“I’m not little mary sunshine here.”
“No, you’re missing the point. You also have a very clear idea of your weaknesses and flaws, and refuse to be with anyone who doesn’t acknowledge and respect them as well as all your good points. Because of your clear convictions, and rock solid self-worth, there’s no wriggle room for Hathor and her harpy twats to make you doubt yourself or sway you. Pure. Immoveable. Which is why, how, you provided Nico with a safe space of immunity to their powers.”
“Really? It sounds so simplistic. Though I suppose it’s nice to finally know the reason I was able to act as Nico’s safety buffer zone.”
Darcy absently tapped her fingers against her glass, a slow steady beat. “Let’s see, what else? Oh, the babies. I loathe saying my mother was right, but after watching the CCTV footage of the encounter with Hathor and the Wonder-twats, I think I’m going to have to take a more active role in their lives.”
Oh, the poor babies. Gigi fought hard to hide her concern. “Um, when you say involved? Do you mean like kidnap and raise them up in your image, to be freakishly ruthless Southern Sanctuary agents of death and destruction?”
For a moment Darcy ceased tapping the side of glass before continuing. “That hadn’t been the plan, but now that you float that idea—”
“No!”
“But—”
“You really think Nell would be okay with that? That Hadleigh, Vaughn and Drum would be on board? And your Mother? Besides, do you really want pooping, squawking, needy, time suck infants in your life, twenty-four/seven?”
“I really never thought about motherhood before, but I watched the footage. If I could get me one that shoots laser death beams from its eyes, then maybe.”
“Yeah, but there’s never any guarantee when it comes to magic, is there? Then you’d be stuck raising a child, and they say they never stop being your responsibility, no matter how old they get.”
“I suppose, and Declan will probably taint my pool of DNA perfection. Instead of getting a fun kid with death ray abilities, we’d probably get one that chats to birds and lets them have way too much input on what they wear each day.”
“Wait. What?” That was oddly specific, but Darcy was already moving on.
“No, I think I’m going to have become an active participant of the ICMDP.”
“The what now?”
“That’s the official name of the group Patricia and Great-Uncle Nestor have formed: Infant and Child Magical Development Program. Storytelling and parent support is all well and good, but I think those babies need to start magical offense and defence training.”
“Darcy, they’re just babies.”
“And my three week old niece already has a body count.” Darcy snapped her fingers. “Brodie. She’d be perfect. I’ve seen how she’s whipped you and the Great-Great’s into shape, thanks to your self-defence classes. Our resident Valkyrie is impervious to tears and tantrums. She knows how to identify potential talents. Is manic about her pupils learning their limits and all about control and owning your powers. She’s strict and yet totallyawesome. The babies are going to love her. And best of all, Brodie won’t be swayed by worried or over-wrought parents like Gaia, or my sister.”
“Oh, way to pass the buck.”
“And you know who else would be great for the new and improved ICMDP Management Team? The Feral Forest Queen. Lady Mud herself.”
“Who?”
“Copper Yanez. She’s a savant at camouflage and we’re going to need someone to work with Asher one on one. That kid, I swear, I’ve watched the footage a hundred times, and he’s in that car seat one moment and gone the next. And he either knows where every camera blind spot is, or he’s invisible. I still don’t know if he walks, crawls, or slides around on his ass. Any and all of that should be impossible, but given the Valhalla and Maat lines, who knows what the kid is capable of. He’s practically the size of a two year old already. You don’t realise it when Hadleigh or Vaughn are carrying him about because they’re so tall, but the kid is massive for his age.”
“I really don’t think Gaia and Nell will be on board having their infants trained in the ways of war by a bloodthirsty screaming Valkyrie.”
“We’ll call it Jumble Gym Tumble Tot Fun Time.”
“I don’t think labelling the activity with a cutsie name will sway Gaia or your sister. Especially when the class is being led occasionally by a Goddess who wears mud head to toe, and knows a thousand ways to poison someone.”
“Oh, I was forgetting about her paralytics and potions. She should work with Theo as well. Imagine what the kid will be able to do with all his thorny prickles if we can add poison into the mix.”
“Darcy, seriously?”
“Yes. Seriously. These babies were born with magic. Magic that will more than likely just keep growing stronger. Heredity and the suped-up Net over the Sanctuary could mean we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg regarding what they’re capable of. You’ve seen what they can do up close and personal. That day at the Library could have gone much worse. What if Sunny hadn’t recognised Riordan as family? What if she’d just lashed out? The fallout would be indescribable. The entire Sanctuary impacted. The McKenzie family would be inconsolable. And Nell would undoubtedly be crippled by guilt for pretty much forever. And what sort of legacy would Sunny grow up with? And what about Asher’s antics? You don’t think I haven’t heard about Uncle Gunther losing a few digits? That’s okay, Gunn is a demi-god, he can regrow shit. But what if Asher targets someone else, or one of the other babies? It’s bad enough Nico was caught in the crossfire and got a dancing fairy wooden figurine to the back. And he’s still paying the price, what with the complications and everything.”
“Excuse me? There were complications during the surgery to remove it?” Oh Heavens Above. Why had no one said anything? Oh, of course, the family still thought she and Nico were an item and that Gigi would know all about it. No wonder they’d all been asking about his health. “Is he okay? Where is he now?”
Ah, planting seeds, you had to be careful when doing so, didn’t want to overplay her hand. Darcy shrugging in disinterest, taking a sip of whiskey.
