Never stop believing in the magic of love.
RICHARD pulled up the new etiquette app on his phone and checked the placement of the dinnerware. The lower edges of the utensils were aligned with the bottom rim of the plate approximately one inch away from the plate’s side. Oops, one of the spoons had a fingerprint on it, and he rushed to the kitchen to grab another one. This time he was careful to hold it by the “waist,” the area between the handle and the eating end of the utensil. He checked the app again:
Elbowroom requires a minimum of fifteen inches between place settings, or approximately twenty-four inches from the center of one place setting to the middle of the next.
After making sure each chair was set appropriately, he checked the time. Tikron’s mom would be there any time now. He shoved his phone into his pocket, his pulse racing. He was so frickin’ nervous his hands were shaking as he added pats of butter on butter plates and filled the glasses with water, making sure to place them one inch from the tip of the dinner knife—blades facing the plate.
Tikron came up behind Richard, hugged him, and peered over Richard’s shoulder. “Wow, this looks better than most restaurants I’ve been in.”
“Oh God. You don’t think it’s too impersonal, do you?”
Tikron squeezed Richard, then kissed his cheek. “Relax. She’s easy to please and she’s going to love you.”
Richard turned in Tikron’s arms and laid his cheek against Tikron’s chest, listening to the strong, steady beat of his heart. A heart that belonged to him.
“Oh my. You really are just the cutest thing, aren’t you?”
Richard jerked out of Tikron’s arms to find a beautiful woman who looked as if she could be Tikron’s twin sister.
“Bad timing, Mom.” Tikron chuckled.
As if the fact that Tikron’s mom looked the same age as her son wasn’t enough of a shock, she grabbed Richard, pulled him into a tight embrace, and kissed his cheek. It was more affection in that one second from a stranger than he’d ever received from his own mother. He instantly liked her. He smiled and hugged her back.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Amorith,” Richard said cordially when she finally released him.
“Please, call me Eugenia.” She then turned to Tikron. She gave her son a hug, then continued to speak. “I know we were going to have a nice quiet evening here getting to know each other, but some friends of mine called, and apparently they are having a little get-together.”
Richard struggled to keep his features neutral. He and Tikron had worked hard on dinner, wanting so much to impress her. Plus, he’d been looking forward to spending time alone with Tikron’s mom and getting to know her. He swallowed down his disappointment and plastered on a smile.
“We can always have dinner together another time.”
“No, we can’t.” Tikron spoke up. “Mom, Richard has been in the kitchen for hours. You should have given us warning.”
Eugenia turned to Richard. “Aw, that’s so sweet. I’m sure it will be just as good later.” To her son, she said, “I knew nothing of this little party until just a few moments ago. We won’t be gone long.”
“We?” Richard asked.
“Yes, we. You wouldn’t mind meeting my friends, would you?” She moved back to Richard, a sly grin on their face. “They’re nobility.”
“I… I…. Umm. Of course I want to meet your friends, but I’m not sure I’m dressed for such an event.”
“Nonsense.” Eugenia winked. “You look wonderful.”
Richard looked down and was shocked to find he was wearing a black tuxedo, bow tie, and white shirt, and was just as surprised to see Tikron sporting the same attire.
“Mother,” Tikron grumbled, “what’s up with these fancy rags?” He narrowed his eyes. “What are you up to?”
Eugenia waved a dismissive hand. “I told you it’s just a little get-together. I’m sure Richard wouldn’t mind spending time with the Duke and Duchess of Hampton. I mean it’s not every day one is invited to a castle for dinner.”
“A duke? Castle?” Richard stammered.
“Yes. We can spend the whole weekend if you’d like. You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Richard?”
“Mother,” Tikron said in a warning tone.
“I can’t possibly spend the weekend,” Richard explained. “I can’t leave Albert, and I haven’t packed anything.”
“Albert, that’s your poor little dog Tikron told me about, isn’t it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“It’s Eugenia, and we’ll take him with us. The duke has an amazing kennel. I’m sure little Albert won’t mind spending a couple days in the lap of luxury and being waited on hand and foot. Or paw and paw.” Eugenia winked. “Tikron and I will make sure you have everything you need.”
Tikron stepped between Eugenia and Richard. He faced his mother. “Mom, we are not going to England for the weekend. Now, you’re more than welcome to stay for dinner or return later for dessert.”
Eugenia tried peeking around her son, but he blocked her. “Shall I remove your place setting, or will you be staying?”
Richard heard a loud dramatic sigh . Then Eugenia said, “You’ve become such a bore, you know that?”
Richard couldn’t help but laugh. If Tikron was now what his mother was calling boring, he could only imagine what he’d been like before he’d met the man. Every day around Tikron had been like visiting the circus.
“Very well, I suppose I will just have to bring the party to you.”
Before either Tikron or Richard could protest, lights flashed, the air swirled, and suddenly the room was filled with people in party hats and blowing horns. “Surprise!”
Stunned, Richard could only stand and stare at the throng of partygoers. They were all strangers except Ry.
“Grandmother! Aunt Clare!” Tikron said with excitement. “What a wonderful surprise.”
The crowd burst into a song of “Happy Birthday.”
For a couple heartbeats, Richard stood rigid, trying to figure out what was going on and completely uncomfortable with all the strangers staring at him with smiles on their faces. Right, a surprise birthday party for Tikron. He gave himself a shake and joined in the melody.
Tikron wrapped his arm around Richard and held him close. “Thank you so much,” Tikron said when the song ended. To Richard he said, “This is my coven, my family. Everyone, this is Richard.”
People rushed at him, one after another, coming over to shake Richard’s hand and greet him. Aunt Clare nearly squeezed the stuffing out of him, and Grandmother pinched his cheeks and shocked him further by patting his butt and winking at him. It was overwhelming, and yet Tikron’s coven welcomed him warmly, and he knew he was being granted access to something most never would have the opportunity to attend: the celebration of three hundred and fifty years of life.
With a promise Richard’s meal would not be ruined and would be enjoyed the next day, Eugenia replaced the small dining table with a grand one covered with a feast of decadent food. The setting was much too large for the normally small room, but that wasn’t an issue for one such as Eugenia, and it swelled as well and easily accommodated the hundreds of people.
As Tikron mingled with his guests, Richard followed him, listening to the stories they shared while sipping on his glass of water.
Eugenia cut in. “Excuse me, but I need to borrow Tikron and Richard for a moment.”
They followed her to the living room, which Richard was stunned to find hadn’t changed. The only room affected by the magic was the dining room. It was like walking from one world and into another. It was surreal and so damn exciting to know they both existed. He’d never tire of his new life. Eugenia took a seat on the couch and patted it on either side of her. “Come sit with me.”
Richard sat to her right, and rather than sit on her left, Tikron slid in next to Richard and wrapped an arm around him.
Eugenia smiled and nodded. “This party isn’t just for you, son, but for Richard too. A celebration of your birth wouldn’t be complete without also celebrating the man who saved your life.”
“Mom,” Tikron said in a warning tone.
Richard stared at Eugenia with wide eyes. “Saved his life?”
Eugenia looked over at her son. “You didn’t tell him?”
“Tell me what?” Richard asked. His heart kicked up a notch.
“Well, if my son won’t thank you properly, then I will. Tikron had until his birthday to find his true love or Mysdus had threatened to end his life.”
The thought of Tikron dying caused Richard’s gut to flop sickeningly. How could anyone want to end such a wonderful man’s life? Tears burned at the backs of Richard’s eyes and he did his best to blink them away, but one single drop ran down his cheek. He wiped it away and looked toward Tikron. “I had no idea.”
“Mother would have married Mysdus. I really wasn’t in any danger.”
“There was another option,” Eugenia said wryly.
“Another option?” Tikron asked.
“Well, apparently someone started blabbing about our situation to every coven around the world, and more than a few leaders were outraged. Mysdus sends his regrets for not being able to attend your party. He’s much too busy pleading his case to Selebeth,” Eugenia snickered.
“Oh you are a sly one, and I love you for it,” Tikron said, then reached around Richard, kissed his mom, and hugged her tightly.
“I don’t get it,” Richard said. “Who is this Selebeth, and why did Mysdus want Tikron dead?”
“Selebeth is the first of our kind, the most powerful, and the one who holds ultimate power over all the covens. Now from what I understand, Mysdus has told Selebeth he had no true intention of hurting Tikron, that he only wanted to help remove the barriers holding Tikron back from finding love, but whether that’s true or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that Tikron found you, and with your willingness to give him your heart so freely, you are the one who really saved him. You broke the curse with your love for my son,” Eugenia continued. “So you see, you have got to let me do something for you. You name it and it’s yours. Anything.”
Richard considered her offer but had a difficult time. He had what he wanted—Tikron. Had this Mysdus gone through with his threat, or if Tikron hadn’t approached him, had they not met, not fallen in love…. Bile rose up in Richard’s throat; his heart pounded painfully. Tikron could have died! A world without him seemed unfathomable, too horrible to even consider. A swell of emotion balled up in Richard’s throat, and he struggled to swallow it down and get control of the sadness weighing on him. He reminded himself several times that Tikron was here, next to him, safe, and if Richard had anything to say about it, he always would be. They were okay. He swallowed hard and blew out a heavy breath. It’s okay. We’re okay. But….No, he wouldn’t dwell on it right now, but he would be talking to Tikron later. Tikron should have told him, and if their relationship was going to work, there could be no more secrets between them.
To Tikron he said, “You and I will discuss this later.” He then turned his attention back to Eugenia. “I don’t expect anything in return. Your son makes me happy beyond my wildest dreams . But….”
“But what?” Eugenia prompted.
“Well, from what I understand, I need a sponsor.”
“A sponsor?” Eugenia questioned.
“Yeah, someone who may have some influence within the coven.”
Eugenia’s eyes went wide. “You want to join?” She smiled and clapped. “Yay! I’d be happy to, and I have a feeling Mysdus will be wanting to make amends after he has his ass handed to him by Selebeth. I’m sure he’ll be delighted to have you a part of our coven as Tikron’s partner.”
“Thank you.” Richard turned and held Tikron’s gaze. “I love you and want to make you as happy as you’ve made me. I know one mortal lifetime isn’t enough to spend with you.”
“This is all I’ve ever wanted for my son. Someone to make him happy.” Eugenia sniffed, then patted the area beneath her eyes. “There is only one last requirement you’ll need to accomplish in order to join.”
“I got this,” Tikron announced. He dropped to his knees next to Richard’s chair and took Richard’s hands in his. “Remember Ry and I telling you the only way to be part of the coven was to be born into it or marry into it?”
Richard nodded vigorously. “I remember.”
“Good. I just wanted to make sure you’d been listening.” He started to go to his feet when his mom slapped him on the arm.
“That’s not nice. Now you get your butt back down there on your knee,” Eugenia demanded, but her gentle smile took the sting out of her words.
Tikron did as he was instructed and took Richard’s hands again. “Richard Beaumont, will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?”
“Yes!” Richard didn’t overthink it or worry about probabilities or calculations. He didn’t try to calculate success rates. He simply threw caution into the wind and knew Tikron would be there to catch him.