“Yes.” Elvi fell silent for a minute, and then said, “It’s hard to explain, but they really do seem like your other half. A soul mate, I guess.” She frowned briefly and then admitted, “I was married as a mortal. My husband died long before I met Victor,” she added quickly, apparently concerned that Allie might think she’d tossed him over for the immortal. “I was happy with him. I thought we had a good marriage, but really it couldn’t compare to what I have with Victor. He’s my best friend, my confidant, and my rock. I know he would give his life for me, and I would do the same for him. They’re a true partner. It makes you . . . I don’t know, confident, of course, but at peace too. You know you can always count on your mate.”

“But why?”

“Because a life mate is the most important thing in the world to an immortal,” Magnus said quietly, and Allie glanced around to find he had joined them and now stood behind her. Taking her arm, he turned her and asked solemnly, “Will you be my life mate, Allie?”

She stared at him silently for a minute, Elvi’s words replaying in her mind. Best friend and confident, a true partner you could always count on. It sounded nice. It would be nice not to always have to carry the burden alone. Not that Liam was a burden, but keeping him safe, making money, raising him right, always being the bad guy and having to say no . . . He was reaching the age where he would need to be homeschooled soon too, another chore she’d be tasked with. It would be nice to have a partner to lean on.

“Yes,” she breathed so softly a mortal wouldn’t have heard her, but he did. They all did, and Allie found herself being hugged and congratulated by first Elvi and then Mabel as they assured her she wouldn’t be sorry. Allie wasn’t sure they were right, she was already half regretting it, but knew that was her fear talking.

“—and we’ll hold the wedding dinner at the restaurant.”

Allie’s thoughts fled as she caught the end of Elvi’s words. She tuned back in fully to hear Mabel add, “We’ll close it to customers, of course, so we can have a private celebration.”

“Wait. What?” Allie asked, glancing around with confusion.

“The wedding dinner,” Elvi explained. “We’ll hold it for you at the restaurant after the ceremony at the courthouse.”

“The courthouse?” she asked blankly.

“Yes, dear,” Elvi said, and then frowned. “Oh, did you want a big wedding? We didn’t think you had a large family and would want one, but you can always do the big wedding deal later and just do the courthouse and dinner now.”

“Now?” she asked with alarm.