Page 44 of Unbearable Attraction (Hollow Oak Mates #4)

"Any word from the Virginia pack?" he asked, setting a cup of chamomile tea beside her elbow as she sorted through the latest batch of requests.

"They've agreed to our terms for the spiritual mediation," she replied, one hand absently rubbing the small but noticeable curve of her belly. "Turns out having a mated pair handle territorial disputes makes everyone more comfortable about bias issues."

"How many requests this week?" he asked, settling into the chair beside her desk.

"Twelve. Three territorial disputes, two haunting resolutions, four protective ward installations, two historical research projects, and one very polite inquiry from the Pacific Northwest about whether we'd consider relocating permanently."

"And our answer to that last one?"

"The same as always." She leaned back in her chair, stretching muscles that were starting to protest longer work sessions. "Hollow Oak is home. We're not leaving."

Through their bond, Luka felt her contentment mixed with the mild discomfort that came with pregnancy's second trimester.

Their child was due in the fall, and every day brought new evidence of the magical inheritance they'd be dealing with.

Leenah's necromantic abilities had grown stronger and more stable, while his earth magic had developed new aspects he'd never experienced before.

"Speaking of home," he said, standing and offering her his hand, "I think someone wants to take a walk by the lake."

"Someone?"

"Our daughter. She gets restless when the sun starts setting, and I'm pretty sure she's inherited your need for evening constitutional."

"We don't know it's a daughter," Leenah protested, but she let him help her to her feet. "And we definitely don't know she's inherited my need for anything."

"Trust me, I know. She's got your magical signature and your stubborn streak." He placed his palm against her belly, feeling the flutter of movement that had become their evening ritual. "Plus, she always settles down when we walk past the cemetery."

"That could just be coincidence."

"Right. Our unborn child with necromantic potential calming down near spirits is totally coincidence."

The walk to Moonmirror Lake had become their favorite way to end each day, a chance to process the challenges they'd faced and plan for whatever came next. Tonight, with spring giving way to early summer and the protective mists shimmering across the water, Hollow Oak felt more like home than ever.

"Do you ever miss it?" Leenah asked as they settled on the bench Luka had built overlooking the lake. "The simple life, before we became the supernatural community's go-to crisis counselors?"

"No," he said without hesitation. "Simple was just another word for lonely. This is complicated, but it's ours."

Their reputation had grown beyond anything either had expected.

Communities throughout the Southeast sought their help resolving spiritual crises, territorial disputes, and the kind of magical emergencies that required both diplomatic skill and genuine power.

The combination of Luka's earth magic and protective instincts with Leenah's necromantic abilities and gift for communication had proven uniquely effective.

"Besides," he continued, watching the sunset paint the lake in shades of gold and amber, "our kid's going to grow up thinking this kind of life is normal. Magical consultations, spirit mediations, parents who can literally bridge worlds to solve problems."

"That's going to make for interesting school presentations," Leenah said with a laugh. "What did your parents do for career day? Oh, they helped resolve a centuries-old haunting in Tennessee last week."

Movement in Leenah's belly made them both pause, a flutter that carried distinctly magical resonance. Their daughter, reacting to the approaching sunset or the proximity to Moonmirror Lake's spiritual energy.

"She's strong," Luka observed, his hand covering Leenah's on her stomach. "I can feel her magical signature getting more defined every week."

"Think we can handle raising a child with both our gifts?"

"I think we can handle anything together," he replied, meaning every word.

"Besides, look around. She's going to have the entire town helping raise her.

Twyla's already planning birthday parties, Maeve's designing training protocols for when her shifter traits manifest, and Elder Varric keeps asking about educational considerations for magically gifted children. "

"And if she decides she wants nothing to do with magic? What if she inherits our abilities but chooses a completely ordinary life?"

"Then we support that choice," Luka said simply. "Same way this community supported us when we needed space to figure out who we were together."

The sun touched the horizon, sending ripples of reflected light across Moonmirror Lake's surface.

From their bench, they could see the lights beginning to glow in Hollow Oak's windows.

The Griddle & Grind, where Twyla was probably planning some elaborate celebration for their daughter's eventual arrival.

The Silver Fang Tavern, where Maeve would be holding court with her usual sharp-tongued wisdom.

The Book Nook, where Lucien and Moira were building their own life together.

"I love this place," Leenah said softly. "I love the life we've built here."

"Good thing, because I'm planning to keep you for the next several decades."

"Just several decades?"

"Forever," he corrected, pulling her closer as the first stars appeared overhead. "However long forever turns out to be for a mated pair who've learned that the best magic happens when you stop trying to do everything alone."

Their daughter shifted again, her presence a warm promise of the future they were building together. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new communities seeking their help, new adventures in balancing their growing family with their responsibilities as Hollow Oak's spiritual advocates.

But tonight, sitting by the lake that reflected a thousand stars and feeling their child's first magical stirrings, Luka marveled at how love had transformed two broken, lonely people into something neither could have achieved alone.

A family with the power to bridge worlds and heal ancient wounds, ready to face whatever came next.

"Ready to go home?" he asked as the night air grew cool.

"Always," Leenah replied, her hand warm in his as they walked back toward the cottage where Minerva waited and their future was just beginning.