“All right then, here ya go,” the high fae said, sounding much too pleased with herself.
A minute later, everyone, except the wiggling children, instantly froze. Jacque’s head felt as if it were about to explode, and then there was a memory, or it felt like a memory, of Thia. The girl was … blue? Then, an instant later, Jacque was able to move again.
“What. The. Actual. Frucker?” Jen spat as she turned her stare from Peri to Fane. “You and Costin dyed Thia blue?!”
Fane looked as confused as Jacque felt, as he scratched his head.
“Peri, what did you just do?” Sally asked, wild eyed.
“Alpha Fane said he doesn’t like secrets.” Her voice dropped as she added, “But he tolerates my vagina.”
“And that’s my cue to turn around,” Wadim said just as he stepped into the living room. The historian spun on his heel and marched back out. Lucky bastard, Jacque thought as she tried to figure out why she remembered Thia being blue. She recalled it was Fane and Costin’s fault, but not much else.
“Okay, wait,” Jacque said as she looked around the room. “Does anyone else remember Thia being turned blue? I think Fane and Costin did it, but I don’t remember anything else.”
Sally nodded. “That’s exactly what I got.”
“I would never turn Thia blue,” Fane said, but he did not look convinced of his own words. “And neither would Costin. I mean, how would we even do that?”
“It happened.” Peri sighed as she plopped down on the couch. “Right after Thia was born. Jen was losing her shit because, ya know, post-pregnancy hormones. And the girls, in a show of pure brilliance, kidnapped Thia. Costin and Fane, to their credit, recognized the potential disaster and stole her back, hoping to return the girl to her crib before Jen and Decebel realized she was missing.”
A sound—something like a cough, gag, and sputter all rolled into one—came from Jen. Jacque couldn’t remember the last time Jen was actually speechless.
“So, Costin and I did the smart thing. Yep, sounds about right. Not sure about the blue thing though,” Fane said.
“Slow your roll, there, Alpha Einstein,” said Peri. “You two idiots didn’t know the difference between baby soap and a mysterious blue-staining, gypsy-healer concoction. Hence, blue Thia. It was traumatic for everyone involved, except the kid. She didn’t give a crap she was blue. The girl just wanted to gnaw Jen’s nipple off. I didn’t want to listen to Jen whine about her boob biter being turned blue for the rest of forever, so I took the memories away. Boom. End of Story. You said you didn’t want any secrets, Alpha Boy. So, there ya go.”
“You took our memories?” Jacque asked. “Blue, Fane?” Jen said at the same time, while Sally added, “Stealing Thiadoessound like something we would do.”
Lucian sat down next to his mate and shook his head. “You just had to stir the pot.”
“She called me a pussy, and he said they tolerate my vagina.” Peri huffed. “And in the spirit of Christmas or whatever, I’m trying not to turn people into inanimate objects.”
Jacque glanced down at Thia in her lap. The girl looked around the room as if she could sense the tension. When Jacque looked at Jen, she could tell her friend was trying to figure out who she should be mad at and justhowmad she should be.
Jen turned to Peri. “You sort of glossed over quite a few details there, Peri Fairy. Why do I get the feeling there is much more to the story than Thia ending up blue? I don’t think you would’ve stolen our memories over that.”
The fae shrugged. “I never signed a contract requiring full disclosure. I’m the ambassador of the high fae council, afforded the autonomy to use my discretion when I feel it necessary. Maybe you should focus on the fact that Fane and Costin could have permanently turned your daughter into a blueberry. Focus, Jen.”
“Good point.” Jen turned to Jacque. “My kid teaching your kid to use profanity is not nearly as bad as your man dying Thia blue. Obviously, this is karma, and she’s biting you in the ass. This is your husband’s punishment for almost turning my kid into a real-life Smurf.” Jen picked up the lights she’d dropped earlier. She continued wrapping them around the branches, muttering under her breath about blueberries and revenge.
“She’s taking this way better than I expected,” Peri said.
“You sound disappointed.” Lucian gave a low chuckle.
“Very.” Peri sighed.
“Couldn’t you just dye our kid green and call it good?” Jacque said toward the direction of the tree. There was no reply, only a hissed curse and a whispered, “I’ll showthemblueberry.”
“Jacquelyn,” Fane said. “Don’t go giving her ideas. Knowing Jen, it would wind up being permanent, and we’d have to dress him up as Kermit the frog every Halloween.”
“That’s your only worry about our kid being dyed permanently green?” Jacque asked, her lips pursed. “We need to discuss your priorities, babe.”
“Who’s dyeing whose kid green? And why do I have a memory of Fane and I dying Thia blue?” Costin walked in carrying a box of ornaments and sporting a confused look.
“How many freaking ornaments are we putting on this tree, and why the hell did you”—Decebel pointed at Fane and then Costin—“dye Thia blue?”
“Hell!” The formerly blue child in question yelled and clapped in Jacque’s lap. Jacque frowned. Maybe the dye had addled the girl’s brain. She decided immediately she wouldnotpoint that out.
