Epilogue- Beckett #2
“Generally—and historically speaking—yes. But in the areas that are thinly populated by supernaturals, more recently supernaturals have been finding that cooperation offers greater positives than struggling to survive alone. And despite what Curia Cloister PR would tell you, supernaturals are a society ruled by the strong.”
“You don’t say.” Abi peeled her head off my shoulder so she could meet my gaze.
“Well, that part isn’t so different from human politics.
But that’s the quiet part no one likes to say out loud.
Thankfully, humans also have good people who step up to care for their communities.
” Her gray-hazel eyes had an intensity to them that made me feel like she could see straight to my heart. “People like you.”
A crooked grin pulled at the corners of my lips. “I’m not sure many would call me good.”
“They would. That’s why the gnomes and werewolves wanted you to step up.” She paused and adjusted where her arms were on my waist. “Thank you, for all the changes you are making so we can be together.”
“Of course. And I hope we can be together for a very long time.” I bent slightly so I could rest my forehead against hers. “Did you finish reading the second book about vampires that I gave you?”
“The one that detailed about feedings that you had to go through and tape paper over all the pictures so I could read it without fainting? Yes.”
I hesitated, considering the best way to ask when I knew I was being fairly pushy. “Would you be… open to trying such a thing?”
“Open to giving you blood?” Abi asked. “I suppose I could try. But why? Does packaged blood taste bad?”
“No. I would feed from you for your sake. I can secret a chemical compound in my saliva when drinking from a donor. If I fed from you often enough, that compound would build up in your body enough to grant you a low form of eternal youth. You would no longer age.”
Abi rapidly blinked.
“Which, I am aware, is a big change for you, so I wanted to give you time to think about it,” I said.
“I see. Thank you for telling me. I will have to consider it, as you suggested,” Abi said.
“Naturally.” I pulled back, putting a little space between us. I hadn’t expected her to immediately agree, but I’d be lying if there wasn’t a part of me that was a little disappointed she hadn’t.
“Beckett.” Abi stood on her tip toes and thew her arms around my neck.
“Yes?”
“I love you. And just as you have committed to making changes for our relationship, I will make changes, too.” She frowned.
“I just need time to strategically consider all ramifications and how to prepare for them. There’s my family to think of, the financial ramifications, I’ll have to research what this will mean for my healthcare given that you said it stopped aging but didn’t say it aided in resistance to diseases or health problems. I wonder, does the Curia Cloisters have a registration system for blood donors?
I know the human government still taxes individuals as it is considered a legal occupation… ”
I stood there like an idiot, gaping at her.
I had judged other supernaturals for Abi’s sway over them, but the truth was I was merely jealous, and I didn’t need to be.
Abi was mine.
Once again I leaned in, but this time I kissed her, reveling in the sensation of her lips.
Abi made a noise of surprise, then relaxed in my arms.
Unfortunately, the doorbell—which had obnoxious timing—chose that moment to ring, echoing through the house.
“Who is at the door?” Abi asked, pulling away from me.
“I’m not sure.” I rubbed the back of my neck to ease my annoyance at the disruption. “I left my cellphone in the library downstairs.”
Abi pulled out her own phone and typed away at it as she slowly shuffled her way out of my study and down the hallway.
“Note to self: get Beckett tablet for study, install video feed app on it.” She stopped at the top of the staircase and peered up at me—as I had accompanied her.
“Last week you said you wanted to get more outdoor video cameras. Are you still interested, or was that just a knee jerk reaction to the whole Josephine thing?”
“I’m still interested,” I said. “At the very least I want video feed on the carriage house.”
“Hm. Nosey, are we?” Abi made another note on her cellphone then started down the stairs. “I’ll have to hire a contractor, as Christopher is likely to have vapors if I ask him to handle so much technology.”
“Do whatever is necessary.”
Abi nodded as we passed through a floor, until the doorbell rang again. “We’re coming, we’re coming.”
“We could ignore it,” I pointed out.
“No, we can’t,” Abi said. “Not with all the supernatural guests you’re getting. Besides, it could be Daphne and Flint!”
“We could still ignore it,” I muttered as we reached the main floor and left the staircase.
Abi shot me a warning look, then opened the front door.
Outside stood a gnome. The annoying one, Bobby, that the rest of the gnomes kept dressing up like a wretched lawn ornament for a reason undiscernible to me as they didn’t resemble the human-made statues at all.
As was custom, he wore a blue shirt, fake white beard, and the red pointy hat. Although this time a large pink bow was fastened to the hat.
“Hello!” Bobby waved to us, temporarily pulling down the beard so we could see his smile.
“Hello, Bobby!” Abi said. “Why were you dumped off at the house today?”
“I am a present!” Bobby announced.
I sighed and braced myself in the doorframe. “What are you trying to finagle me into doing this time?”
Bobby let go of his beard. Since it was held in place by an elastic band, it snapped him in the face. “Ouch! I am not a present for you. I am a present for Abi!”
Ah. So they were trying to sneak into my good graces by using the proverbial back door? Well, if they succeeded, I didn’t mind.
Abi, however, was not nearly so moved. She folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes. “I don’t take fae gifts, Bobby. A lesson I learned fairly recently in the shape of charmed tea.”
“That’s why I’m a present, not a gift. Think of this like Christmas morning! Ta-da!” Bobby festively waved his hands. “See the bow?”
Abi frowned at him. “I’m still holding a grudge for you telling me to use my feminine wiles on Beckett. Goodbye, Bobby.”
“Wait, wait! Don’t you want to hear why I’m the present?” Bobby asked. “It’s because of my skills! I can weld, I know electrical work, I’m skilled at glasswork, and I can do some plumbing. Aren’t those all proficiencies you need to fix up the conservatory?”
Abi groaned and pushed her glasses up so she could mash her fingers into her eyes. “The conservatory—I’d forgotten about that dilapidated room. Rich people houses are the worst!”
“I took the opportunity to peer inside it before presenting myself, and I noticed a couple of the window seals were broken. They’ll need replacing before winter,” Bobby said.
Abi eyes were no longer narrowed with suspicion, but consideration as she weighed out the price. “What’s the catch?”
“No catch,” Bobby said. “It is an honor to work within the liege’s house.”
“In other words, there’s no catch for me, but there is for Beckett.” Abi scowled and peered up at me.
It warmed my heart that she was irritated on my behalf. “Gnomes are known to be gifted artisans,” I said.
“You’re defending him?”
“They’ll try one way or another to get someone in here. You might as well get the exact kind of labor you want out of the deal.”
Abi tilted her head, likely thinking not just of the conservatory but the cameras I wanted installed, too. “When you put it like that… the conservatory was going to be a major hassle for me.”
“When would you like me to show up?” Bobby asked.
Abi glanced at me again, still suspicious.
I smiled at her.
Abi nodded—her mind made up—and shifted her attention back to Bobby. “Why don’t we take a tour of it now, and you can give me a list of the materials you’ll need. We’ll have to see what’s on backorder, and then we can decide your work schedule.”
“Excellent! I am so pleased to be of help.” Bobby doffed his hat and bowed.
“We’ll see if you’re still pleased when you get to work with Christopher,” Abi grumbled. “Come on—let’s go around the outside of the house.”
The duo trotted down the walkway and made their way around my mansion’s exterior, chatting as they went.
“I should like to work with a fae prince,” Bobby said. “Rumor has it he is very skilled.”
“At woodwork and carpentry, yes. But he swoons at the mention of technology,” Abi said.
“How very odd.”
“I agree.”
I closed the front door and made my way to the library to retrieve my cellphone.
Yes, things were changing, and my life would never be the same.
But as long as Abi was with me, I had a feeling that would be a good thing.