Page 66 of Marcus-stiltskin
Nolig sighs. “No, they do not.”
“They do,” insists the first woman. “Sirshe told us a man came to the Wild Hare with a baby that had appeared in the baby safe box. He then cared for it for weeks until the family returned for it.”
Nolig sighs. “That is not at all what happened, and even if it was, why are you leaving your children with a stranger?”
The second woman shakes her head. “He cared for the first of the pack. He’s obviously good with children.”
Nolig looks utterly bewildered. “That box isn’t a place for your babe while you sow your oats. It’s a place mothers can safely abandon their children.”
“Why would anyone ever do that?”
Nolig flinches, then lets out a long and slow breath as if she’s trying to calm herself. “Take your children and return home. No one may pawn their children off on the mortals without proper arrangements. This box isn’t for our kind.”
The women look taken aback, but say nothing to Nolig as they disappear obediently as one with the slightly terrifying potato babies.
She turns to Marcus and me. “My apologies. This won’t happen again. We already owe you a debt for caring for the youngest of the pack. But I will dare to ask for a trade, if you can bear it.
“That horse of yours is very clearly my new sister’s familiar. Would you allow me to bargain for it on her behalf?” Nolig nods over to Alyssa and Zane. They’re kicking a ball between themselves and Ramona, laughing and giggling like kids even as Zane holds the baby they created against his chest.
“They’re so young to have a child. They have a lot of work ahead of them,” Nolig says from behind us. “But the horse, it came to her when she was in labor and stayed by her side. It even tried to warn the wolves, but they’re a little daft when it comes to magic.”
“Don’t I know that,” I mutter and Nolig smiles.
I meet Marcus’s eyes, and he nods. “I won’t ask for any payment. I don’t think I could keep Ramona away, even if I tried. She is incredibly stubborn.”
Nolig nods. “No, you could not. But let me at least provide for your donkey friends.” She pulls out a coin from her skirt pocket and hands it to Marcus. “As long as you keep this in your possession, you’ll never want for hay.”
“Thank you,” Marcus says, carefully taking the coin from her hand.
Everyone moves to file out of the donkey’s pen and back through the bay and to the front. Back inside, Nolig stops at the baby box. She shuts the small door firmly, then runs a finger over the outer edges. The outline of the box disappears, blending into the wall until it’s impossible to tell that the box was ever there.
Zander lingers at her side, silent, with his eyes on the floor, until she finishes. Finally, his eyes meet mine and I stare back. He sucks in a big breath. “Hey, I know this is too little, too late, but I’m so sorry for everything. You really had our back so many times over the past few weeks. Hormones or not, you didn’t deserve any of the bullshit I put you through. I'm sorry it went down the way it did. Please know there will always be a place for you at the Wild Hare.”
I nod. “Thank you, but I’m not coming back.”
Nolig smiles. “Nor should you. You’ve got a lot ahead of you. Don’t let the universe hit you over the head with it so hard next time. Be more open to change. The Wild Hare was just a job. You’ve got lots of exciting things up ahead.”
“I hope so.”
We thank Deputy Moreau for her help, and at last the Lamar pack is gone. “If I never see another Lamar, it will be too soon,” I tell Marcus as he shuts the door behind them.
He laughs. “We live a little too close for it to be never.”
He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “This whole thing with Jada has really got me thinking…” he says as we walk up the stairs together.
“About what?”
“About us and the future.”
“What about the future?”
“I’m really starting to think that I’d like us to be a thing permanently.” He stops me at the top of the stairs and turns to face me. His eyes meet mine as he leans close.
I suck in a breath at the look in his eyes. “Permanently?”
“But I have a confession first that might change how you feel about it.”
My stomach drops. “Okay,” I say, swallowing hard. “Hit me with it.”