Page 66 of Cocoa and Clauses

I chuckled. “Where is our other mate?”

As I spoke, Aleksi walked into the room carrying a tray with glasses of water and steaming mugs. He set it beside the bed and handed me a mug with a proud smile. The warm, rich taste of cocoa filled my mouth—along with cinnamon, cardamon, cloves, and ginger. Just like the first cup that had changed everything.

I took another sip and immediately started laughing.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I said, still grinning. “Thank you,” I murmured.

Aleksi’s arms tightened around me. “For the cocoa?”

“For everything. For seeing me, for fighting with me. All of you.”

“Best legal counsel I’ve ever had,” Kenai quipped into my neck.

Taimyr nuzzled his shoulder. “Best thing that ever happened to us.”

I took another sip, smiling against the rim of my mug. “Here’s to many more Christmas mornings—and many more cups of suspiciously good hot cocoa.”

“To home and herd,” Aleksi said.

“To us,” we echoed together.