His huge frame caused Lyra to stumble slightly, but her reflexes kept her upright. Lyra opened her mouth, ready witha sassy retort, but closed it again. She waited a beat before nodding her head, refusing to deny it.
“Yes. I do. I don’t know when it happened, or how, or… well, I don’t know. This has all been a bit of a blur. I don’t know what we’re going to do tomorrow, or how we’re going to help Keira, but I love Theo. The rest,” Lyra shrugged, “I’m content to figure out another day.”
Wyn grunted, apparently satisfied with her answer but refusing to say anything else. Calum and Theo were still talking animatedly down on the dock. Lyra turned her head and snuck a glance at Wyn.
She’d overheard him arguing with Niamh before the dragon left them and her curiosity was peaked.
“You and Niamh, huh?” Lyra poked the bear.
Instead of giving her a sarcastic or agitated response, Wyn said nothing. He went as still as a stone, an unreadable expression painted on his face. Lyra’s eyes widened. She was about to disembark and leave Wyn alone entirely, when he finally spoke. It was so quiet, she had to lean closer to hear him, even with supernatural hearing.
“It was a long time ago,” Wyn admitted. He looked up at the sky, and the haunted, desperate look in his eyes would haunt Lyra for days. “And won’t happen again.”
Wyn turned on his heel and disappeared below deck, moving silently in a way only elves could. Lyra wondered if she should go after him until Calum called her name.
“Coming.” Lyra grinned, nearly running down the gangplank to rejoin Theo’s side.
Calum smiled at her warmly, which was more than she expected. Theo wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. If there was any displeasure in Calum’s expression, Lyra couldn’t sense it.
“I believe I owe you.” Calum tilted his head towards Lyra. “Seeing as you fulfilled your side of the bargain in bringing Theo back to us.”
Lyra blushed, shaking her head. “I don’t want any money.” She looked up at Theo. Despite all the chaos and the sheer insanity of their whirlwind romance—if you could even call it a proper romance—she wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“Oh?” Calum’s brow furrowed slightly. “Surely, there must be some way that I can thank you.”
Lyra swallowed thickly, summoning her courage as she looked Calum in the eye. “I know Theo doesn’t need your permission to be with who he chooses, but your acceptance matters to him. I want to stay here in Edinburgh, with Theo, and it would be a lot easier for everyone if you were okay with that.”
Calum said nothing, studying Lyra and Theo for a minute. Theo was more anxious than Lyra was, jumping in when he thought the silence lasted too long.
“She is right though.” The words tumbled out of Theo. “I want you both in my life, but I don’t need permission and?—”
“Enough.” Calum held up his hand, the gentle command dripping with royal authority. “I understand, Lyra, what you went through. I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing. Still, it does make me a little uneasy, of course, knowing what you were planning.”
Theo opened his mouth to speak but Calum silenced him with a raised brow, continuing to speak.
“That said, I would love it if you wanted to stay in the city and get to know you more.”
Lyra and Theo both audibly exhaled in relief, knowing they had Calum’s blessing. Theo kissed Lyra, overcome with his own excited emotions, until Calum cleared his throat.
Calum looked at Lyra with a grin. “But I don’t speak for everyone, and there’s a whole group of people who are eager to meet you.” Calum turned towards the other end of the dock.
For the first time, Lyra saw a group of creatures standing together in the parking lot. They were all openly staring, whispering to one another. Lyra could tell there were two humans, some baobhan-sith, a wulver, another elf, and a witch among them. She only recognized Emmett and Pippa by sight.
“Oh dear,” Theo groaned dramatically, rubbing his hand over his face. “She can’t wait to meet the family?”
Lyra’s chest warmed as Theo said it. The expression on his face was pure delight, despite his protests.
Theo had his family back.
“Absolutely not,” Calum clapped his hands. He shoved his way in between Theo and Lyra, steering them towards the waiting group.
“Out of the frying pan and into the fire,” Calum laughed.
As soon as they started walking, the group moved, some of them running down the deck to get to them first. Theo’s family descended upon the lovers, and in the midst of a million questions, Theo only saw Lyra.
He swept her body towards him, dipping her back, and kissed her.
“Welcome home, Lyra.”
