Yeah, and how did he answer that question these days? Trying to deal with two magical leashes that appeared to be playing tug of war with his sanity. One beyond ancient ring that was beating at him like Nico was its own personal drum. The other option perhaps even scarier, because it was so much more subtle, meaning the niggling barely there pull was so much more seductive because he had finally worked out what it reminded him of. Something he hadn’t experienced for over a decade now, it was friends, family, home… love.
What the hell? Was the niggle Gigi DeWitt herself?
No. No! NO!
With good cause Nico had sworn off love. The last woman he’d loved, had intended to marry, had killed his friends and his parents. Though in the end he’d gotten his revenge on Kristiah, killing her in return.
“Nico?”
Oh, right, Gigi was waiting on an answer. Was he alright? Probably not. He was teetering on the edge of insanity. Fighting a war now on two fronts mentally. The clamouring dove ring’s loud demands that he capitulate to it, give himself over to it. And the much more insidiously baited hook of its competitor, somehow linked to Gigi DeWitt.
Nico was no fan of love. It blinkered and blinded you to the truth. It made you malleable and more susceptible to manipulation. It scoured your insides, leaving you hollow andraw. Pure and simple, love was a lie. It couldn’t be trusted. If anything it was a false God, a curse, pure and simple.
Well fucking hell, a second curse? So much for finding a sanctuary from the blasted hammering ring. Yeah, love, it ruined every bloody thing.
Scowling Gigi’s way, Nico couldn’t keep the gruff anger out of his voice. “We’re just talking about a party for a one-year-old here, Cookie. You stay in your cupcake lane, I’ll stay in my lane, and I’m sure everything will turn out great.”
Chapter Five
Cookie!
It was two days later and Gigi was still seething.
Cupcake lane!
She didn’t even make cakes, everyone knew that. Chocolates and cookies, it said so on her shop sign. It was stamped on her personalised takeaway boxes. It was on her business cards, spelt out in big bold purple letters. The very same card she’d handed over to one Nico – butthead – Yanez the other day when they met with Aunt Lucy.
“And who attends a client meeting with nothing but a half chewed pen and a pile of bar napkins to make notes on?” She turned to glare at Canary, who didn’t appear to share her indignation. Seemingly happy just to sit on the kitchen bench, watching her beat some butter and sugar together into submission with a whisk. For cookies, not cupcakes!
“Talk about being an unprofessional grumpy asshole!” At least he’d shaved for Gaia’s meeting and looked half way presentable, even if his behaviour left a lot to be desired. Acting so distracted Gigi was pretty darn sure Nico would have preferred to be anywhere but in Gaia’s kitchen discussing a one year old’s birthday party.
Beep. Gigi’s phone sounded. Again. And just who would it be this time? Gaia, for the umpteenth time? Or Gaia’s mother, Meagan, with a suggestion or two of her own to add? Perhaps it would be Aunt Lucy with a new idea regarding suitable entertainment. Her last message had mentioned she was thinking of hiring some magicians.
Personally, Gigi thought it would be a mistake to expose escape artist in training Asher, to masters of the craft. But that was the Valhallas for you. They tended to lean into Asher’s quirks.
Whilst Gaia and her mother appeared bent upon blithely ignoring all Theo’s. Determined to throw him a very ordinary, no hint of magic party. It had only been forty-eight hours since her consult with Gaia and already her cousin had changed the theme of the party five times. Aeroplanes. Monster trucks. Whales. Ponies. Before lastly circling back to cars.
No mention whatsoever of Theo’s magical leanings towards anything sharp, prickly and quite often poisonous. Determinedly ignoring the fist-sized three corner jacks that miraculously found their way into his hands to play with. Or how a tiny bed of seriously sharp baby cacti mysteriously appeared on Theo’s Italian - hand made by nuns - sheets every time he was put down for naptime.
Finished whisking, Gigi blew out a deep breath before leaning over to hit the screen of her phone, and the winner was…? Crap. Aunt Sarah. This was not good. Not good at all.
Please, please, don’t be about rescheduling Nell’s baby shower. They’d already changed the date seven times thanks to either Nell’s commitments at the hospital, or her meld mate’s job that involved both hunting down and protecting supernatural beings.
The current baby shower date was scheduled for two weeks’ time, a few days past Nell’s scheduled due date. But the rate things were going they would be planning a combined first birthday slash baby shower.
Reading the text, Gigi groaned. It was worse than rescheduling. Aunt Sarah had heard about Lucy and Meagan’s plans for their grandsons’ first birthday parties. Why, Goddess, why her?
Wiping her hands, Gigi sent a reply, reassuring Sarah that the planning for the boys’ birthday parties would in no way interfere with the baby shower. That everything was coming along nicely. And nothing, (she shot a look at the freezer where the two frozen bodies of the assassins remained) absolutely nothing was goingto get in the way of the perfect day Sarah had planned for Nell, and her soon to arrive baby girl.
Fingers crossed and sending up a silent pleading prayer to the Merciful Lady Above, Gigi hoped she wasn’t lying.
Everything continued to be quiet on that front. No more assassins. No sign of the promised partner. No nothing. Just lots and lots of work. Speaking of which.
Hurriedly Gigi added the remaining cookie dough ingredients to the bowl, mixing everything together before dumping out the resulting dough, rolling it out with speedy practised moves. This wasn’t any old monthly gardening club meeting scheduled today, it was the Annual International Seed Swap. With relatives from all over the world attending.
Great-Aunt Annabeth, President and Founder of the club, liked to go all out to impress the visitors. And the event was always well attended, numbers wise. That’s why the meeting today would be held at the Library Annexe. And why Gigi and Heraldo were hauling ass at the crack of dawn, getting five enormous boxes of chocolate treats and specially designed garden themed cookies ready.
The boxes made transporting the goodies easy-peasy. Were great passive advertising for her business. And better still, transforming the boxes into trays looked not just highly professional, but cut out the need for any clean up after.
