Nathan shrugged beside her, his voice carrying the same stunned quality she felt. "I guess."
Harper leaned against Nathan's shoulder as they waited in silence on the sofa. Her heart ached for him, knowing how much letting Jill go would hurt. The sound of soft thumps drew her attention back to the hallway.
Jill bounded into view, her tiny antlers bobbing with each hop. Her mother followed at a more dignified pace, her larger form moving with fluid grace. Harper watched as Jill approached Nathan, rising up on her hind legs in a familiar begging pose that never failed to make Harper smile.
Nathan chuckled softly, reaching for the bowl of treats. His fingers selected a chunk of pink watermelon - one of Jill's favorites. Harper had noticed how the little jackalope's nose would twitch with extra enthusiasm whenever Nathan offered her the sweet fruit.
To Harper's amazement, the mother jackalope moved closer as well. Her dark eyes fixed on Nathan, then shifted to the bowl of treats in his lap. The adult's nose twitched, testing the air much like her daughter had done countless times before.
Both want treats,Reyna observed in Harper's mind, her mental voice carrying a note of amusement.Good den-father shares.
Harper held her breath, hardly daring to move as she watched the scene unfold. She'd never imagined they'd see another adult jackalope, let alone have one approach them so boldly for treats.
Harper watched, barely breathing, as Nathan's hand moved with careful deliberation toward the adult jackalope. The slice of apple balanced between his fingers, trembling slightly. The mother's whiskers twitched as she assessed the offering, her dark eyes fixed on Nathan's hand.
With surprising delicacy, the adult jackalope plucked the apple slice from Nathan's fingers. She dropped to all fours, her magnificent antlers tilting as she began to nibble the fruit. The careful way she took the treat reminded Harper of Jill's own gentle manners.
Harper's gaze met Nathan's, seeing her own bewilderment mirrored in his expression. This wasn't normal behavior for a wild creature - even one as magical as a jackalope. Yet here was this adult, clearly Jill's mother, accepting treats from Nathan's hand as if she'd done it a hundred times before.
Mate saved kit,Reyna observed in Harper's mind.Mother knows.
Harper squeezed Nathan's hand, both of them watching in stunned silence as the mother jackalope finished her apple slice. Neither of them had expected this level of trust from a wild magical creature, especially one they'd assumed would simply collect Jill and disappear into the night.
Harper watched in amazement as the mother jackalope finished her treat, then made her way to Jill's plush bed in the corner. The adult's movements were deliberate and graceful, her impressive antlers held high as she settled onto the cushion. The bed, which had always seemed perfectly sized for Jill, somehow accommodated the larger jackalope with room to spare.
Jill bounded after her mother, her tiny form vibrating with excitement. The baby jackalope tucked herself against her mother's side, snuggling into the adult's soft brown fur. Harper's heart melted as the mother began washing Jill's ears with swift, gentle strokes of her tongue. The tender scene reminded her of countless nature documentaries, yet this was far more magical.
Good den,Reyna commented softly in Harper's mind.Safe.
Harper turned to Nathan, unable to contain her smile at the unexpected turn of events. "Well," she whispered, careful not to disturb the settling jackalopes, "it looks like you have a pair of them now."
A quiet laugh escaped her as she watched the two magical creatures drift off to sleep, Jill's tiny form rising and falling with her mother's steady breathing. What had started as a bittersweet goodbye had transformed into something entirely different - and wonderfully unexpected.
"Whoa,watching them sleep made me sleepy, too." Harper said, stifling a yawn. "I guess I should head home."
"Let me walk you to your car." Nathan rose, still holding her hand.
The night air was heavy with the summer's humidity as they walked to Harper's Mustang. The stars twinkled overhead, and crickets chirped in the grass.
"Thank you for being here tonight," Nathan said, pulling Harper into a gentle embrace. His warmth enveloped her, and she breathed in his familiar scent of cedar and mint. "Having you with me made everything easier."
Harper tilted her face up to his, her heart fluttering at the tenderness in his brown eyes. "I wouldn't have missed it."
Their lips met in a sweet, lingering kiss, sending sparks of warmth through Harper's entire body. His fingers traced delicate patterns on her lower back, each gentle touch igniting new sensations under her skin, while her hands found their way to his broad shoulders, steadying herself against the swooping sensation in her stomach.
When they finally pulled apart, Harper's cheeks were flushed pink in the moonlight, and her pulse raced beneath her skin. The crickets seemed to sing louder in the darkness around them, their chorus mingling with the rapid beating of her heart.
"Good night," she whispered.
"Drive safe. Text me when you get home?"
Harper nodded, sliding into the driver's seat. Her fingers trembled slightly as she gripped the steering wheel, the ghost of Nathan's kiss still tingling on her lips. Through her rearview mirror, she caught one last glimpse of him standing in the soft glow of his porch light, watching over her departure. Nathan waited until her taillights disappeared around the corner before heading back inside to Jill and her mother. The warmth in her chest lingered as she drove into the quiet night, already looking forward to seeing him again.
Chapter 32
Jacinth pacedin her living room, her long black hair swaying with each step. The problem of the investigative reporter gnawed at her, demanding a solution.
"Everything alright?" Douglas's voice startled her from her reverie.
