“Huh,” I say, considering what she’s saying. And I guess…well, I guess I think she’s right. That this was perhaps always the life I wanted, even if I want to pretend sometimes that I wanted a simple life. “And also,” she adds, her voice dropping lower. “I’m actually…I’m not sure if Roger isn’t my
Ella The trip improves by leaps and bounds the moment we stop at the campground for the night. “Finally,” I sigh, taking a deep breath of the fresh air as I climb down the steps of the RV, my baby curled in my arm and looking around him with bright and interested eyes. “It’s good to be on stead
I can’t help my own smile from crossing my face as I watch them. And then, as they stare at each other, I decide that that’s my cue. As quiet as I can, I stand up from my little camping chair and send a pulse down my bond with Sinclair. He looks up at me, curious and I nod my head first towards th
Cora “They think they’re being subtle,” I whisper, smiling as Sinclair closes the RV’s door behind him, the last to “disappear” from our little circle around the fire. “I’m not complaining,” Roger murmurs, slipping an arm around my shoulder. “Are you, little mate?” I laugh lightly at the nickn
“Roger,” I say quietly, thinking back on Ella’s conversation we had earlier. “Hmm?” he says, inviting me to ask whatever question is floating through my mind. “Do you think I’m your mate?” “Um,” he says, laughing a little. “Yeah, Cora,” he says, as if it’s a stupid question, “I think we’ve mad
Ella “Really, Cora?” I say, nudging my sister with my toe. I shake my head at my sister’s naked sleeping form, pressed against her mate under the single little throw blanket that’s tossed over both of them. Seriously, how are they not freezing? “Auntie Cora is going to be so embarrassed,” I whis
“You did!” I laugh, gleeful, chasing my sister to the RV’s door. “You totally did! Come on, Cora! Tell me everything!” ______________________________________ We have a very cheerful morning after that, with everyone teasing Roger and Cora, and Cora blushing and covering her face with her hands a
Ella It is, indeed, a long climb. Cora and I are panting by the time we get to the top, and even though Sinclair took Rafe from me halfway through the hike I have to take a moment to catch my break when we pull ourselves up to the final level. Roger has the indecency to look a little smug about
He shakes his head at me as tears fill his own eyes and he leans forward, pulling me against him while somehow miraculously managing not to crush our children between us as he holds me tight in his arms. “So, I guess it wouldn’t matter,” he murmurs against my hair as I sniff back my tears and nod.
“Even more than the kids!?” I gasp, my mouth falling open a bit. “I mean, the kids,” he says, shrugging as if they’re not much, which makes me laugh. But then he goes a little rigid as he realizes something, raising his eyes to glare at me a bit. “Wait, are you saying you like the kids more than m
Ella “Nope,” Sinclair says, heaving himself out of bed and grabbing his phone off the bedside table as he does. “I can’t live like this, Ella – I’m calling Roger, I’ve got to know –“ “Dominic!” I say, laughing and grabbing for him, trying to catch the edge of his pajamas and failing because I’v
She laughs and I look first at Sinclair, who shrugs, and then back at my sister. “Come on,” Roger says, nodding at the crowds of people waiting to congratulate us and at the small table of refreshments. “Let’s decide this over some champagne.” Sinclair nods at me and I sigh, moving with my famil
The last image, though, lingers. Ariel, with Rafe and Jesse on either side – as they always are – and her two mates behind her. All standing together on a battlefield with Ariel at the center, magic welling between her hands and passing to her brother, to her cousin. Their faces are serious as t
Cora The images of Ariel’s future come in quick flashes, and somehow I get the impression that the Goddess is eager to share these glimpses of her life. The ones that come first are what I sort of expected, especially after seeing some images of Rafe’s childhood and hearing about the ones that
“We are not,” Cora scoffs, gently taking Ariel into her arms as Sinclair and I laugh. Roger grins, leaning forward to kiss me on the cheek before passing Jesse to me. “You know I’m kidding, right, Ells?” he whispers. I smile at my brother-in-law and gently pat his cheek. “When in doubt, Roger,”
Ella Three weeks later – Ariel was born under a waning quarter moon, not a new moon like her brother and her cousin – I stand anxiously in the woods, my little girl held tight in my arms. “I’m sensing some anxiety,” Cora says, grinning at me with a little too much glee as she comes up to my sid
“Oh my god,” I say, the words spilling out of my mouth. “Oh my god,” I sit up straight, staring at Henry, my eyes flicking to his legs – because honestly, I don’t even notice his chair anymore, or think of him at all as someone whose abilities are hindered. Or of me as someone who is able to do an