Page 71 of Lipstick and Leverage

The corner of his lips quirks up and he looks over my shoulder. “Princess Wylan! Do you plan to abandon this kingdom at first chance?”

I flush and follow his gaze, finding Wylan in the living room. He grins at Dagen’s words and holds his teacup up high. He seems to understand the depth of the question, even framed in such a silly way.

“Nigh, Princess Dagen. The tea is too good and the company too sweet,” he responds with a wink to me. “And the queen too beautiful.”

Dagen nods. “And you, Princess Felix?”

Felix’s eyes crinkle. “What he said.”

I turn back to Dagen. “And you, Princess Dagen?” I ask, looking up at him. “What about you?”

“It’s just business,” he shrugs. At my look, he grins. “And my business is to treat the queen and the princess as they should be treated.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “I’m not going anywhere, Ava. Now, let’s get out there and enjoy those finger sandwiches. John worked hard on them.”

“I come bearing cake, milady!” John announces as he comes through the front door. The unlocked front door. Something I never could have handled a week ago, even surrounded by some many people willing to keep us safe.

The puppy, now named Franklin, trots at his side, yipping happily. John’s bald head has a tiara taped on top of it so it doesn’t fall off. His smile is wide and sweet despite how large he is as he carries a white box in. The cake he delivers to the table is all pink sparkles and glitter. Every inch meant for Elsie.

Elsie looks happy. It’s the first time she’s ever been able to have a birthday party, and her new friends had all accepted the invitation. A pile of gifts sits in the corner, many of them from Dagen when he’d gone way too overboard. She looks over at me as I step into the living room, her eyes alight despite the hell we’ve been through.

I move deeper into the room and wrap my arms around her, hugging her tight before taking a seat at the large table Dagen had prepared for her tea party. Everyone else joins us, Wylan, Felix, and Dagen sitting as close to me as possible, touching me, loving me.

My heart is at this table. All of them.

“Time to sing happy birthday!” John says, lighting the candles.

I smile bright, as we start to sing together, as the words echo though the living room.

Happy. Happy. Happy.

“Make a wish, Els,” Wylan tells her.

She squeezes her eyes tight, smiles, and blows them out.

Happy. Happy. Happy.

We all clap and cheer, and it feels like home. It feels like everything I’ve ever wanted.

Perfect.

Safe.

And Free. . .