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I wasn’t that surprised, in fact I’d wondered briefly if that was the case after I found out that I needed to be the final piece of the puzzle.
“I’m pragmatic. It worked, so I can’t be angry. We made it! The locket is here, and so am I. So I forgive you, Mateo.”
Mateo made a small noise that sounded suspiciously like a sob. “I love you, Eva. And I will spend the rest of my life making sure you are happy with me.”
“Are you kidding? I’m already happy with you. I don’t need a life of luxury. I don’t need to be dressed in silk, start my dinners with caviar every night, or be waited on by staff. I just want you, Mateo. You are all I need.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“But you’re special. The last of a powerful lineage, destined for greatness.”
I shook my head firmly. “No. I’m not. The amulet is special, not me. The moment I take this locket off, I’m just the same Eva I’ve always been. I’m not special, and I don’t want to be. I don’t need power, or fame, or money, or any of that. I just need a place to belong.” I looked into his golden eyes. “And I need you. I love you too, Mateo.”
I reached up to kiss him, and he met me halfway. I melted into his kiss. Here in his arms, I was home.
“Maybe we should take a shower first,” I said. “You need to make me smell like you again.”
“Of course. I’ll make sure you’re mine inside and out, Little Thief.”
“This again?” I asked, laughing. “That’s ten dinners now. I thought we established I’m not a thief.”
“Oh, but you are.”
“Oh, am I now?”
“Yes.”
“Yeah? What did I steal?”
“My heart, Little Thief. You stole my heart.”
Epilogue
Mateo
I watched as my beautiful wife—my mate—gazed silently into the glass case in Desmon’s library. She did that every time she took the locket off and put it there, like it was difficult for her to leave a piece of herself behind.
I gave Eva her time, knowing that in a few minutes, she’d be over it. Then she’d be hungry, and we’d go find food.
It was hard at first, since it really had felt like losing a part of her. But she knew how dangerous it would be for the Magus Scepter to remain whole, so she’d returned one half of the locket to Desmon on the condition that he promised never to put it back on show at the museum again. She “didn’t want a part of herself on public display”, was how she explained it. It had felt that much like a part of her.
He’d understood and set it up permanently in his library instead. Only people he trusted came here, and we ourselves could visit and see it whenever we wanted. He’d even suggested Eva put it on once in a while and practice controlling it, just in case we needed it in an emergency someday. It was always hard for her the first few minutes after taking the locket off, but I knew that it was only temporary.
The library door opened behind me, and Carly poked her head in.
“Elana made fried chicken today, if you’re interested. And I just tried my hand at cupcakes for the first time. Head on down to the dining room when you’re done here, if you like.”
Eva turned away from the glass. “Fried chicken and cupcakes sound amazing.” She rested her hand on her growing belly. “I’m ravenous, and so is little Milly.”
She stepped away from the case with Desmon’s half of the locket; her half hung around her neck on a delicate silver chain. She’d replaced the photo inside with one of the two of us that had been taken during our human-style wedding where, instead of officiating, Desmon had given her away. Sriracha had been the ring bearer, though he didn’t do much. It had been a warm day, and he’d found a sunbeam and slept through the whole thing.
We were going to have to replace that photo soon when baby Milly arrived.
She hooked her arm through mine. “Let’s go.”
“Are you sure? There’s no hurry.”
