The Only Purple House in Town (Fix-It Witches, #4)(96)
While Eli had thought the others were joking about the supposed infatuation, Rowan did seem to be crushing on one or both of Iris’s folks. “So about that visit to the Otherworld…” they mumbled.
“Soon,” Rain promised.
“I understand it’s a holiday,” Fen added. “We brought a gift. I don’t know if it’s appropriate for the occasion.”
With evident delight, Iris took the delicate basket that appeared to be woven from living flowers. What she withdrew was the most delicate hair ornament Eli had ever seen, and it caught the light, liberally embellished with flecks of gemstone.
Iris held it up, beaming. “It’s gorgeous. I love it!”
“Sally was telling us that you make personal adornments,” Rain said then.
“I would love to see your work.” Fen moved as if to head to Iris’s studio, but Rain put out a hand to stop them.
“First, we should greet Iris’s special someone. Did I put that correctly?” Rain asked Mira, who nodded.
Liz was eerily silent. Eerie because if you knew Liz, she just didn’t sit on the sidelines. Yet she gazed at these two beings with admiration and astonishment that verged on the religious. She opened her mouth once, but no words came out.
Mira laughed softly. “I know, right? Just wait until we tell our supervisors that we need vacation time to visit the Otherworld.”
Liz bounced back quickly, though. “I’m my own boss, so I can pack whenever. Just let me know.”
When Fen turned their full attention to Eli, it felt like their gaze would flay the skin from his bones, as if his every dark thought and insecurity was exposed for their inspection. His knees trembled slightly, but he didn’t retreat. Instead, he focused on his love for Iris, and the intensity of that scrutiny abated.
“He loves her,” Fen said to Rain without asking a single question.
“Enough?” Rain asked.
“Enough,” Fen confirmed.
Without warning, they embraced Eli on either side and pressed burning-hot kisses to each of his cheeks. Then Rain said, “That is our blessing. It will bring you great luck, prosperity beyond all mortal reckoning. But should you hurt our scion, should you cause our precious blossom even a moment’s unease, that boon will turn to poison on your skin, and you will perish in an agony unknown to modern medicine.”
Even Henry Dale looked impressed by that calmly spoken promise. “Now that’s how a parent should behave,” he said.
Iris sighed. “That’s a bit over the top. You could’ve just asked him to be good to me.”
Rain flicked a strand of silky hair over one shoulder. “But that’s no incentive. You know that the fae cannot lie. I’ve said nothing untrue.”
“So I’m really blessed. Or cursed?” Eli asked, fighting the urge to scratch his face.
“There is nothing to fear if your heart is pure,” Fen said in a jovial tone. “Who wants to sample some fae wine?”
The party got a bit wild after that. Rain produced a strange flute and played a tune so haunting that squirrels and raccoons came up on the porch and scratched to get inside. That amused the shit out of Eli because he truly had fallen in love with a woman who was like a damn Disney princess. Susan must be so pissed after putting her perfect house up for sale and all. But her petty disfavor didn’t matter, not when he had everything right here. Happiness to infinity and beyond.
During a quiet moment, Iris slipped away, towing Eli to the kitchen for a private word. “I’m so sorry about the weirdness and the cursed kisses. Rain and Fen can be so extra. I’ll see what I can—”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take that double-edged sword because I’ll never hurt you. I don’t know what life has in store for us, but with you at the center of my world, I know it’ll be beautiful. Magical, even. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Me either,” she said in a tender tone. “You’re everything. Thank you for finding me.”
“Thank you for waiting. Somebody else might’ve swept you off your feet while I was getting my courage up.”
She shook her head. “Never. We’re meant to be, you and I.”
“Along with everyone we met, the family we found here.”
“Violet Gables is pretty great,” she said, smiling.
Eli followed her back to the party because he’d meant it when he said she was the center of his life. While he might fly off in different directions, she was the heart of him, a glorious fae queen who ruled all she surveyed with a lovely, chaotic flair.
Iris, don’t worry about your last name anymore. One day, you can have mine if you want it. Or anything else your heart desires.
Together, here or in the Otherworld, they’d make everyone’s dreams come true.
EPILOGUE
CHRISTMAS
Violet gables was full to the brim.
When Iris had set out to have a holiday party and invited everyone, she hadn’t imagined that they would all come. But the old Victorian house was full of candles and pine boughs and visitors in every room. Ethel’s whole coven was here along with the usual residents of the house, plus Liz, who had made the move to St. Claire just a week ago.
Hazel was here—without her cat—and Sally had agreed that Howard could come as Hazel’s date. Really, Howard and Sally were learning how to be friends who had divorced instead of a former couple who disliked each other. Bruce and Mitch came because Sally was here, and Kim would be stopping by later with Megan. Iris made the rounds, chatting with small groups of people, unable to believe this was her life.