Page 119 of 'Til All the Seas Run Dry

“Doyouwant to stay here?” she asked.

He shifted, rolling onto his side so that he could look at her, her head supported on his arm, their noses close.

“I want to build you a house.”

“You already built me a house,” she laughed.

“Aye,” he said, kissing the tip of her nose. “And I’ll build a second. And a third if need be. But I want to build you a house here.”

She smiled softly. “You just want a bigger vault.”

“I’ll admit that I’ve become unaccustomed to such… small quarters. It would be nice to have some space to move around if I need. I dinnae sleep twelve hours at a time after all. An office, perhaps. A sitting room.”

“So a house above ground for show, and then a whole other house underground for you?” Jory teased lightly.

“Why not?”

She snorted a laugh. “That’s convenient. When the climate gets so bad that we all have to live underground like moles, you’ll be way ahead of the game.”

It was a joke, but he caught her hand in his, closing it against his heart, his fingers tightly wrapped around it as he said, “How convenient indeed, mo cridhe. Then I’ll never have to be apart from you again.”

“And Robbie?” she asked, and he sobered, his smile sliding away.

“Didnae you just tell me he’s a big boy?” he asked, but when she arched an eyebrow, he said, “I’ll build him his own floor. Or his own house. Or he can live in the pool house. Or he can stay here. Whatever he wants. Whatever will make him happy.” He kissed her softly. “Whatever makes you happy.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he rolled on top of her once more, knowing that he would never, ever take for granted again the way it felt when his hips settled into the cradle of her, her legs wrapping around his waist, her heart beating strong and lively against his chest.

“You make me happy.”

“Then I’ll build you a house, and you can be ecstatic.”

“Can I design it?”

“You can have anything ye want. I’ll give you anything. I’ll give you the world. I’ll give you my life.”

A frown puckered the space between her eyebrows. “Don’t give me your life.”

“It’s already yours. Every single day of it, from now until the very end, I’ll be loving you.”

She pressed her hand to his cheek, her eyes shining with tears, a smile spreading wide across her dear, lovely face. “I’ll take it.”

EPILOGUE

It was Friday, and Jory was meeting with the architect Callum had hired to look over potential blueprints. This particular firm had also built the Scotland house and specialized in sustainable homes for those with—how had he described them?—unique specifications. In other words, homes that needed vaults. Or special pools. Or any other accommodations a supernatural being might require.

The meeting had started early and run long, and it was after noon by the time Jory walked out of the conference room at the Seattle hotel where the architect and her team were staying. Esther had opened the store, and Jory planned to join her as soon as she got back to town. As she walked through the parking garage to her car, she checked her phone and noticed a missed call and voicemail from Esther. She brought the phone to her ear and listened.

“Hey, Jory,” Esther’s voice said through the car’s speakers as her phone connected to Bluetooth. “I know you’re in your meeting, but Robbie didn’t show up to work this morning and I didn’t know if he’d told you he was sick. I know he’s got therapy this morning, but that appointment was at nine. He was supposed to come in around ten. It’s just not like him to not show up, and he’s not answering his phone. Anyway, I’m sure it’s fine. See you soon. Love you, bye.”

Jory had left the house before six that morning to drive to Seattle, prying herself out of Callum’s arms, but Robbie’s car had been there. Before backing out of her parking spot, she called Robbie, groaning aloud when it went straight to voicemail. She opened her messages to send Robbie a text.

Robbie? Are you ok?

Moments passed with no reply.

Robbie? Esther is worried and now I’m worried too.

Answer your goddamn phone.