Chapter 48
Ceri
The gargoyle dropped the wooden crate full of Cillian’s hair products, and it came crashing down outside the dress shop.
“Well, you really screwed that up,” Tal said to Barty, who was looking down at the smashed crate, the pieces of glass everywhere, and expensive hair products spilling out over the cobblestone.
“No, not my shampoo.” Cillian shoved a hand through his hair. “Do you know how expensive that was?”
Barty hung in the air, stone wings flapping, his face shifting as he frowned. “Oh, I’m sorry. Who’s the one helping you move again?”
Cillian gestured to the cobblestone. “This is what you call helping? Breaking my expensive products?”
Tal flew toward us, his massive stone body landing next to me as he set a crate of Cillian’s clothes, all neatly folded, on the ground. “I knew you wouldn’t be up for this,” he said to his twin.
Barty spread out his arms. “You carried clothes. I had to carry a heavy box full of pointless hair products.”
I hid my smile, knowing Cillian’s response was going to be almost as entertaining as the gargoyles helping us move.
And I was right. Cillian lifted his head, glaring at Barty. “I’m sorry, did you just call my hair products pointless?” He pointed at his perfect, thick waves. “I have the best hair of anyone in Fairwitch Isle.”
Barty just snorted in disbelief.
“And you do realize I didn’t ask for your help, don’t you? In fact, when you two showed up at my door and grabbed my wooden crates, I believe I specifically told you that you really didn’t need to help.”
“You know what?” Barty’s fangs peeked out over his lips. “I don’t think I want to help you anymore.”
“Perfect, that’s literally what I’ve been saying,” Cillian said.
“I don’t like your attitude,” Tal said. “I think I’m done helping too.”
“Great.” Cillian picked up his crate of clothes. “That is absolutely okay, like I’ve been saying for the past half an hour.”
“So ungrateful,” Barty said as they flew back toward their post at the castle’s front doors. “I hope our new high prince is nicer than him.”
“We’ll have to get a broom and sweep all this up.” I gestured to the mess in front of the door to the shop.
Cillian rolled his eyes as we walked into Best Dressed and up the stairs to the apartment above.
Inside my room, with its small bed, wardrobe, and nightstand, Cillian frowned. “Where’s my wardrobe?”
I gestured to it. “You’re looking at it.”
He set down the crate and turned to me, a feral gleam in his eyes that set my body on fire. “Do you mean to tell me that I have to share a wardrobe with you?” He put his arms around me and tugged me into him.
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to tell you.”
He pressed a kiss to my lips, and heat erupted in my belly. “We’re going to need more space. I think I have more products and clothes than you do.”
“Oh, you definitely do.” I tipped my head. “That’s also why I think we’re going to do a little expansion.”
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “What expansion? This is the first I’m hearing about it.”
“That’s because I wanted to surprise you.”
His eyes danced, so much happiness carved into every part of his face. “What are you talking about? What are you planning, Cerriwen?”
I gestured toward the window, which faced the back of our dress shop. “This land behind the dress shop is part of the plot we own. So I was thinking we could build our own little cottage back there. Father can have the apartment, and we’ll stay in the cottage.”
“And he’s okay with that?” Cillian asked.
“It turns out with all the people stepping up and visiting him, bringing him meals, he’s feeling a lot more comfortable with me having a little space.”
Cillian’s brows pinched together. “But what about you? Are you okay with that? Because I was just teasing. I can share a wardrobe with you.” His voice lowered, sultry and dangerous. “As long as I also get to share your bed.”
My body heated at his words, at the thought of all the things he could do to me on this bed. “I’m sure. You’re making a huge sacrifice, giving up a crown and a castle for this.” I gestured to my tiny bedroom. “A life with me and my father.”
“Ceri, you can’t seriously think that.” He stepped back, studying me. “Giving up the crown and the castle? I never wanted either to begin with.”
I knew that, but hearing him say it helped me actually believe it. “I guess it’s just hard to fathom that you could want this life over that one.” I gestured in the direction of the castle. “You had a magical castle that did your bidding and a bath that always stayed warm.”
“I will miss that,” he said, and I swatted him. “I’m joking.” He paused. “Actually, I will really miss that bath chamber. It was divine.” He stepped forward and reeled me in once again, and I put my arms around his neck. “But do you know what’s more divine?”
I stared into his ice blue eyes, waiting for what I knew his next word would be.
“You, Cerriwen Morgane,” he said. “You’re worth more than any castle, any crown, any heated bathtub, could ever be. Wherever we end up, I’ll be happy, as long as you’re by my side.”
He leaned down to kiss me, his mouth exploring mine, and I melted in his arms.
He came up for a breath, his eyes now black. “We need to stop. Before I take you right here with your father out there. I’m not in the mood to be quiet.”
“Marsten and Meera came by to get my father for a walk. I think they knew we’d want some alone time.” I trailed a finger down his chest, and in one quick move, he had me pinned to the bed.
He started kissing my neck, hungrily grappling with my dress and tugging it down my shoulders. “You really should’ve led with that,” he murmured, lips pressing against my clavicle.
I arched under him. “I would’ve if you hadn’t been going on about your wardrobe.”
“What wardrobe?” he asked as he took a breast in his mouth. “I’ve completely forgotten what we were even talking about.”
I laughed, which turned into a gasp as he swirled his tongue around my nipple. I couldn’t believe this was my life now. Me, father, and the love of my life. No more longing, no more shoving my feelings aside, no more believing I was alone.
I was finally getting the future I’d dreamed of. It wasn’t a dream anymore. It was real. And it was all mine.