Polina tried to navigate the crowded rooms of Aurorean House hand in hand with her new husband. Their reception was overflowing with well-wishers and the wine flowed liberally as did the trays of hors d’oeuvres Logan had prepared for the occasion. They weren’t tied together anymore, but she couldn’t bear to let him go. Not yet.
“Congratulations,” Rick said, appearing in front of them.
“It was a beautiful ceremony,” Grateful chimed in, bouncing Lucas on her hip.
Logan reached out to rub the boy’s head and noticed a stuffed black dog cuddled in his arms. “Whatch’ya got there, Lucas?”
The boy turned protectively, hugging the stuffed dog tighter.
Grateful snorted. “Don’t even try to touch his pup-pup. He picked it up somewhere. Honestly, we think my dad brought it home on accident from Gymboree class. I’d return it, but he loves it too much. I had to wait until he fell asleep just to wash it. And this kid never sleeps, Logan.” She kissed the boy on one chubby cheek.
“Finders keepers, right, Lucas?” Logan said.
Polina smiled. “Parenthood agrees with you two. Do I sense another child in your future?”
“How did you know?” Grateful asked.
Jaw gaping, Polina pressed a hand to her chest. “I didn’t! I was kidding. Are you saying you’re pregnant?”
Grateful darted a glance at Rick and smiled. “We never thought the candles would be so… um… effective.”
As much as Polina tried to stay in the moment, the feeling of her short time being pregnant came back to her and she silently envied her friend. Logan must have felt it too, through their new connection, because he squeezed her fingers and whispered, “Would you like to get something to drink?”
“Before you go, Rick and I have something for you. A wedding gift.” Grateful handed Polina a box wrapped in silver paper. “Best wishes for a long and happy marriage.”
Polina stared at the box, the weight growing heavier in her hand. Her blue eyes flicked up to her friend’s. “Are you sure?”
Grateful gave a quiet, easy smile. “Absolutely.”
“What are we talking about? What’s in the box?” Logan asked.
“Excuse me,” Polina said. She dragged Logan by the hand toward the bedroom. Once they were inside with the door closed, she held the box out between them. She couldn’t speak.
Logan got the hint and started in on the paper. “Damn, Polina. You’re acting like you’ve never seen a gift before. This couldn’t wait until after our guests left?”
She shook her head. Together, they pulled the top off. The black candle within had the stamp of a raven in the wax. Polina stopped breathing.
“What is this? Why do you look like that?” Logan asked.
“It’s a mortality candle. They are extremely rare. Grateful made six of them while she still had power over multiple elements. She can’t make any more. This is how Lucas and his future brother or sister were made. If we burn this, it can make you human again.”
Logan grinned. “We can have a baby?”
Polina’s forehead wrinkled. “Logan, you could become human permanently. You don’t have to be my caretaker anymore. You were forced into the decision. Maybe it was too soon.”
Logan shook his head. “What are you talking about? We just got married.”
“We can stay married, but if you’d rather not…”
“Shut up, Polina,” Logan said. He placed the box on the dresser. “I’m going to tell you this once, and with our connection, you’ll know I’m telling the truth. I am glad that Alex put me in a position where my priorities became blissfully clear. I want to be your caretaker. I chose this. If we burn that candle, it will be because we love each other so much, we need another person to pour the extra love into. Because we want a family.”
“Truly?” Polina asked.
“Truly and forever.” He slipped his hand behind her waist and pulled her against him. When he kissed her, she finally accepted it. He wanted this as much as she did, and she must never question him again.
“Would you like me to light it now?” she asked with a grin.
He shook his head. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” he began slowly. “I love Lucas, and I fully intend to use that candle someday, but before we do, I’d like a few years to enjoy you all to myself.”
Polina closed the box, pulled the nightstand drawer open, and dropped it inside. “You are a wise and worthy husband.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” She encircled his neck with her arms. “Now, how would you like to enjoy me?”
“Shouldn’t we wait until our guests leave?”
“We should, but I’ve never been a patient woman.”
Logan leaned into her, his lips hovering over hers. “Good, because I’m hungry, and I think we’ve waited long enough.”
Polina and Logan didn’t waste another moment. As quickly as they’d unwrapped the candle, they tore into the gift of each other. Hands bound and hearts bound, they began a long and fruitful forever.
Don’t miss the next installment in the Knight Games series, Vice, Fireborn Wolves Book 1. Flip the page for a free excerpt!