T ony’s twin shouted so loudly, even Elle heard her words. Trinity muttered, “Uh oh,” but she was smirking. Maybe it was a twin thing.

He slumped back down in his chair. “Yes, I’m an asshole, but you wanna tell me what I did this time?”

Elle couldn’t hear Tabitha’s response, but Tony smiled after a few seconds. She left him to his conversation and went upstairs to brush her teeth. After taking care of that, she returned to the kitchen, but Tony wasn’t there.

Trinity pointed to the back door. “He went outside so he could gush about you in private.”

“Gush?” Elle didn’t know that word.

“Telling his sister how amazing he finds you. That man is a smitten kitten.”

“Oh.” Elle knew her ears were turning pink, but it was nice to know he wasn’t hiding her from his twin.

The back door opened, and Tony waltzed inside, a big smile on his face. “Ready?”

“Elle, do you want to borrow one of my coats? The car will be warm, but walking around as we shop will be cold.”

“Yes, please.” While waiting on Trinity to go upstairs, Elle focused on her mate. “How was your phone call?”

“It was good. Tabby was mad that I didn’t call her immediately when I knew you were my mate.

She and I share a bond where we can feel each other’s emotions, and I didn’t lock the bond down, so she experienced everything I did.

Well, not the sex because that would be weird, but she knew I was super excited about something.

When I didn’t respond to her text, she called Carleigh who told her you were my mate.

If she weren’t on an assignment, she would be on the next plane to Norway.

” Trinity bound down the steps with an extra parka in her hand.

She tried handing it to Elle, but Tony took it and helped her slide her arms into the sleeves.

“She’s happy for us and can’t wait to meet you. ”

“I bet you’ll get a call from Tessa next,” Trinity said.

“I have no doubt. Once we’re back in the States, that’ll be our first stop so they can meet Elle properly.”

Once they were in the garage, Trinity slid into the backseat of the vehicle, which she had already started at some point.

Anthony helped Elle in, then he strode around the hood.

It was nice and toasty inside. Trinity gave Anthony directions when they were away from the property.

Elle was excited about getting new clothes.

She didn’t plan on getting many because she didn’t want Tony to think she was using him for his money.

Then again, he’d told her that everything he had was now hers.

She couldn’t wait until this sigil problem was solved so they could get back to Georgia and she could see where she would be living.

Tony had shown her photos of the house, and Elle couldn’t believe that would be her home after living in such small places for the last fourteen years.

Trinity took them to a shopping district that had a little bit of everything.

Most of the clothes were for cold weather, but Georgia wasn’t nearly as cold as Norway, so Elle opted for a couple of pretty sweaters, some jeans, and a new pair of boots made from the softest leather she’d ever felt.

When they passed by a jewelry store, Tony tugged Elle’s hand. “Let’s stop in here.”

Trinity hitched her purse strap higher on her shoulder. “I’m going to wait outside.”

Elle didn’t understand until Tony explained, “She’s giving us privacy.”

“For what, exactly?”

“I’m not sure how much you know of human customs,” he said, keeping his voice low.

“It’s tradition to buy rings when you intend to spend your life with someone.

Even though we are mated, I want to give you a symbol of my intentions.

” Elle didn’t know what to say, so she nodded.

It didn’t take long for Tony to find the ring he wanted her to wear.

He chose a stunning diamond ring with a platinum band and sapphires in the shape of leaves along either side of the center stone.

They had her size, and once he placed it on her finger, she knew she’d never take it off.

Elle held her hand out in front of her, the diamond twinkling. “It’s too much.”

“It’s not enough, Sweetheart. You deserve everything your heart desires whether that’s new clothes, a diamond ring, a fancy car, a house on a hill... If you want it, I’ll move heaven and earth to give it to you.”

Elle placed her hands on his cheeks. “All those things sound amazing, Tony, but what I want more than anything is to be loved.”

In the middle of a busy store, Tony leaned down, angling his head for the perfect fit, and kissed her. Somehow, she could feel his affection for her through their bond, and she knew she would be loved. He might not feel that strongly yet, but it was close.

They joined Trinity on the sidewalk, and after she oohed and aahed over the ring, they found a restaurant for lunch where they tried f?rik?l , a lamb stew with cabbage and potatoes, and j?ttkaker , which were meatballs smothered in gravy.

Elle wasn’t picky when it came to food, and trying new dishes was a treat.

Walking hand-in-hand with her mate and new friend was something she never imagined for herself.

Elle often prayed to the goddess to help her, but this time, she sent a message of gratitude.

Then again, knowing that same goddess refused to send help to remove the sigil had Elle thinking it might be Tony’s gods who were to thank for her blessings.

When they got back to the house, Trinity dropped them off, then drove to her uncles’ house to give them some privacy.

Tony carried Elle’s packages to the laundry room, and after taking the tags off everything, she put the clothes in the washer.

He then led Elle upstairs to the room they were sharing, and Elle fell backward onto the bed.

Tony removed Elle’s boots before doing the same to his own, then stretched out beside her. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a nap.”

Elle curled up against his side, resting her cheek on his shoulder and her hand on his chest. “Liar. Gargoyles don’t need sleep.”

He scoffed, splaying his free hand above hers. “You wound me, woman. I love a good siesta.”

“Is siesta another word for sex?” she asked seriously.

Tony tapped her nose. “It’s a Spanish word that means nap. I’m pretty sure it has an origin story, but basically it’s the same thing. At least I think it is.”

“If we siesta now, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

“Yeah?”

Elle slid her hand under Tony’s tee, scratching her nails gently down his chest. “I know something we could do to pass the time while my clothes wash.” She pushed his shirt up and kissed his stomach.

“I like where this is going,” he husked.

Reaching behind his head, he dragged his shirt up and off, tossing it on the floor.

Elle rose and straddled his lap, admiring the view.

Tony removed the band from her hair, tossing it onto the nightstand, and threaded his fingers through her long tresses. “Do you ever cut your hair?”

“I do because if I didn’t, it would grow past my butt, and sitting on it isn’t fun.

When I was taken to live with Grevolus, he made me glamour the blonde so that I fit in with him and his family.

The Und?nthú have dark hair. He caught me without the glamour and beat me so badly I couldn’t get out of bed for days.

When I could finally walk, I chopped it all off.

He never knew that because of the glamour, but it also served another purpose.

The dark fae weren’t given as much gold from their queen, and they didn’t have access to the better things in life like good shampoo.

We were made to wash our hair with the same soap we bathed with.

That was hell on my hair, so having it short was easier. ”

“When did you let it grow back out?”

“After I began stealing money from the bank. I always kept enough from the takings to buy groceries and toiletries. Since I could afford shampoo and conditioner, I stopped cutting it.”

“He didn’t berate you for keeping some of the cash?”

“No. I told him I kept enough for food, and since he was getting better meals than he’d ever eaten, he didn’t complain.

What he didn’t know was exactly how much I was keeping.

He always thought I took the same amount from the bank each time, but it varied by a few thousand dollars.

Once I was home, I would wait until he went to town to find a female, then I would take the extra money out into the woods and bury it.

I don’t know why I did it. It wasn’t as if I would ever be able to get away from him. ”

“Until now.”

“True, but for how long? When I don’t show up Tuesday...”

“We’ll cross that bridge then, Sweetheart.”

“Let’s talk about something else. In fact, let’s not talk at all.

” Elle removed her shirt, leaving no doubt as to her intentions.

For the next hour, Tony cherished her body with his hands, mouth, and cock, leaving Elle boneless.

He carried her to the bathroom where they showered together, then they dressed and made their way downstairs.

Elle swapped her new clothes from the washer to the dryer, then went to the kitchen to see what was available to cook for supper, only to find it filled with people.

Or Gargoyles. Were they still considered people if they were shifters?

Elle thought back to making love with Tony.

How loud had she been? Knowing the Goyles had exceptional hearing, she blushed, but no one looked at her funny.

Supper was a lively affair with everyone asking her questions about being fae and how they lived on Evyndral. “I’m surprised Yari hasn’t told you all of this,” Elle said to Skylar, one of Banyan and Urijah’s human kids.

It was Brent who answered. “She has spoken about growing up in Summerland and training with Thran, but your sister is a guardian, so she prefers to talk about life at the castle.”