No one knows how old he is. Considering fae don’t start going gray until about twenty-thousand years of age, I’d say he’s well past that. His long hair is white, matching his bushy eyebrows.

No one has a clue about where he lives either. Well, the sprites must know his location. After all, they’re the ones who can find him whenever we send a message.

He’s not dressed for a formal party. In fact, he looks like he might’ve just rolled out of bed. His brown tunic and pants look like they were made from burlap sacks, and the shoes on his feet are more like house slippers.

It doesn’t matter what he’s wearing. He’s here for one purpose.

“The locks,” I say, getting down to business. “Zella needs the same access I have.”

“Yes, of course.” He reaches out. “Queen Zella. May I see your hand, please?”

“Will it hurt?” She shoots me a worried look, but Dermot just chuckles.

“Of course not. It might tickle a little.” When her fingers touch his, light glows between them for a few seconds, then he drops his arm to his side. “All done.”

“That’s it?” Zella stares at her hand. “You’re amazing.”

Instead of saying ‘thank you’ the wizard intones, “I know.”

My lips twitch with a smile. “We appreciate you coming by. Ask Hyla for your payment and she’ll reward you.”

“Very good.” Dermot steps back. “I won’t see you for a while, but I’ll return when the babe is ten. I’ll have a present for him.”

Zella lets out a choked sound.

“Are you talking about a baby?” she asks at the same time I rasp, “Him?”

“Oh, that’s right. You didn’t know yet.” Scratching his temple, Dermot hikes a shoulder. “The other thing you could ask for—I wasn’t talking about the locks.”

“I’m pregnant?” Looking down, Zella flattens her hands on her lower belly. “Already? Are you sure?”

“A seed has taken hold,” the wizard confirms. “It will be a boy.”

Suddenly, this disaster of a night doesn’t seem so bad. Aside from the moment of realizing Zella’s my mate, this is the best news of my life.

Laughing, I pick Zella up and swing her around. “A son. I’m going to be a father.”

A smile breaks out on her face, and she brings her lips to mine. Her legs go around my waist and I walk forward until her back presses against the hard stone. We kiss frantically, as if it’s the first time our lips have ever touched.

I’m so wrapped up in her, I forget we have an audience. I pull my mouth away from hers long enough to apologize to Dermot, but when I look over to where he was before, he’s gone.

Good.