“That’s a good thing to invest in, though. You’ll make it work. Especially with Lotta. She’s not the sort to give up on you, for better or worse.”
A smile lit Auric’s face, warming Jericho’s heart. “Yeah, Lotta, she’s … well, she’s something special.”
A train whistled in the distance.
Auric cleared his throat. “You’ll take care of my sister for me?”
“Of course.”
The train pulled up. Auric kissed each of the twins in turn then gave Rill one last hug and Jaspyr one last pat on the ears. When he came to Jericho, he hesitated before wrapping him in a tight but awkward embrace.
“I’ll miss you all,” he then said.
“I love you, Aurry.” Rill hugged Lotta. “Watch after him, all right. He gets carried away sometimes, but he means well.”
“Yes, I’m getting used to that.” Lotta laughed. Buzzby gave a metallic hoot, prompting a condescending snort from Jaspyr.
Rill took Jericho’s hand while Lotta and Auric boarded the train and waved their final good-byes.
As the train pulled away, Jericho let out a long breath.
Rill rested her head on his shoulder. “You know, you could’ve told my brother you love him if you wanted to,” she whispered. “No one would think ill of that.”
Jericho shrugged. “I like to think he knows.” He slipped his arm around her waist and drew her closer. “He’ll do all right, off on his own with Lotta for a while. In the meantime, I plan to focus fully on you and the twins.” He kissed her forehead.
“Ah yes, the twins. Speaking of which.” She massaged her hands into his back. “I was thinking, I’d like to have another baby with you.”
He chuckled. “Really? Already?”
She nodded. “No point in wasting time.”
“I suppose we could talk about that in more detail tonight.” He kissed her cheek.
“I was actually thinking this afternoon, during their nap.” She leaned into him, making every muscle in his body turn to warm wax.
“That sounds like a very good way to spend an afternoon.” He glanced over his shoulder. Auric wouldn’t be gone long. He knew that somehow. Something about Spellsmith Manor would draw him back.
In the meantime, Jericho had a family to take care of and work to do … and it would be a very good life.
The End
ABOUT H. L. Burke
Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
For information about H. L. Burke’s latest novels, to sign up for the author’s monthly newsletter, or to contact the writer, go to
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Also by H. L. Burke
For Middle Grade Readers
Thaddeus Whiskers and the Dragon
Cora and the Nurse Dragon
An Ordinary Knight
Beggar Magic
The Nyssa Glass Steampunk Series:
Nyssa Glass and the Caper Crisis
Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors
Nyssa Glass and the Juliet Dilemma
Nyssa Glass and the Cutpurse Kid
Nyssa Glass’s Clockwork Christmas
Nyssa Glass and the Electric Heart
Coiled
The Elemental Realms Series
An Epic Fantasy Saga
Book One: Lands of Ash
Book Two: Call of the Waters
The Dragon and the Scholar Saga (1-4)
A Fantasy Romance Series
Dragon’s Curse
Dragon’s Debt
Dragon’s Rival
Dragon’s Bride
Spellsmith and Carver Series
Spellsmith & Carver: Magicians' Rivalry
Spellsmith & Carver: Magicians' Trial
Spellsmith & Carver: Magicians' Reckoning
Fellowship of Fantasy Anthologies
Fantastic Creatures
Hall of Heroes