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“Oh my god,” Emmett grunted and buried his head in his hands, which only encouraged them.
The rest of the evening passed in a pleasant blur of alcohol, laughter, and presents. Fern didn’t know the last time she enjoyed a holiday so thoroughly. It was well past midnight when Finley stood with a yawn.
“Well, that’s my cue.” He grinned and started saying his goodbyes. Fern escorted him to the door.
“Have a happy Christmas, Finny.” She hugged him. “Are you sure you don’t want to come to Faerie with us for the holidays? I don’t like the idea of you spending them by yourself.”
“Don’t you worry about me. I’ll be all right.” Finley adjusted his jacket, and they finished their farewells, promising to catch up when Fern and Calum returned to Edinburgh.
Emmett and Mara were right behind him, doling out hugs and sending well wishes as they tugged on boots and scarves. Emmett was giving Calum a last-minute update regarding some of the university staff, and Fern turned to say goodbye to Mara.
The front door was cracked open, and she peered out into the cold, snowy evening. Mara was already nowhere to be seen except for a dainty pair of footprints that followed Finley’s tracks.
Oh, I hope you two know what you’re doing. Fern pushed the insinuating thoughts from her mind. The both of you.
“Goodnight, Fern!” Emmett hugged her tightly and jogged down the front steps. “Oi, and Calum! Strengthen your wards. Even I can tell that they’re shit.”
“Fuck you.” Calum joined Fern on the stoop.
“Merry Christmas to you too!” Emmett laughed all the way down the street until they couldn’t hear him anymore.
“Let’s go inside, love,” Calum murmured, pressing soft kisses to Fern’s cheek and jaw. She nodded in response, following him inside as the heavy door shut behind them. The house was nearly silent now, with only the embers of the fire popping in the study.
Fern sighed, deeply contented as her magic buzzed pleasantly in her veins.
“I’m going to put out the fire,” Calum smiled, “but let’s clean up everything else tomorrow.”
“Deal.” Fern smirked, starting up the stairs. “Oh, but Calum?” She leaned over the banister and waited for him to turn around.
“Yes?”
“I would hurry if I were you, or you’re going to miss your chance to see what’s underneath my dress.”
Calum growled and snapped his fingers. Fern felt a flicker of magic run over her skin, and she watched as the dying light from the fireplace vanished. Calum launched himself towards the staircase, and Fern went flying towards their room while breaking into peals of laughter.
“That’s cheating!” Fern giggled as Calum tackled her on the steps, gracefully angling them so he took the brunt of the fall. She squirmed against his chest, but Calum’s face was brimming with satisfaction.
“Lesson one, my dear mate,” Calum pushed some of Fern’s hair away from her face, “I will always cheat when it comes to getting my hands on you.”
“Hmm,” Fern pursed her lips, “I feel like I’m duty-bound to report you to the ethics committee for that, Dr. Welsh.”
Calum’s voice dropped so low that Fern could feel it rumbling in his chest. “You do that, Fern McEwan. Although we’ll both be ‘Dr. Welsh’ before long.”
Fern’s eyes widened in surprise. She knew that fae mating was more intense than human marriage, but she’d expressed her desire to not miss out on the experience of it.
“Is that a promise?”
Calum kissed her softly, cradling the back of her head in his palm. “A promise, a declaration, a guarantee, a law…”
Fern shivered in anticipation and thought her chest might burst from holding onto so much joy. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Calum’s smile turned devious as he started pulling on the hem of her dress. “I would love you more, however, if you’d finally take this damn thing off.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“You love that about me.”
“Against my better judgement.” Fern wiggled out of Calum’s grasp, and she ran towards the bedroom, listening to Calum cursing behind her the entire way.
It was a long time before they came down the next morning, but finally, it didn’t matter. They had all the time in the world.
* * *
