Chapter 18
“You absolutely must come back and see us,” Lucille insisted as Lars and Amanda tried making their way to the front door of the covenstead. “You’re welcome any time.”
“Thank you. It’s been wonderful to meet you all.”
More hugs and handshakes came his way.
Kendrick reached out his hand. “You’ve made a huge difference in our lives, Lars. We won’t forget it anytime soon.”
“Enjoy your flight,” Jamie said politely. “I mean, it’s probably atrociously long, but try to enjoy it anyway!”
He laughed. “I’ll do my best.”
“Hopefully, when you come back, we won’t make you work so hard,” Kristy joked. “As long as there aren’t any crazy witch spirits on the loose, it’ll be a much more relaxing time.”
“But where’s the fun in that?” he shot back.
Maeve pulled him in for a hug. “Do be safe getting home.”
Lilith was next. “Give your clan our best wishes. Maybe we’ll come out there to see you again sometime.”
“I’d love that. We all would.”
The children wanted hugs, too, and then he was finally able to make his way out onto the porch.
Amanda was grinning at him. “Have you ever heard of a southern goodbye?”
“I don’t think so.”
“It’s when it takes forever to leave because everyone keeps talking and finding some other excuse to be with you. I think you just got the New England version of that. Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about at all.” He walked with her out to his rental car. “It was a little overwhelming, but it’s been nice to meet so many nice people here.” He opened the passenger door for her.
“Thanks for giving me a ride home,” she said when he’d gone around and gotten behind the wheel.
”Thank you for allowing me to.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “I know it’s just a few minutes, but I want to take every second with you I can get.”
Lars pulled out onto the street. The roads there had become familiar to him by now, and he easily wound his way to her house. They were mostly quiet, holding hands on the center console. When he pulled into her driveway, Lars walked her up to the door.
“Can I invite you in?” she asked with a little smile and a tip of her head.
“I think I’ve teased myself enough.” He was incredibly tempted to take up her offer, but Lars knew exactly what would happen. He’d completely miss his flight, and they’d only be extending the agony that’d been looming over them for the last few days.
“I understand.” She nodded, hesitating in the doorway. “I’m going to miss you.”
“And I already miss you.” Lars pulled her close and kissed her, hoping that he could show her with this small gesture how serious he was about the two of them. “I’ll let you know when I get home.”
“And I’ll check with you when I’m ready to get my trip booked,” she promised in return. “Is there a certain time of year that’s better to visit than another? As far as the weather?”
“As long as you’re there, the weather will be perfect.” Lars kissed her once more. “I love you, Amanda.”
“I love you, too.” Tears shimmered in her eyes.
He turned away quickly, knowing he couldn’t bear to see her cry. She stayed on the porch until he was in his car, not shutting the door until he’d pulled out onto the road.
The rest of the dragons were still at the covenstead.
Lars had come back early to make sure he had plenty of time to pack and get ready.
The clanhouse felt warm and full of life when the Alexanders were there, but now it felt bleak and cold.
He went to his room, pulled his suitcase out from under the bed, and flipped it open.
The sudden sound of his phone ringing startled him.
“Erik!” he said as he answered.
“Merry Christmas!” his brother said happily.
“Merry Christmas to you, too!” Lars checked his watch. “You must be having quite the good time. It’s almost three in the morning there.”
“We’ll be going to bed soon,” Erik promised. “I wanted to make sure I wished you a Merry Christmas before it was officially over for you. Your flight is tomorrow, right?”
“Yes.” Lars plucked some sweaters from the dresser drawer and laid them in the suitcase. “I’m packing up right now.”
“You don’t sound very happy about it,” his brother noted.
“I’m…” His automatic response was to deny that, but Erik was right. “I’m not. I’ve met someone here, and I’m finding it terribly hard to leave her.”
“Tell me.”
Lars needed to get packed, but he sat on the bed and told Erik everything he could about Amanda.
From their initial meeting to defeating a terrifying ghost alongside her, Lars went over everything.
After all that, it just didn’t feel like enough.
“It’s hard to describe someone over the phone when you feel the way I do about her. ”
“She’s your mate,” Erik said reasonably. “I know how that feels.”
“At least you and Alva are on the same continent,” Lars lamented. Without spilling too much of Amanda’s personal background, he explained how difficult it would be for the two of them. “She has a solid practice here, as well as her family and friends. I have my responsibilities at home.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. “What if you didn’t?”
“What?”
“What if you didn’t have those responsibilities?” Erik repeated.
His heart thundered. “How could that happen?”
“It’s just an idea,” Erik began. “I started thinking about it as you were telling me about Amanda, and the more I mull it over, the more I think it could work.”
“Erik.” He adored his brother, but Erik had a way of beating around the bush instead of getting to the point.
“You’ve been handling the clan and the polar node for a long time now,” Erik explained. “Dad had you take over while he was still alive, wanting to make sure that you knew everything you needed to. That’s two decades you’ve had this responsibility on your shoulders.”
“That’s true.”
“It’s about time you had a break,” Erik continued, “and not just a trip to America. Stay there with your mate, and Alva and I can take over. If you want,” he added quickly. “There’s no pressure to do it, but it could work.”
Possibilities flashed before Lars’s eyes.
He could stay there with Amanda. She could continue running her business, and he’d get a job somewhere.
He’d probably also continue helping the dragons and the local witches with any ley line issues that happened to come up.
“You’re sure about this? Do you need to talk to Alva first? ”
Erik laughed lightly. “Actually, I already have. It’s something we’ve been chatting about a little. We were joking that you might go to America and finally find a woman, but apparently, it wasn’t that much of a joke after all.”
Lars stood up. He pressed the phone hard against his ear. “You truly mean it?”
“Yes,” Erik insisted. “Alva and I have no intentions of ever leaving Svalbard, so it only makes sense.”
He was already moving toward the front door and digging his keys out of his pocket. “Then yes. I’ll do it. Probably right now. I’ll change my flight. I’ll still come home to see you once I get things figured out here.”
“Take your time.”
Lars rushed out into the night. “Thank you, little brother.”
“Consider it your Christmas present.”
And a hell of a gift it was.