Page 151 of Trick Knot Treat

“Me? Who?” Clint says back lazily.

“Yes, you. Not who,” Crash snaps.

“Who is who?”

“What the fuck?”

“You said who, not what.”

Gummy turns to me. “What is wrong with him?”

“We aren’t exactly sure, but he is a jack of all trades. Home owner. Got a massively wonderful reputation in town. I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do.”

“And you?”

“I own an art gallery.”

Gummy beams at Crash. “Oh, I love that for her. She can display all her art. And the firefighter and the cop. Interesting pack.”

“Yes, we are.”

We eat and then are shown to a bathroom, and then, finally, it’s time.

I approach the stairs and inhale, catching the pungent scent of her heat seeping into the air.

“Are you ready for this?” Her father asks. “I’ll kill you if you hurt her.”

He means it, too.

“Yes,” I whisper. It doesn’t even occur to me to wonder if she might not want me there. I am hers, and she is mine.

I take the first step.

We move up, slowly, and then with more speed. I move unerringly to the door and stand in front of it.

It’s just a door.

It’s not just a door. It’s the door. The one that will change my life.

I turn the handle and push it open. There’s heaps of stuffed teddy’s, glitter stickers all over the walls, and black and pale pink taffeta has been arranged on the ceiling and hangs like some vogue magazine edit everywhere. It’s smoky and sexy, and I can instantly see how our personalities and nests could become one. But none of that holds my attention.

Khione turns away from the window. She sees us and blinks three times, taking a stumbling step towards us but stopping.

“Are you real?”

“Yes, we’re real.”

She throws herself into my arms, and I know that no matter what happens, it’s all going to be okay.

Chapter 37

Khione

Itake a tentative step towards them and let out a low keening whine. Felix collides with me, swinging me off my feet and twirling me around.

“I missed you.”

I sob into his shoulder, unable to regulate my feelings. He just smells so good, and I can barely think with his sudden appearance.