She went still as stone for a long time, wondering if her ears were defective, wondering if she dared believe what he’d said. But why not believe him? When had he lied?

“If this is your way of trying out telling jokes,” she said through a shuddering breath, “I will dislocate both your shoulders, and your legs.”

“Do it, if you’ll stay.”

“I’ll stay.”

“Then okay,” he said comfortably.

“I’m not sleeping in the basement, though.”

“Okay.”

“They can give us good curtains, or we can board up the windows in this room.”

“Okay.”

“I love you, jerk.”

He looked surprised. “Of course.”

She groaned and punched him, which led to other things. Nicer things.

Chapter 14

You’re moving in?”

Antonia nodded with a mouthful of breakfast. “As of right now,” she added, spraying the queen with scrambled eggs.

“Oh. Okay. You’re moving in? Okay. I thought you were going to leave. We all—I mean, we didn’t want you to go but didn’t feel like we could make you stay. Ugh, don’t smile like that! Especially not with your mouth full.”

She swallowed but couldn’t help grinning. “Better get used to it.” They had wanted her to stay? Had talked about convincing her? How charming!

She scooped more eggs onto her plate. Damn, that Sinclair could cook! Where’d he gotten to, anyway? Oh, who cared?

“Don’t you have to call your boss, or leader, or whatever?” Betsy asked, sitting across from her and picking eggs out of her hair.

“Did it last night.”

“So it’s all taken care of.”

“Umm-hmm.” Michael had sounded almost insultingly relieved at the news that she wasn’t coming back. If she hadn’t had Garrett, she might have been devastated. But as it was…

“I have a new family now. Don’t look scared, I’m only going to get sentimental for a minute.”

“I wasn’t scared,” Betsy said defensively. “Just surprised, is all. You have to admit, you kind of pulled a one-eighty in the last twenty-four hours.”

“Yeah, well, this is where I’m supposed to be. My lover’s here, he lets me be as rough as I want—”

Betsy put her hands over her ears. “Overshare!”

“—you guys don’t seem to care if I can see the future or shit nickels.”

“I think I liked the gruff, unsentimental side of you a lot better.”

“So I’m staying.”

“Well, that’s great. A werewolf who can see the future will probably come in handy.” She gestured to the cavernous kitchen. “And it’s not like we don’t have the room.”

“Yeah, having me around all the time will be a help, get it?”

“Uh, no.”

“And by hanging out here, I get what I want.” Lover. Love. Family. Acceptance.

“Oh! So—”