Page 51 of Summer L.A.W.

She rolled her eyes. “Fine. We lived. Great job, everyone. That’s the meeting.”

Lioness’s laughter echoed from the kitchen. “And I vote we commemorate it with pancakes the size of our egos!”

The sound of collective agreement followed.

In the library, Crystal stirred beneath a cashmere throw, the soft hum of the mansion’s magic wrapping around her like a heartbeat. She blinked against the light streaming through spotless windows. The mountain air smelled faintly of coffee and roses. She felt alive, peaceful, at home.

Mason sat beside her, bandaged hand resting on his knee. He looked tired, rumpled, and exactly right.

“You shouldn’t have come,” she murmured, voice rough from sleep.

He smiled faintly. “And miss the apocalypse? Not a chance.”

She tilted her head, studying him. “You’re impossible.”

“Ex-Navy,” he said. “We specialize in bad decisions.”

A soft laugh escaped her. “Planning another one?”

He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Thinking of relocating.”

She arched a brow. “Where to?”

He glanced toward the window, where sunlight spilled over the ocean. “Long Island.”

“Can you afford it?”

“No, but if my buddy Raoul can figure out a way, I’m sure I can come up with something. Maybe I can live in a converted watersport shack and start a dive shop business in town.”

Their kiss was slow and deliberate. It was the kind that said we made it… together, without needing words.

Lioness’s voice broke the spell from the doorway. “If you two are done recharging your batteries, breakfast is ready. Try not to water down the coffee with brine this time.”

Rayna called from down the hall, “Or electrocute anyone with the toaster!”

Mason chuckled against Crystal’s temple. “Normal, huh?”

She smiled, fingers twining with his. “Close enough.”

The mansion gave a contented sigh. Lights flickered once in acknowledgment. Outside, the horizon shimmered gold as the entire structure lifted in a wash of light. The world blinked, and when it settled again, the League of Amazing Witches’ home stood on the bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, pristine and radiant against the morning sky.

Through the wide library windows, the sea gleamed calm and distant, pretending innocence.

Mason leaned back, taking in the view with a wry smile. “Yeah,” he murmured. “I could get used to this neighborhood.”

“I don’t know,” Crystal said as they strolled into the kitchen, hand in hand. “The neighbors can be noisy.”

“Anything the ocean can’t drown out?”

Her silver-winged familiar screeched.

Crystal laughed. “I was talking about the ocean.”

“That noise is like music to me,” he said, as he pulled out a stool for her at the giant kitchen island.

“Yeah. I love it too.” She seated herself and waited for him to take the stool next to her.

He cleared his throat. “Is it too soon to say, I love you? Or too late?”