Reaper and Ruin (Saint View Murder Squad #3)

by Elle Thorpe

She snorted on her laughter. “We aren’t getting married by the pond so your duck friend can be your best man.”

A low grumble rolled through his chest, and I was pretty sure I heard him utter a deep, “Fuck” Geralt of Rivia style,

I nodded. X beamed. “Let’s go get our son. I’ve already named him Harold Nigel Meowington the Third. He’s a duke. His royal portrait is being painted in my head as we speak.” “Please tell me you’re imagining him in a powdered wig.” “Obviously. With a little waistcoat. And a monocle. Maybe a small sword.”

Harold’s eyes narrowed at X’s finger. He hissed. Violently. X recoiled. “Traitor!” I burst out laughing as Harold snuggled closer, curling his claws into my sweater like he owned me now. “He’s made his choice,” I said, rubbing my face on his head, then instantly regretting it because he smelled horrible up close. “I’m the one who paid your adoption fee!” X cried at the cat. Harold bared his teeth. X’s mouth dropped open. “You ungrateful geriatric gremlin!” Harold snapped his teeth in warning.

My heart cracked open wide. He was so ugly. And so mean. And I was already in love with him. “You’re coming home with me. We’re going to get you all the toys your black heart desires. And all the catnip. And you can sleep curled up in a ball at the end of my bed. X popped up from behind the desk, hair disheveled, and gave me a wounded look. “What about me? Where am I going to sleep when I stay at your place? I draw the line at sharing pillows with something that would eat my eyeballs if I stopped breathing for thirty seconds.” “You’re assuming he’d wait thirty seconds.” Harold meowed sweetly. “Great,” X muttered. “He’s plotting already.”

“I want to marry you, Violet. I want to grow old with you by my side. I want miniature versions of you running around with pigtails and little versions of me—” “Running around in leather jackets?” He snorted on a laugh. “I was going to say barefoot in the grass, fishing poles in hand, and the two of us following them, a dog yapping at our heels.” “I can offer you a stinky cat.” His shoulders shook with laughter. “You’re as bad as X, ruining the mood with jokes.” I got off the bike and stood beside him so I could see his face. “Are X and Whip in this vision too?” He nodded. “Whip is helping the boys tie knots in the line. X is probably still trying to get Harold to love him.”

“Holy shit,” X muttered. “Are we here to find Nyah or apply to be adopted? This place is massive.”

He leaned in, kissing the side of my neck. “You mad at me now?” “I’m not a teenager. I’m not going to hold a grudge because you don’t recognize great dancing when you see it.” Levi sniggered. “No? I figured if you were mad, then I would have to take you inside and blow you until you forgave me.” I raised an eyebrow. “I think I am mad, actually.”