He let go of her hands and pulled a battered black velvet box out of his jeans, and she gaped at him in disbelief.
“I know,” Marcus said with a grin. “I was kind of surprised, too, when my father slipped it into my pocket when he was hugging me good-bye. But it was his mother’s, and I guess he thought you should have it.”
The lid popped open to reveal a single luminous pearl, set in gold filigree. Beka thought it was the most perfect thing she’d ever seen.
One more tear danced down her face, melting the tightness around her heart as she felt her world filling up with unexpected joy.
“Beka?” Marcus said, sounding uncertain. “Is that a no?”
She plucked the ring out of its velvet bed and slid it onto her finger, where of course it fit as if it was made for her. Because everything about Marcus was made for her.
“That’s a hell yes,” she said, smiling. “And as long as you don’t mind being married to a witch who lives with a gigantic dragon-dog and is a little bit flaky, I suspect things will work out just fine.”
And she kissed him soundly, just because she could.