Jasmine’s black eyes immediately swirled with a dangerous light. “Do you regret—”
He stopped her with a long kiss on her mouth, and only when he felt her melting under him, he said, “Being father at twenty wasn’t in my plans, but I just discovered I want more like her.”
“How many?” She bit his lower lip.
“A lot. Our apartments are too big for just the three of us.”
“Our apartments?”
“Yes, you’ll love them. And the garden Camelia planted for you—”
“You often mentioned her in our conversations, but why would she plant a garden for me?”
Lupo kissed her again. “I’m done talking. Read my mind for the rest of the story.” He then looked at her in puzzlement. “Why haven’t you used your mindspeak trick once?”
“Because I wanted to be sure I was really talking to you. You lived in my mind for almost a year and a half, I needed to hear words spoken out loud.” She leaned in for the longest kiss yet.
“I know the feeling,” he said when he reemerged from her embrace. “My life ended when I was told you were dead…”
“I was between life and death for a while, but Caelum’s magik must be stronger than any other warlock I’ve ever heard of, because he was able to save both of us.” Jasmine grabbed the collar of his shirt to uncover the hollow of his throat, which she then proceeded to lick before playfully biting into it.
Lupo moaned, then remembered the baby was just a meter away and let out a low groan. “I’ll build a monument to him as soon as we are back to Rome.” He lowered his fangs to the shoulder he had uncovered, and grazed her skin. “But now I have something else in mind—”
A knock on the door elicited a string of colorful curses from his mouth. “What is it?”
“Quintilius has just arrived,” Ludwig announced from the other side of the door, his tone highly amused. “I haven’t told him anything yet.” His steps resonated away from the door when he said, “I’ll give you a few minutes—”
Lupo and Jasmine composed themselves the best they could, but they still looked disheveled and both of them thoroughly kissed. When in her attempt to look presentable Jasmine went to raise her headpiece, he stopped her hand with his. “Never again.”
He saw how she struggled with the idea, but he kissed her lips and whispered, “I hate that chiton.”
“You told me.” She burrowed in his hug.
Steps from outside startled them away from each other, and they laughed at their reaction. Lupo crouched by the couch where the baby was sleeping and took her in his arms, then went to the door before Quintilius could knock.
“Hi, grandpa.” He smiled at his father, rocking the baby before him.
Nostrils flaring, Quintilius’s eyes widened as his mouth slung open and his nose confirmed what his eyes saw and his ears had heard. He looked from Lupo to the baby, then to Jasmine, then back to the baby, in a similar manner of what Lupo had done first, and Ludwig had done next.
Spreading white light all over the hallways, the angel was a step behind, and had the most radiant smile on his face when he said, “Let’s go home.”
Epilogue
Seattle, December 24th 2015
Above the glass dome of the monumental greenhouse, the Space Needle framed the December night sky. Mist and light rain softened Seattle’s lights into an ethereal blue tinge. The entire Chihuly Glass Museum had been rented for Quintilius and Ludwig’s wedding, and family and friends had flown in from every corner of the world to participate in the event of the millennium. The joyous occasion had been postponed long enough, but the stars seemed to have finally aligned for the couple.
On the dais, the two husbands looked at each other, their hands united by a double garland of white orchids made by Camelia. Both men’s eyes were bright, and several sniffles could be heard from the stands.
Standing tall behind the couple, the High Priestess of the Moonwalkers intoned the Great Wolf Blessing song. Her rich soprano voice soared high as she pressed her palms over the two men’s heads.
“Maya Rachele Camelia, come here, right now,” Lupo whispered, trying not to disrupt the ceremony one more time. It so happened that he spoke the moment the song ended, and what he thought was a whisper was heard loud and clear from the front of the greenhouse to the last row.
At his side, Jasmine was too embarrassed to say or do anything.
Barely able to suppress a chuckle, both Quintilius and Ludwig turned to look at their granddaughter happily scampering on all fours on the polished marble floors, trying to reach them.
“Dadada dada!” Maya screamed at the top of her lungs that were surprisingly powerful for a girl that small. Despite her birthday party had been celebrated earlier in the afternoon, she acted like she wasn’t tired at all.
Lupo left his seat to grab his daughter before she could reach the marrying couple, but Ludwig smiled and raised his hand to stop him.
“Let her,” the angel said, and Quintilius nodded.
The priestess opened her arms, and nodded her consent with an imperceptible bow.
Lupo sat back, then saw what Maya had in her little fist and started cursing, but Jasmine elbowed him as the first syllable escaped his mouth. He made to move again, but Maya abruptly sat, then pushed up on her short legs and stood, then, both fists up, she took a step.
Her first step.
Jasmine grabbed Lupo’s arm, and he realized he was half-standing and sat back down.
Transfixed, Lupo watched as his daughter walked the four steps remaining to the dais, mumbling her strings of, “Dada dadada,” which in her language meant Ludwig and Quintilius.
Breaking contact with Quintilius’s hands, but careful not to damage the garland, Ludwig grabbed Maya and cradled her in the crook of his elbow, then resumed his former position.
The priestess’s lips turned up. “Blessed be the Union between Wolf and Angel, because Love is Pure.”
Maya seemed to listen for a moment, then she pushed her hand at Ludwig’s side. “Dada!” When Ludwig didn’t acknowledge her, she pushed again, this time more forcefully. “Dadada!”
Ludwig gave the priestess a shrug and a smile, then looked down at the brunette demanding his attention. “Yes, baby?”
Maya opened her hand and revealed the wedding bands she had stolen from her father’s pocket. Ludwig and Quintilius laughed, and the people in the front row joined them, while Lupo and Jasmine both whispered, “Sorry.”
The priestess reached her hand down to Maya’s, thanked the baby for her help, then showed the rest of the assembly what all the commotion was about. Laughs and a thunderous applause followed.
From the row behind, Raphael tapped on Lupo’s shoulder. “I got your baby’s first step on my phone.”
“Thank you, brother.” Lupo tapped his friend’s hand back, then focused his attention on the front again.
“Blessed be the Symbols of Eternal Love.” The priestess presented Quintilius and Ludwig with the platinum bands Lupo had gifted them.
With trembling hands, Ludwig slipped the ring on Quintilius’s finger, then whispered, “Under the Moon and the Stars, I’m yours. Forever.”
After blinking away a tear or two, Quintilius took Ludwig’s left hand in his, slipped the ring on the right finger, but choked on his vow twice, before he could repeat, “Under the Moon and the Stars, I’m yours. Forever.”
In the middle of such an emotional moment, Maya’s giggles and enthusiastic hand clapping broke the silence. “Ki ki!” she said, commanding her grandparents to kiss.
After a chaste brush of their lips, Ludwig and Quintilius bumped their foreheads and started laughing. This time, not even the priestess could maintain her aplomb. The entire greenhouse exploded a moment later.
When quiet was restored, the priestess intoned the first lyrics of an ancient Roman ballad, and above, the sky lit with fireworks that blossomed in aerial sculptures mirroring the glass ones in the museum.
Winding his arm over Jasm
ine’s shoulder, Lupo pulled her closer to his side, and whispered in her ear, “At least ten.”
Jasmine looked up in puzzlement, her big dark eyes reflecting the colored fireworks.
“Remember you asked me how many kids I wanted, a few months ago? I want at least ten,” he answered, then dropped a kiss on her temple. “I love you, my sweet panther.”
“As I love you, my crazy wolf.”
Dear Reader, if you liked this book, please consider writing a review. As an indie author, I rely solely on word of mouth to promote my stories. Just a few words from you will ensure my work is discovered by other readers.
Thank you very much,
Monica
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Acknowledgments
As usual, I must thank my kids and my dad for just being the wonderful people they are.
Claudia, because she is the beta reader any author dreams of.
Ava K. Michaels, for being an incredibly supportive author and friend.
Katie, Kory, and Angela from my critique group, for their keen eyes in catching typos and their insightful comments.
Lupo is way better thanks to you, magnificent ladies.
All my friends, who are always very supportive and don't complain when I disappear for days.
Roberto, because he is the true inspiration behind my heroes.
Bio
Monica La Porta landed in Seattle several years ago, where she lives with her family. Despite popular feelings about the Northwest weather, she finds the mist and the rain the perfect conditions to concoct new universes. When Monica isn’t writing or reading, she can be found painting on her digital tablet or sculpting. Whenever the sun shines, she comes out of her cave and treats her beloved beagle, Nero, to long walks into the Washington wild.
Monica La Porta’s blog: www.monicalaporta.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/monicalaportaauthor/
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Monica-La-Porta/e/B007DZFP8W/
Goodreads Author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5757332.Monica_La_Porta
Twitter: https://twitter.com/momilp
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