When my eyes flutter open, I stretch myself a little, feeling bright and refreshed. “All better, baby?” I hear my mom murmur and I go still for a moment before I focus on her face leaning over me. A smile breaks out on my lips, because it’s my mom – my mom, the best mom in the whole world, who I
Does she know who he is to me? And, oh my god, has Luca shown up? Did he even finish the Examination? Does he even know that I’m here, that I was hurt? I glance anxiously towards the door. “All right, young man,” my mom says, sterner than she usually is, leaning forward to deliver a little rap t
“Yup, dad’s somewhere – I’m shocked he hasn’t come running yet,” mom says, dropping Jackson’s hand and fluttering her hand at him. “Rafe’s right – shower for you, and then Ariel is next. Because if your dad meets your mate covered in your blood and your scent – he’s going to flip.” Jackson, as fre
I yelp in protest then, grabbing my pillow and starting to thwap her with it, yelling disconnected words about how I didn’t even pick him, the Goddess did, and actually Jackson and dad are nothing alike, just because they’re both big – But mom just laughs hysterically and eventually I join her, dr
Mom and Luca exchange pleasantries while I work very hard to pull myself together, wondering how the hell I’m supposed to manage all of this chaos, when Jesse – of all wonderful people – comes to my rescue. He, too, skids through the door and is across the room in half a second, shoving Luca rough
Cora gasps, staring first at my mom and then at me. I blink, shocked at the…the delight in her eyes. “They’re both here!?” “What!?” my mom squeals, sitting up rigid and straight, just as I do. “Did you…did you know!?” I’m equally shocked. “Oh my god!” Cora shouts, laughing and covering her fac
“Wait, what?” I gasp, shocked. “Oh yeah,” my mom says, her own eyes going far-off as she apparently remembers this long-lost, incredibly important and interesting detail. “I forgot about that…” “You knew!?” I’m scandalized – mom and dad, they’re so perfect for each other. The idea of dad being m
“I’m going to kill your brother,” dad says, shaking his head as he looks me over, frowning at the blood all over me and narrowing his eyes as he gives me a suspicious sniff. But if he smells Jackson or Luca, he doesn’t say anything. “Go easy on Rafe, dad,” I murmur, raising a hand to run it fondly