“Could I watch?” I don’t really do much on the weekends. I don’t do much in general. And I want to change that.
“Of course you can.” Broderick glances up at me, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “But would you want to play instead?”
Do I want to play? Do I want to participate? Do I want to be part of the fun instead of an observer?
Yes.
I’m annoyed with myself that I didn’t even consider asking. My entire mindset needs a shift. I need to remember that I don’t have to be a simple spectator in life.
I can fully be a part of it.
“Yes. I have no idea how to play, but, yes, I would.”
“I can teach you the rules.” Broderick starts to grin. “And I think this will be good practice for Galen’s Gauntlet.”
“How so? Do they usually incorporate sports into it?”
“No.” He reaches out, almost absentmindedly, claiming my hand and lacing our fingers together. “Or maybe they will. I honestly don’t know what those sirens have planned. But thisshouldget your competitive nature going. Because”—now, he smirks—“I don’t expect any of these players to go easy on you just because you’re a newbie.”
A fire starts in my chest, but this time an excited one. Not an anxious, scared flame. But a beautiful, roaring, life-sustaining fire.
“Good. I think I’d like the challenge.”
12
BRODERICK
Even though Imade sure to be encouraging, I worried about Ophelia trying to play in the cricket match. After how quiet she was during happy hour and the stress of going supernova, then moving to a new home last night, I had no idea how she’d be in this competitive social situation.
But I did know that if she wanted to be here, I was not going to stop her. This was her life and her decision to make.
Still, I texted Anthony to let him know that if Ophelia wanted to leave early, I planned to go with her. In a surprising display of maturity, the guy didn’t tease me.
Turns out, there was no reason for me to worry.
“That firebird has a rocket arm on her.” My twin mutters the compliment as Ophelia sends another ball bowling hard toward the batter, bowling him out.
She might not have known the rules when she first arrived, but the firebird learned fast. And apparently, she is a goddess when it comes to bowling balls.
Which officially makes her Sanjay Ironfeather’s favorite person. The human is talking so much smack to the other team that I think he might adopt Ophelia as his own.
“You know this was supposed to be my chance to make him fall in love with me, right?” Anthony complains as Ophelia warms up for the next round.
“It’s not her fault that you have noodle arms,” I taunt back.
There’s a snort from nearby, and we both glance over to see Zara chuckling at my insult.
Anthony glares at his harpy. “You’re not supposed to laugh at his jokes that insult me. You’re supposed to defend me. I am a damsel in distress, and he is an evil villain.”
Zara saunters over and gives my brother a kiss on the cheek and a playful smack on the butt. “Stop whining. My dad approves of you for the simple fact that you got this game together. If you get pouty, you’ll annoy him.”
A smile cracks across Anthony’s face, his eyes going hazy with adoration as he leans in to kiss the woman he loves.
“Fine,” he sighs. “Cheerleader role it is.” Anthony starts rooting for Ophelia, which earns him a middle finger from Owen, who’s strolling up for his turn to bat.
I’m also impressed that my brother was able to arrange all this. He didn’t manage to get two full teams of eleven, like an official cricket match, but he got a decent turnout. The MacNamara selkies are here, and those who have mates brought them. Then, there’s my family, though Ame said that she preferred to keep score. Jack, on the other hand, is having a grand time, bowling Anthony out whenever my brother is up. The werewolf can also pelt a ball dangerously hard. However, we established the rule that mortals or mythics without extra strength could wear a set of cuffs Mor had created with a temporary strength spell.
Now that my older sister has her library up and running smoothly, she’s started experimenting with some of the more interesting spells she’s found over the years. The strength cuffs are her latest and most successful endeavor. She modeled them after a god object she found written about in one of the grimoires. God objects are mythical gifts, given to mythics by our deities. Mor suspects she has one—the gold apple found in a wall of the house.
