“Ten more seconds and I start Instagramming this,” Hope announced. “Come on, guys. I want to give Hugh my present.”
Ivy broke off, reluctantly. “Brace yourself, Hugh. She’s a terror with a hot glue gun and glitter.”
“Well, I didn’t have time to make anything this year, what with killer basilisks and nearly dying and then having to learn how to walk. Also, I’m very broke.” Hope bounced to her feet, clutching her new laptop possessively to her chest. “So instead I will give you the greatest gift of all.”
Hugh’s eyebrow rose. “Oh?”
“Time,” Hope said beatifically. “In particular, time without me. I’m gonna go to Betty’s for the rest of the morning. By my reckoning, that gives you four hours alone before Hugh’s parents arrive. I’m sure you’ll find something to do.”
Hugh chuckled, his arms tightening around Ivy’s waist. “I’m sure we will. You want a lift?”
“Nope,” Hope said, with deep satisfaction. “I’ll walk.”
With a cheery wave, she departed, a hopeful line of cats following her out. Ivy nestled against Hugh’s chest, sliding one finger teasingly between his shirt buttons.
“You didn’t come to bed until after I was asleep last night,” she murmured. “I hope you’re planning to make that up to me now.”
“Oh, I will.” He caught her wrist, stopping her from undoing the top button of his shirt. “I have another present for you.”
She pressed her hips against his, heat rising at the feel of his hard, ready shaft. “So I can tell.”
He snorted. “Not that. Something else.”
There wasn’t anything else Ivy wanted at the moment, but she released him. She didn’t want to spoil another surprise.
“So what did you get me?” she asked, stepping back.
His eyes gleamed. “A tattoo.”
Ivy blinked at him. “I’m pretty sure I would have noticed getting a tattoo.”
“It’s for you, not on you.” His mouth quirked. “And it’s been bloody difficult hiding it from you for the past two days, so allow me a dramatic reveal.”
Holding her gaze, he flicked open the top button of his shirt. Ivy’s breath caught as he slowly undid each one, revealing an enticing sliver of his torso. The snake tattooed in the center of his chest winked at her, its sinuous body drawing her eye down to the groove between his abs.
Hugh shrugged his shirt off his shoulders, and Ivy jerked her gaze back up. There were the familiar twining vines…but the design was no longer unbalanced.
She could barely make out the original dry, curled leaves on his right arm. Now they were hidden amidst a riot of new growth. His left arm too no longer had any bare vines remaining. Every inch of twining stem now sprouted intricate leaves.
But not just any leaves.
Ivy leaves.
Speechless, Ivy ran her finger over the fresh black ink. So that was where he’d been the day before yesterday. The new tattoos were already healed, indelibly part of his skin, thanks to his unicorn powers.
“No more keeping score?” she breathed.
He shook his head. “I don’t need to anymore.”
She kissed one of the three-pointed leaves, feeling his breath catch. “Because you’ll always be able to heal.”
He cupped the side of her face, his fingers sliding along the line of her jaw. His palm was warm against her cheek.
“No,” he said. “Because you healed me.”
>>>
A note from Zoe Chant