“You’ll see if you stick around.” Which might be nice. He enjoyed the kid’s company. As for the mother…she wasn’t bad. For a lady.

Speaking of whom, she’d snuck up on them. None of his hounds thought to warn him. He frowned at his dogs. The bitch lay there, tongue lolling as the boy continued to pet her. Roisin was no better, not even opening an eye where he lay in Marduke’s lap.

“Traitors,” he muttered as Merry dropped down beside him on the side not taken up by massive dog.

She appeared more stable now that she’d gotten over her shock at being in Hell. It took some explaining before she’d grasped she wasn’t A) dead or B) a cursed soul banished from Heaven. He’d yet to get to the part about no one getting past the pearly gates anymore.

Then last night she’d shone bright as the sun in his arms.

“So this is where you’ve been hiding. Who is this wondrous creature?” she exclaimed, reaching too quickly, startling Morgana, who snarled.

“Careful,” he admonished.

Too late. Merry had her hand out, and Morgana’s mouth opened then shut on the treat dropped into it.

“Because of your note, I knew you and Miguel were busy, so I whipped up some doggie biscuits in that marvelous kitchen of yours while having my coffee. It’s huge!” she exclaimed.

Back when he had a much larger staff and fuller kennels, it used to be much busier. “You appear recovered.” And he didn’t just mean from shock. He’d put her through some strenuous attention the night before.

“Meaning I don’t look like poop,” she said with a giggle and wink at her son. He noticed her pink cheeks.

Miguel pointed to the round belly on Morgana.

“Is she going to have puppies? How exciting.” The enthusiasm wasn’t faked.

The boy tugged again, and with much pointing and gesturing explained he’d been hired.

Although his excitement paled when Roisin let out a big fart and then proceeded to move not far away to give them a present.

“Better handle it,” Marduke said to Miguel, whose eyes widened. He chuckled as he added, “Kennel masters and their assistants don’t handle cleanup. That’s for the imps. Ring that bell over there.” He pointed to a rope, and Miguel couldn’t scramble fast enough.

As the boy delegated poop duty, Merry leaned into Marduke. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For making him happy. I haven’t seen him this content in a long time.”

“Bah. It was nothing,” he blustered.

“To you. To a boy who’s had a tough year and his mother, this is paradise. Thank you.” She flung her arms around him, and he didn’t know what to do but catch her and hug her back.