Page 24

J ulep absently sorted through herb jars. They needed labels with dates. It was inefficient to go through them and sniff to see if they were fresh. Besides that, the dust clogged up her nose and irritated her sinuses.

She had a pile of paper labels and a pot of paste. This was going to take a while, but it would give her time to think.

She had reached a decision about her marriage. It was time to commit.

Artur had been beyond patient. He was a good provider and he took good care of his family. She suspected he had a temper, but he never took it out on them.

For that matter, she had a temper, and was stubborn, too. Those weren't necessarily bad traits.

Artur didn't mind her quirks, and he supported her profession.

Most importantly, she liked him. They got along well, and as time went by, she discovered he was handsome, in the goblin way.

She wasn't sure when she’d started to see him as desirable. It was a feeling that had grown over time, and it was about much more than his looks.

Against all odds, they were a good match.

“Why the frown?” Artur looked over the jars on the dining table and smiled. Julep had a workspace, but his wife liked to spread her work out in social spaces. She liked to see the family moving around.

She didn't answer right away, so he waited. It worked much better with her than pushing.

Finally, she admitted, “I don't like...the portrait of me bothers me.”

He came to attention. “You don't like the reminder of the artist?” She hadn't taken Lily's identity well. She felt some sympathy for the girl, but she agreed they couldn't have a potential spy in the house. It bothered her that the family could be in danger, as it should.

“It's not that.” She struggled with it for a moment. “The picture makes me look pretty. It's not very accurate.”

He blinked. “I thought it was a very good likeness. She captured you well.” Whatever the girl's faults, Lily was talented.

Julep set a jar down with more force than necessary. Clearly, this was a sore subject. “I'm not pretty!”

“You're right. You aren't just pretty, you're stunning.”

She exhaled forcefully. “I wish you'd stop saying that.” She sounded weary.

Clearly, he’d found a sore spot, but he knew how to handle this. He touched her hair and smiled. “Your hair is thick and curly, and so glossy.”

She rolled her eyes, uncomfortable with his praise. “You're always saying these things. Gal is forever admiring me, and Lily seemed awed. I don't understand you.” By “you”, she meant goblins.

He raised his brows. “Sometimes, we need to see ourselves through others' eyes. People with common sense often see us better than we see ourselves.”

“That's the thing! I've heard my entire life that I’m not pretty. It was either said directly or implied. Now you're telling me to reject everything I've ever heard! I've accepted who I am.” She looked at him gravely. “I'm okay with it.”

Ah. They were upsetting what she believed was true.

She had come to terms with the world and her place in it, and they had upset the apple cart.

Now her apples were rolling all over the street and she didn't know which one to chase first. She could believe what she had been taught, or she could reject that and believe him. A dilemma. No wonder she was upset.

His face softened. “Then that must be true of humans . Goblins see things differently. To us, you are everything we admire.” He touched her cheek. “I love your freckles. They're sassy and fun, the last flick of paint that creates flowers or stars on canvas.”

He looked into her eyes. “Your brown eyes glow with gold lights, like a scattering of amber on velvet. So warm, I want to fall into them.” He looked at her mouth. “And those lips...shiny, like berries...” His voice trailed off as he kissed her.

Julep's arms slid around his neck. Mesmerized, she kissed him back. She'd been wondering what this would be like. Now she knew, and she melted. Why had she waited so long? What had she been afraid of?

Artur's hand slid into her hair. Finally...!

He scooped her up, and ran up the stairs.

??

Gal and Zac stared up the stairs and blinked when the door slammed shut.

Gal smiled. “Well, it's about time!”

Zac grunted. He was going to go to his room, but changed his mind. It was going to be noisy up there for a while.

Gal smirked. This called for a celebration! She went into the kitchen to order special treats for dinner.

Julep might not be able to have pretty babies, but she would be an excellent mother to the fosterlings. The family would be strong and powerful.

Not bad for a self-made family, Gal thought with a smile.