Mags’s mouth opens and closes, and I think she’s about to say no, but she splays her hands and offers another bump of her shoulders. “Of course, but what does—?”

Aiden cuts her off. “Thank you. If you need help dismantling anything, I’m happy to help.” Gently, he takes my hand and tugs me out of my seat. “We have a few things to prepare, but we’ll meet you at your trailer before the move.”

He doesn’t give them a chance to respond when he leads me out of the tent.

“Aiden, what—?”

He turns and pulls me into his arms. His mouth finds mine right there out in the open where everyone can see. I’m lightheaded when he finally pulls back.

“Bloom won’t be joining the carnival during the move,” he tells me quietly. “She will never come near you again.”

My heart claps in my chest at the implication of his words. “Is she—?”

He brushes his thumb over my lips. “What she is or isn’t doesn’t matter anymore. Stay away from the trailer.”

My breath hitches in my chest. “Aiden...”

His fingers catch my chin and tilts my face to his. “She was warned, little human. We will not allow anyone to disrespect you.”

I touch the hand on my face. Press the palm against my cheek. “I think part of me understands why she hated me so much. She hadn’t wanted me. She took me because you wanted me.”

“Always,” he murmurs with a skim of his lips over mine. “We will always want you, Sera.”

I suck in a breath and peer up into his beautiful eyes. “We have family out there somewhere who are probably looking for us.”

Aiden considers this a moment, or he’s talking to Warrick before he says, “Do you want to find them?”

I don’t know what I want. The last few days have been a whirlwind with everything happening so fast. I haven’t had a chance to adjust to anything. Now this? Do I want to find the people careless enough to forget their baby in a carnival? Would they even care? At the end of the day, I have Aiden and Warrick, and our little carnival family. The people who actually took care of me, who raised me.

“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly. “Would it make a difference?”

Aiden kisses my brow. “You can always change your mind whenever you want.”

“Do you?” I ask him. “Do you want to find your family? Others like you?”

“Maybe,” he says without even considering it. “It would be interesting. But I don’t really need anyone else in my life. I have you and Warrick, and some day, our kids. I’m content.”

I meet his lips when he bows his head for another kiss. It’s longer and filled with so many promises for the future it takes my breath away.

We may change our minds and find these elusive people from our past, but he’s right, we have each other. Nothing will ever beat that.

THE END