Page 87 of All's Fair in Love and Magic

My mom was possibly the most social person I’d ever met, so I had to imagine she was ready to talk to someone other than Liam. My phoenix was great, but he wasn’t chatty.

“That would be perfect. Thanks, mom.”

She smiled. “Text me what you want.”

“Alright.” I gave her one last hug before she headed out.

When the bungalow’s door was shut behind her, I leaned against Liam’s chest and closed my eyes. “Are your ears still functioning?”

“Barely.”

I smiled.

He pulled me a little closer. “You weren’t kidding about witch stereotypes. She’s more different from my mom than I would’ve ever imagined.”

“She’d be happy talking and laughing all day every day,” I agreed. “She’ll keep making potions, but she’ll want to find a place to do it that’s really social here to keep her from going crazy without other witches around.”

“I can find her a spot to work near a restaurant or something.”

“That would be nice.”

Liam kissed my temple. “After watching that video… I think some of my fire must’ve stayed in your veins when heat ended. I’m so fucking glad you’re okay.”

“Me too. Would’ve been shitty to die right after claiming my mate.”

“Is that what happened when we sealed our bond, Clove?Youclaimedme?”

“Mmhm.” My lips curved upward at the rumble in his chest.

“Damn, I’m lucky.”

“Yep.” I closed my eyes. “You’re sure there are no other witches in the resort?”

“Positive. I torched too many of them. They’re probably regrouping.”

There was a good chance he was right.

“Do you know where my notebook is?” I checked.

Liam leaned over the table, picking up both my grimoire and the notebook on top of it that I’d been using for brainstorming.

I hadn’t noticed them there, but he’d obviously realized I was going to need them.

I’d have to come up with a hell of a lot more rune ideas now that mine was going to be the only magic protecting the resort, but I could handle it.

Probably.

Hopefully, at least.

And hey, even if I couldn’t handle it, I’d try to have fun with it.

“You can tear out the pages with information about my mom’s spells and start fresh,” Liam remarked, as I opened the grimoire and flipped through the first few pages.

“Are you kidding? I wasn’t joking about learning from the best. Her wards may as well have been legendary. I’m going to need the information from them to come up with decent protective magic of my own.”

“She was pretty incredible,” he admitted.

“I wish I had the chance to meet her.”