“Magnus is very good with the children. Patient. He’ll make a good father.”

Allie tore her gaze away from where Magnus was flying down the hill on a toboggan with Liam before him, in a race against a second toboggan holding Teddy Jr. and Alessandro, and glanced to Elvi at that comment. She’d never got her chance to talk to Magnus. Lunch had been ready by the time she got downstairs, and the minute it was over and the mess cleared up, they’d piled the kids in the cars and driven here to what Elvi called Cider Hills. It was an apple farm on a hill where guests were allowed to toboggan before or after visiting the restaurant, which served hot apple cider, sandwiches, and various apple desserts. There were also jugs of cider and various packaged apple desserts that could then be purchased to take home as well. Allie had never seen anything like it, but she thought this place was wonderful. The kids were having a ball, and it was nice to stand here with the women sipping a warm apple cider while watching the children have fun.

“Yes,” she agreed quietly, offering Elvi a crooked smile before turning her gaze back to the boys. The two toboggans had reached the bottom of the hill now and they were all laughing as they climbed off and began to slog back up the hill, the boys leading the way and Magnus and Alessandro following, dragging the sleds behind them. Now, Victor and DJ were at the top of the hill, about to push off their own sleds side by side, each with their daughter before them.

“This is a wonderful place to raise children,” Elvi said suddenly. “I hope you’ll consider moving here once this mess is over. I think Teddy Jr. would like having a little buddy to hang out with other than the girls. They love Teddy,” she added. “But sometimes I think it’s a bit overwhelming for him.”

Allie smiled at the thought, and nodded. “It does seem idyllic, and I’d like to be able to make a home here for Liam. I think he’d love it. He certainly seems to enjoy having friends. But I gather it depends on whether they catch Abaddon.”

“Abaddon,” Elvi sighed the name. “We thought Leonius was bad until we found out Abaddon was his puppet master.” She shook her head. “I guess we’ll have to hope they catch him.”

“Yeah,” Mabel muttered, and then turned to peer at Allie and asked point-blank, “So are you going to agree to be Magnus’s life mate or not?”

“Mabel,” Elvi said with dismay.

“Oh, don’t try to say you aren’t wondering too,” Mabel said with exasperation. “The suspense is killing me.”

Allie smiled wryly at the women, not terribly surprised they knew about that. Rather than answer, she said, “Well, you can read my mind. What do you think?”