don’t know how else to express my regret.”

“I’d wager that just eats at you fiercely, doesn’t it.” I teased, eager to tease her brat to the surface.

Her free hand, petting the fur between my horns tightened, causing my scalp to sting with erotic promise. Miko bent closer. “Yes, it does. Nevertheless, that doesn’t change the facts. I love you, Bane… you granite troglodyte.”

I burst into laughter, then shouted a string of curses.

Huff tsked behind my back. “Stay still, I’m almost done,” the Heechu scolded. “Meeky is right,” he giggled, “granite troglodyte. Favorites human ever.”

My eyes hooded with need as Mason, incapable of denoting appropriate circumstances, ignored my bestie’s jab, hardening into a semi. “Honeybee, while I’m grateful for your more than satisfactory distraction. I suggest we save the lovey bit for later because I'd really like to be balls deep inside you as we discuss it.”

Color bloomed over the soft skin of her chest and throat. “I’d like that very much.”

“More likes saving it for when I can safley plug my ears with my tails,” Huff muttered.

My mate lifted our hands as she giggled, kissing the back of my hand, and my belly cartwheeled, crushing whatever butterflies fluttering manically within. Shite. I feel kind of bad for the wee buggers. I hope they come back. My thumb brushed leisurely across her lips. I wonder if they’re made of stone too, or maybe crystal

A put-upon sigh droned inside my head. “You’re supposed to be romancing your woman. Focus, dumbass,” Marv snarked.

He’d made a good point.

I inhaled and grinned, tasting Miko’s honeyed arousal enriching the air. “You smell devourable, My Mate.” Instinctual purring followed my compliment. Fuck, I loved the way the sound of it made her eyes heat every time.

“Fooooocccuuuuusss,” Freddy reminded me in a sing-song voice.

Oops. I cleared my throat roughly. “What should we do now? I’d just adore lying here all day, of course. I’ve become rather fond of the stick rutting against my busted ribs, but even it agrees its endeavors would be even better managed if we moved this party to at least four-star lodging. On the human scale, naturally.”

“Mhm, naturally,” Miko concurred flatly. “As it happens, Monstera gave me a way to open portals.”

I sat up once the Heechu magic did everything it could and whistled. “Clever, witch.”

A smile burst across the lower half of my face as Huff winked onto my shoulder, then hugged my neck tightly with all of his paws, tails, and even his ears. I returned his embrace, lightly pressing my palm against his back, my chest warming with happiness. “Is the family okay?”

Huff winked onto my head, swinging around my horn and emitting an adorable squeeeee sound. “Yep, yep, yep! Witchy helped us heal the ones who needed it before we left and started mending the library. I think she was going to strengthen the wards while we were gone too.”

“Well, damn. I’m glad to hear it.”

I jumped up, bouncing on the balls of my feet, grinning wide enough to split my face clean in two. “Let’s see it then, Miko-Squeako. Show me how you’ve bound through realms and came to my gallant rescue.” I whistled as I took in the best grumpitude expression I’d seen on her face since we met. “Now, that, is the stuff of legends. Look at her. She’s practically oozing grumpitude.”

Huff tapped his paw, tiny claws pricking my scalp and I chuckled.

“Fine, fine.” I crossed my arms over my head in an imitation of Huff crossing his ears and pretended to forget he was up there. “I’ll be serious.”

“Clearly, whatever healing Huff wielded brightened your mood a bit too much,” Honeybee grumbled, then rescued Huff, holding him protectively to her chest. “No, I retract my statement. You’ve moved beyond good mood and entered into enthusiastically irritating.” Her nose scrunched. “And for some reason, I find it endearing. What. The. Hell.”

“It’s okies,” Huff reassured her, snuzzling deeper into her cleavage, “it happens to the best of us.”

I had a comeback all lined up but decided to let his teasing slide, I felt too absofuckinglutely amazing to care. Dashing to Miko and squeezing her to my chest, I stated, “I know exactly where we should go. Are you familiar with the tale of Rapunzel?”

Skipping backward, then trotting in place, flapping my wings idily, I eagerly awaited her response as she stared at me, her face a mask of indifference. This was taking forever. “Mphm, too slow, Hen.” My tail rose of its own accord, batting her braid as it was a cat playing with string.

Miko sighed. “What is it Monstera likes to say? Oh, yes. Calm your tits. Of course, I know Rapunzel, Grotesque.”

I itched to smooth the V forming between her brows. Instead, I settled for reseating her glasses and kissing her brow.

“Thank you,” she murmured distractedly. “The Grimm Brothers wrote an iteration of the original story of Rapunzel. The true origins of the story date back much farther, it was titled Petrosinella and written by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force.”