Page 79 of Mane Brew

His teeth sink in.

The mark burns into my skin like a brand.

Not painful—not exactly. More like being written into. Claimed. Made permanent in a way that goes beyond words or documentation.

I feel him. Not his thoughts—nothing that invasive. Just awareness. A sense of where he is, how he is, that he’s mine in a way that transcends choice or magic or anything I could have imagined.

Claimed.

He lifts his head, still buried inside me. His eyes are dark, dazed, a flicker of fear underneath.

“Zeph—”

I touch the mark. Tender. Already healing into permanence. A visible declaration of everything we just promised each other.

“It’s done.” The whisper feels inadequate for the magnitude of what we’ve become.

“Are you—do you regret⁠—”

“No.” The word comes out fierce. Certain. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

His forehead drops to mine. We breathe in the aftermath. My magic settles—not calm, exactly, because my magic is never calm. But settled. Chaos that’s finally found its structure.

Predictable chaos. That’s what happens to brew witches after claiming. Chaos that still surprises others but doesn’t surprise me anymore.

I think I like the sound of that.

“I should document this.” Sleep-rough, satisfied.

“Later.”

“For the records⁠—”

“Rhodes.” I prop myself up to look at him. Really look. At this man who kept my angry ale for four years. Who reorganized my supply closet when I was grieving. Who held the line against an army so I could break a two-hundred-fifty-year-old curse.

At my mate.

“We have forever for documentation. Right now, just... be here.”

He pulls me close. “I’m here.”

“Good.” I settle against him, feeling the mark pulse with something deep and permanent and mine. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

“Neither am I.” His arms tighten around me. “I’ve been waiting for this for years.”

“Was it worth the wait?”

“Extensive data suggests yes.”

I laugh. He smiles—a real smile, the kind that transforms his entire face from intimidating alpha to the man who’s been secretly in love with me for years.

“I’m going to need to see that data.”

“The proper terminology is still being developed.” He lifts my hand to his lips, presses a kiss to my knuckles. “Though ‘life-altering’ has potential.”

“Life-altering.” I test the word. “I like that better.”

“Noted. I’ll update the files.”