A/N: I don't own Anton, Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Fletcher, Caelan, Saracen, Erskine or the Dead Men. Thanks for all the faves and follows as well!
Although it felt odd setting out food for Mr. Weems, Anton assured me so long as it was a bit of leftovers or cooked for him and served in a crystal bowl reserved for him this let the mage-turned-cat keep his rather considerable dignity. He had panic attacks in the dark and forgot his magic sometimes or he would have escaped the room easily. I was the guardian of the key so he would always be protected.
Mr. Weems had the run of the hotel, and Anton looked at me hesitantly as he continued. "That means your room too, I'm afraid. True, he is still a man and mage, but he's also a cat now and he likes company. He clearly is smitten with you, Valkyrie." Anton noted as I set out Mr. Weems food and water and scratched behind his ears. Luckily to keep his dignity the man, well cat, didn't require a litter box.
"I already love him, Anton. He's adorable." I said and Anton looked amused. "You're welcome in my room anytime you like, Mr. Weems. What we need to do is get you one of those contraptions that helps people read books." Mr. Weems turned and looked at me in utter adoration. "It turns the pages for them when they can't." I said gently and he purred loudly.
Anton smiled. "That's very thoughtful of you, Valkyrie. As you've guessed the room you worked in is actually reserved for Mr. Weems and kept locked at all times, when he's here we leave a light on for him. Actually, I don't see why I don't do it all the time. It isn't like we have utility bills, is it? Then henceforward you shall always have light, Mr. Weems." Mr. Weems looked a little embarrassed and I hunkered down next to him.
"It's OK, Mr. Weems, really." I assured him as I stroked his silky black fur. "I get panic attacks in tight spaces add dark to that and I'm even worse. Your in good company." I swore he smiled at me in reply.
Anton explained after as we sat in front of the fire with coffee that certain guests didn't pay. Mr. Weems had no money but he had a way of communicating with Anton and helped in other ways when he could. He was currently off exploring the hotel and greeting guests. I looked at Anton. "Is he safe? I mean if his door has to be locked to protect him-"
"He knows by instinct who to trust and who to avoid, besides, Valkyrie, he's still got his magic. People think it is cute when he rears up and waves his paws at them until he sets them on fire." He said fondly. "It is a last resort anyhow. Have you ever tried to pick up an angry cat?" He asked, looking amused.
"I'll take your word for it. I can see why you love the hotel, Anton. It is certainly never boring." I said and he smiled, pleased.
"No, but it was lonely without you. I'm so glad you're here, Valkyrie. I love you so much. When your ready I- I-" His hand touched his pocket and I realized with a pang he'd been carrying my engagement ring for years, waiting for the day I'd remember him. Tears filled my eyes.
"I'm ready now." I said softly and he pulled out the ring and put it on my finger with hands that trembled slightly. I looked at it in awe. A silver band set with a fair size pear-shaped emerald, surrounded by diamonds. Anton laughed gently at my pleased shock.
"You did that the first time as well, Valkyrie. I only wanted the best for you. I picked an emerald because it suits you. It is also said to symbolize hope and love. And bring us closer together so long as my intent is pure as I assure you it is. I love you, Valkyrie Cain, and I want you for my wife." I had no words to answer, I could only draw Anton into a lingering kiss wondering how on Earth a man who knew about Fletcher and Caelan would ever trust me this much.
Anton's arms wrapped around me, his hands roaming tentatively while he deepened the kiss. I encouraged him, stroking his face, capturing his long hair gently before wrapping my arms around his neck. I knew he wanted to take things further but I didn't protest when he pulled back. "I love you, Valkyrie Cain. You have no idea how happy I am that you've chosen me. Now I'm afraid I must be a proper gentleman and escort you to your room. I'll come by in the morning and take you out to breakfast if you like."
"I'd love that. I love you, Anton." I said as he helped me rise and escorted me dutifully to my room. I gave him a chaste kiss before entering. "I'll see you in the morning." I said before reluctantly closing the door. I went over to my bed and laid down with a happy sigh as I admired my ring. I also knew emeralds were said to help a lover stay faithful and I appreciated Anton's wisdom.
I'd never willingly hurt him, but we both knew there would always be temptations for both of us. I made a few calls and when we'd be back in Ireland there would be a reading device for Mr. Weems and I'd need to go to the mansion for a suitable gift for Anton. I drifted off to sleep, wondering what I could possibly give to him to equal the ring.
Anton was happy to get out of the hotel for breakfast it seemed and told me to go ask Mr. Weems to deal with any guests should they come in. I found the black cat sitting regally on the hotel guest book. "Uh, Anton would appreciate it if you checked in any guests when they arrived." I said and he blinked slowly.
"All right." It was a sort of purring voice, warm and friendly but I heard it in my head and the soft laughter that followed it. "The man who constructed the spell that made me a cat wasn't a total monster, Miss Cain. I became a gifted telepath as well. Thank you for rescuing me last night and for breakfast this morning. I appreciate that you didn't expect to have to care for me when you came here." He said gently, walking to the edge of the desk to give me an affectionate head butt. It was like being hit with a truck.
"Can I hug you? I know you're still a man, but I can't help it, you're adorable." I said, blushing.
"Hugs from beautiful women who are kind to me are always welcome, and thank you for calling me a man, I appreciate that." He said as I cuddled him into me. I set him down as Anton walked up to the desk.
"He gets more affection from women than Saracen and Erskine put together, it simply isn't fair." He teased us both. I blushed and he laughed, but so did Mr. Weems, the happy sound echoing in my mind as Anton escorted me outside to the car.
I looked at him once we were underway. "You said I hadn't seen all the hotel. But didn't you used to have cars parked places?" He nodded with a grimace.
"Until five cars in a row got burnt out by larger louts out for a good time and with nothing better to do. They had to be mages, Valkyrie. Mortals wouldn't even have seen the cars."
"Yes, I know." I said dryly. Anton didn't hate mortals but he did dislike them for being frightened of mages. That and he just disliked a lot of people in general, and he loved nothing more than being sarcastic with them, or glaring. Or both. It was hard to believe that in general he was a warm and friendly man, very tender with his friends when they needed it most.
Anton flicked his gaze off the road to look at me. "You make me sound hostile towards them, Valkyrie. I don't have any problem with mortals. Except that they are mortal." I looked at him and laughed. I knew he was joking, or at least hoped he was. That was another thing that put people off, Anton had a very dry sense of humour and he would deadpan things that devastated people. A lot of mages he'd insulted centuries ago still wouldn't speak to him.
"And you hate most mages because the are mages. You're a strange man, Anton."
"No, I'm democratic, I hate everyone equally." He teased, making me laugh.
"Yeah, I knew how heartless you were when you went to Mr. Weems's rescue. I'm happy he's staying for a while, by the way. He's very sweet. It feels wrong to pick him up and cuddle him, but I blame his being baby-sized on that. And cute, he's very cute."
"He has the same effect on men. I've seen cold-blooded assassins dangle bits of string for him. Pitiful."
Breakfast was wonderful, Anton making sure he was as charming as possible. I didn't mind our banter but it was nice when he was sweet too. The day was hectic with unplanned checkouts and so many things to do at the hotel that I barely had time to get to prepping dinner, a nice thick steak I intended to make kabobs out of.
I was dicing the meat when two arms wrapped around me. Arms with fingernails more like claws. I was nuzzled, then Anton's Gist drew back long enough to look at me pleadingly. I sighed and fed him most of the steak, minding his razor-sharp teeth as his black eyes gazed at me soulfully. Feeding the Gist raw meat was the only way we'd found to bypass Anton being drained by his Gist and I was rewarded with an appreciative murmur and a lingering kiss before the Gist retreated willingly. Anton opened his eyes and smiled at me.
"We shouldn't be feeding a Gist raw meat, should we?" I asked and he grinned.
"He shouldn't be in love with you, or able to eat. I swear he evolved just to please you. He's everything that is evil in me, Valkyrie. You know that. All my hate and rage, but you seem to bring out the good in him and I have no explanation for that."
I nodded, fed the last of the steak to Mr. Weems and smiled. "Frozen pizza for dinner then?"
"You read my mind. We'll be in Ireland soon and picking up some rather obnoxious guests. I have to warn you, Valkyrie. They're hideously ugly and stupid as well. We may have to hide sharp objects so they don't hurt themselves." He grinned at me teasingly and it took me a few seconds to figure it out.
"The Dead Men are coming? Really?" I asked, running to catch him in an excited hug.
"Yes, really. Why do you think there is a mass exodus going on? So a small pizza will be perfect. You know your brothers, they'll arrive with more take away than even they can eat." He said fondly, stroking my hair while he cuddled me into him. "And yes, since they are all coming, I know something is up. They won't tell me what, of course, but it has to be something big. They're staying indefinitely."
"That makes us sound like a troop transport."
"That's what I was thinking and if is tied up with the Sanctuary I'm tempted to refuse. But I'll reserve judgment until they arrive. They've missed you, you know. Skulduggery most of all. he's been whining at me every time he calls. You spoiled him, Valkyrie. He half expects you to take off on a case with him."
"I know. And I thought about that before I agreed to marry you, trust me. I love him dearly as a friend but I can't just stand by him forever and not grow up. The man has Peter Pan syndrome, that's his problem, only he applies it to me, so maybe it is more like him wishing it on me." I grumbled.
"You're his playmate, be gentle with him. Other than the Dead Men he has few close friends. I don't even mind if you two go off on cases, I've been meaning to tell you that. Obviously not all the time, but every once in a while it would do us both good. I don't intend to hold you prisoner here, Valkyrie. And you're far too young to retire. We know we're in love, so I trust you to return home to me afterwards." Anton said, pulling me into a lingering kiss.
I smiled at him as we parted. "You're an amazing man, Anton Shudder. You don't get jealous, you're not possessive. You trust me to leave and return to you. You've never tried to own me or boss me around. I need that in a man but I don't have to tell you that, do I? I love you so much." I said, drawing him into another kiss.
I was thrilled beyond words that my brothers would be arriving soon. I loved all the Dead Men dearly and it would be good to see them again. But we both knew they never gathered for reunions. If they were all coming to see us, trouble was on the horizon and we'd be included in the effort to stop it.
Yes, I know the Gist never ate, that we know of. We've only seen it fighting, remember? I know it is supposed to be pure evil but nothing is ever purely good or evil in my experience. Remember, the Gist is Anton. I figure that since it is him, even as his dark side it would be more or less affectionate toward Valkyrie.