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“B-But how? How could it be him?”

Rowan wanted to shrug.

Love. While she had it in spades for her family and friends, she’d never been able to say that she’d fallen into it. Never been willing to make a fool of herself for the prospect of forever. She hadn’t had time.

Between hiding her true self from the world and satisfying her desire to surpass each limit she reached with magic, then being a good daughter, sister and friend, she had been hurtling from task to task for so long that falling in love had fallen off her radar.

But now she had an opportunity.

Her inner succubus wouldn’t allow for her horns, wings, and tail to be hidden. She didn’t need to make herself smaller toavoid recruiting attempts from the Coven. She would have to be careful of how much she showed in public, but during private jobs, she could finally unleash her full potential. It was startling to realize how much hope it filled her with.

“Miss Harper. You have choices, and I can give you referrals to many who can assist you whichever way you choose.”

The phoenix laid her hands over the belly that had yet to even show the slightest hint of pregnancy.

“This is really happening.”

“Yes.” Rowan glanced at the clock and steeled herself for Kin’s plan. “By any chance is your leprechaun Mick McCormick?”

Tension rolled into the phoenix’s shoulder. Her red wings quivered.

“He’s due here in about fifteen minutes. Mr. Smith wanted to provide you the option of you two speaking with himself as a mediator. If that’s something you want to pursue, I can facilitate in his place.”

Rheya took a deep breath.

“If you’re not ready, I can sneak you out the back.”

Rheya shook her head with vehemence, “No, I’m ready. Let’s do it.”

XOXOXOXOXOXO

“And you’re sure it worked out?” Kin was finishing buttoning his shirt as Rowan and Louisa filled him in on the drama of the leprechaun and the phoenix.

As soon as Rheya and Mick caught sight of each other, it was instant tears for the leprechaun and an undeniable sense of relief for the phoenix.

The couple dismissed Rowan and Louisa within seconds. Though they hadn’t been able to hear the conversation, through the wall that connected Louisa’s office to Rowan’s, the two had left hand in hand through the front door.

“Rheya took Miasma’s number with her and they were both smiling in the end.” Rowan shrugged as she handed over a blood red tie from her place behind his desk. “I can’t believe this is the first time you’ve had to use your backup office outfit.”

Kin’s scowl should’ve been a warning Rowan heeded, “You two were lucky I didn’t shred your throats out. I’ve told you to take me out the moment I lost control.”

“We took you out of consciousness.” Rowan shrugged. “Kind of the same thing.”

“It is not the same thing!” He snapped. His eyes flashing red.

Rowan narrowed her eyes. “If you would like for me to finish the job now, I can do that.”

His hands slammed on the desk between them, white fur dancing along his face. “You both could’ve died because you can’t make the hard decisions, Dahl.”

“It wasn’t hard. It was wrong.” Rowan was careful not to make even the slightest movement of domination. But the reason Kin had risked his lucrative career to join her and Louisa in their start-up year was because of her ability to chain his beast with her own control.

She could feel Louisa’s anxiety rise from her seat on the soft maroon corduroy couch in front of the only fireplace in the building, threatening the very fragile balance of their interaction.

“It was what we agreed to.”

“Before I could exert my full power. We are in different waters now, Kin. I can protect us. Will you continue to trust me, or not?”

A hiss left the back of his throat, but eventually his head dropped and Rowan shared Louisa’s sense of relief.