Chapter 23 #2
She shrugs. “It makes sense. I’d still get to teach, still get to work with students, but on my own schedule.
” Her eyes are bright now, excited. “I could design courses around rare books and medieval literature. Maybe Garlen could help me develop something new about human-orc historical relations, using primary sources from both sides. There’s so much material that’s never been properly analyzed. ..”
“That sounds perfect for you.”
“I think it could be.” She grins. “And this summer, we’re going to Truckee.”
I raise a brow. “We are?”
“We are. For about a month. We’ll stay in your old room, with Ellie and Garlen. I can spend time with my best friend and you can spend time with your cousins and Dane and we’ll bring Dinah with us because apparently Loki loves cats.”
I consider this. A month in California with Anna, reconnecting with family, watching her relationship with Ellie flourish now that she doesn’t have to hide anymore. “That sounds good,” I admit. “I’d like to see Garlen’s new life there. And Zoe will be excited to meet Dinah.”
“See? Perfect.” Anna settles back against my chest, satisfied. “And then we come home. Here.”
“Home,” I agree.
She tips her head back to smile up at me. “I like how that sounds.”
“So do I.”
The sun sets on the horizon when I hear a knock at the front door.
“Ooh, is that Maggie, bringing dinner again?” Anna eagerly questions.
“Yes,” I respond.
My mother has been coming by every evening since Anna and I returned, unable to stay away for long. I suspect the mercenary attack scared her more than she wants to admit.
“Keric.” Mom pushes past me into the cabin, arms full of covered dishes. “I brought dinner. Don’t argue.”
“I wasn’t going to argue.”
“Good.” She sets the food on the kitchen counter and immediately turns to find Anna, who’s risen from the couch. “Anna, sweetheart. How are you feeling? Did you sleep last night? You look tired. Are you eating enough?”
Anna catches my eye over my mother’s shoulder, amused. “I’m fine, Maggie. Really. Keric is taking good care of me. But you know I’m thrilled you’re brining dinner.”
“Of course he is. He’s my son.” Mom smooths a hand over Anna’s hair, a gesture that’s becoming familiar.
My mother has always shown love through touch and food.
Anna is getting plenty of both. “But a mother worries. When I heard about what happened, when they called us to say there’d been an attack—” Her voice wobbles.
My father appears behind me, having moved at a more reasonable pace from the vehicle to the cabin. Cadoc places a steady hand on my shoulder. “She’s been like this all week,” he says in a low voice. “Can’t blame her.”
I can’t. Those hours when we were in the cave, when no one knew where we were, I’ve heard about the panic that swept through the commune. My parents thought they might have lost the daughter-in-law they’d already claimed in their hearts, as well as their only child.
“Mom.” I move to her side. “We’re here. That’s what matters.”
“I know, I know.” She wipes at her eyes. “I’m being silly.”
“You’re being a mother,” Anna says gently. “That’s not silly at all.”
Mom pulls her into a tight hug, and Anna goes willingly.
Over the past weeks, I’ve watched my female open up to my mother in ways I didn’t expect.
They talk for hours sometimes, about books, celebrity gossip and the strange path that led Anna here.
My mother loves her already. I think Anna loves her back.
Dad and I exchange a look. He nods slightly, and I know he’s thinking about what comes next.
There’s another knock at the door. Anna looks up from my mother’s embrace, confused. I don’t move to answer, just watch the door open with a small smile.
“Who...?” Anna starts.
Whelan opens the door without waiting and Drew right behind him. She’s carrying a bottle of wine and grinning. “We heard there was a gathering,” Drew announces, sweeping into the cabin. “Hope you don’t mind us crashing.”
Anna’s eyes dart to me. “Did you...?”
I shrug, keeping my expression innocent.
More knocking. Miranda and Rogan step inside, and I watch Anna’s eyes go wide. The commune leader doesn’t make casual house calls. His presence here means something.
“Rogan.” Anna straightens, suddenly uncertain. “Miranda. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“We were invited,” Miranda says warmly, pulling Anna into a hug. “Congratulations, by the way.”
“Congratulations? For what?”
Miranda just smiles and steps back to stand beside her mate.
The small cabin is getting crowded now, which is why I invited only a small group for this moment. Everyone else can wait for the actual ceremony.
My mother has gone suspiciously quiet, clutching my father’s arm, her eyes bright with something that isn’t quite tears. Not yet.
Anna looks around at the assembled group, then back at me. “Keric. What’s going on?”
I push off from the wall where I’ve been standing and cross to her. Take her hands in mine. She looks up at me, confused and hopeful and a little scared, and I want to remember this moment forever.
“Anna Lee.”
“Keric—”
I drop to one knee.
My mother makes a sound that’s not quite a word—something between a gasp and a sob. My father’s arm tightens around her.
“Anna,” I say again, my voice rough with everything I’m feeling.
I squeeze her hands. “You are my Bride. You have been since the moment I first caught your scent. But I want the world to know.” I pull out the small black box I’ve been carrying in my pocket for two days, waiting for this moment.
I open it to reveal the large diamond ring I chose for her.
The diamond came from my own collection, as did the gold for the ring.
I gave it all to a trusted orc jeweler, from an establishment we’ve all used for generations to create rings for our Brides.
“Will you marry me?” I ask.
Anna’s hands are shaking in mine. Tears are stream down her face, but she’s smiling—really smiling, the kind of smile that transforms her whole face.
“Yes,” she whispers.
I’m not sure I hear her. “What?”
“Yes.” Louder now, laughing through her tears. “Yes, Keric. Yes.”
I slide the ring onto her finger. It fits perfectly.
My mother completely loses it. Tears are streaming, tissues materialize from nowhere and sounds come out of her that aren’t quite words. My father grins, patting her back, looking more proud than I’ve ever seen him.
Drew whoops. Whelan actually smiles. Miranda is crying too, leaning into Rogan, who nods at me with solemn approval.
I stand, pull my female into my arms and kiss her deeply, not caring that everyone is watching. She tastes like tea and honey.
When we finally break apart, my mother is already talking. “Six weeks,” she announces, wiping her eyes. “We can do this in six weeks. I’ll handle everything, the flowers, food, location, all of it. Anna, sweetheart, we need to talk about your dress and who you want to invite and…”
“Mom.”
“Don’t ‘mom’ me.” My mother points an accusing finger, mascara smudged under her eyes. “I’ve been waiting for over fifteen years for you to bring home a Bride. You’re lucky I let you pick out and purchase that engagement ring all by yourself. I am planning this wedding.”
I look at Anna.
My Bride puts her hands up. “Oh, I don’t mind at all.
I’ve been to your parent’s cabin and seen your mother’s clothes and her sense of style.
I’m certain she’d plan something I’d like.
And I have zero desire to plan anything, just the thought of it sounds exhausting.
I want to show up and be happy that it’s all magically happening.
All I request is that I get to pick out my own wedding dress, other than that I’m thrilled to push all that work onto your mother instead. ”
“It’s a deal.” Maggie Irontree beams with watery eyes and immediately pulls out her phone, starting a list.
My father pours drinks and chats with Whelan about hunting. Drew and Miranda cluster around Anna, talking about dress options and things I don’t understand but am grateful someone else does.
Rogan moves to stand beside me. “You did well,” he says quietly.
“I got lucky.”
“Luck had nothing to do with it.” He watches Anna for a moment. “She’s strong. She’ll make a good mother to your sons.”
He doesn’t know how right he is. Or maybe he does, Rogan has a nose as sharp as any orc I’ve ever met. If he’s scented the change in Anna, he’s keeping it to himself. Waiting, like I am, for her to discover it on her own.
“She will,” I agree.
“And you’ll make a good father.” He claps my shoulder once, firmly. “Your ancestors would be proud.”
Coming from Rogan, this means everything.
Across the room, Anna catches my eye. She’s surrounded by people, my mother still talking a mile a minute beside her, but somehow, she finds me in the chaos. Smiles. Mouths something that might be I love you.
And I mouth it right back.