Mary looked at Fergus. "Fergus, may I talk to Theo, just the two of us privately?"

"S-Sure, by all means. I also need to go to the inn to unpack my baggage." He stood up. "I want to speak with you first Theo. I don't think I will be able to catch you next morning, so it's better to say it now. It's important."

Theo glanced at Mary, who gave him a nod. "Of course."

Theo and Fergus moved to one side of the shop while Mary waited on the table. When they were sure Mary couldn't see or hear them, they stopped. Fergus looked down and scratched his head. "I...have to thank you." He said.

"You're welcome. Still, don't understand what you're thanking me for though."

"For allowing me to see Mary and speak to her. If I were in your position, I probably wouldn't let you get near Mary. Much less speak to her."

"Let me ask first. You won't let me see her because you're an asshole or because of your beast-kin instinct?"

"A bit of both."

"Let me get this straight Fergus. You are Mary's best friend. If you think I will cast you out of her life just because of our dispute in the past, you're wrong. You are part of her life....... And honestly, you're not a threat to me Fergus. You need to be like, a thousand times more handsome and a hundred times nicer to be a threat to me."

"Thanks, I guess?" His face turned serious. He grabbed Theo's arm and glared at him. "Also let me get this straight to you, Theo. I'm not like you. I won't resort to cheap and dirty tricks, and I won't steal someone else's mate. That is why I will stay here and protect her while you are away, but don't go for too long. Mary will be sad, and I can't replace you in her life. I'll kill you if you make her cry or suffer. I'll kill you even if Mary forgives you."

Theo could feel Fergus' claw starting to show up and dig into his skin. It stung a bit, but it would have hurt a lot more if Fergus meant it. Theo returned his glare with a cold, icy stare. "If you think I'm just playing with Mary, you're wrong Fergus. I love her. From the bottom of my heart." Theo grabbed Fergus' arm with the same arm that he held. "And I say to you the same thing. If you make her cry, if you make her suffer, or if you try to take her away from me. I'll kill you, Fergus. I'll kill you. Even if Mary forgives you."

"Good." They both let go of each other's arm.

They returned to Mary, without any hint of the intense killing intent and hostility that they emitted just a few moments before. Fergus then grabbed his bag from the table and walked towards the exit. "See you tomorrow Mary," Fergus said before he left the shop.

"See you tomorrow Fergus." She waved at him, and he waved back.

"Do I need to send Ed back home too?" Theo asked.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Yes please, if you can. Although the young lord seemed to enjoy my shop a little bit too much." She chuckled.

"I said it to him, and he didn't believe me that your shop is fantastic."

"Please tell him Theo, and while you do that, I'll go get my gift." Theo stood and approached Ed, who was still preoccupied with looking at books. He already had three in his bag, and he was still searching for more.

"Finish looking? The shop's about to close."

"Wait a minute."

"Ed, you can go here again tomorrow."

"Wait a minute."

"Ed."

"Wait a minute for god sake...." His eyes moved towards Theo. "Sorry. I get too absorbed when I find something new like this."

"You're going to buy those books?" Theo asked while pointing at the book Ed carried.

"Yes, all of them."

"Books are not cheap you know."

"What is my family name again, Theo?" They both laughed after Ed's question.

"30 silver each. Four so that's-"

"1 gold and twenty silver." Ed said as he handed Theo the exact amount.

"Right.... Come again every day Ed, Mary will be rich in just a month like this."

"You bet I will Theo, and I haven't even looked at Fergus' collection yet." Theo helped Ed pack his book in his bag. It was funny looking at Ed's small body carrying that many books. It was like sending children to school and watching as they walked toward the gate.

Mary returned from the second floor at the same times as Ed left the shop. She was holding something in her hand and was gripping it tightly as if she will never let it go. Her face was flushed red. Theo approached her and smiled. "Why are you so embarrassed?"

She pulled her hand near her face to hide it. "I just realize, that this is my first gift to you in our three years of relationship."

Theo hugged her. "I don't need any gift from you. Your love is a good enough gift for me."

Her face turned redder. "You're lying."

"No, I'm not. What is a better gift for me than the love of my number one girl?" He caressed her head.

"To how many girls do you say that?"

"Only you."

"Liar." She said while wiping the tears from her eyes with his shirt.

He grabbed her shoulder and made her stare at his eyes. "Look at my eyes. Do you see any lies in there?"

She smiled. "You always said that I can't see through your lies. What would make me able to do it now?"

"Because there is no lie in there." She hugged her again, tighter this time. "You are my number one girl, and you will always be. Even if the most beautiful woman or the richest woman or the most powerful woman in the world become my woman, none of them, none of them, can replace you. You are the only woman who almost made me settle down and forget my dream. You will be my first wife. I will not marry anyone before I marry you. That's my promise to you and my gift to you."

"And how can I be sure that you will keep your promise?"

"Because you will give me a gift that will always remind me. You're going to give me that necklace right. With our names carved on it. The necklace that you've been working on for the past month."

"H-How did you know?"

"I know Mary, I just know." He kissed her forehead and let her go from his embrace. She opened her palm and revealed a necklace that she was holding in her hand. She placed around Theo's neck, a perfect fit. It was a normal necklace with a silver pendant hanging from it, and on the back of the pendant, a carving of his and Mary's name."It's nice."

She wiped the tears from her eyes. "It's nothing. Nothing when you compared to what Tia usually give to you."

"Why are you comparing yourself to Tia? She didn't give me a roof to rest when I need one. She didn't cook me breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And most importantly, she didn't clean my bedroom." Theo answered Mary with a joke. "But if you still feel that you're inadequate. I have something to ask you."

"Anything for you."

"I want to sleep together. On your bed. No drinking, no drunk sex, no angry sex, no sad sex prior. Nothing before it. I want us both to lay down on the same bed with a tired smile on our face."

"Like husband and wife?"

"Like husband and wife."