“Yet,” Layla warns. “Sometimes it can take years for mythicals to grow into some of their powers.”
Gem grimaces.
“I’d love for my parents and brother to be there. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them. They are so busy with their wolf pack that we don’t see each other as much as I like,” Brodie says. “My younger brother should be starting college soon. I wonder if he’s been bond marked.”
“Wouldn’t they call and tell you?” Gretchin asks, and Brodie shrugs.
“I don’t know, but probably not. Wolves are kind of funny about bond marks. They think their loyalty should stay with the pack. It’s why I’m not as close with them as I used to be, because I put my bond group ahead of the pack. They wouldn’t be thrilled if Briden was marked. They’d probably encourage him to hide it, kind of like Nox. So if he is, they might avoid coming to the city in case he runs into any of his bond group. They would have made me hide mine, but I was already at college with Hunter and Gryffin when it appeared.” I can hear his disappointment for his parents in his voice. I guess I don’t have a monopoly on asshole parents. Well, my mother anyway, because my father is turning out to be quite a blessing.
“Right then, I guess you guys can go do whatever, but Colbie, we need to have you fitted for your gown.” Evie turns her attention on me, and I groan.
“Can’t I wear something already in my closet?” I ask, thinking about all the dresses in there.
“Absolutely not,” Gracelin exclaims. “We already have the dressmaker working on something fit for a queen. She just needs to fit it to you.”
“Damn it,” I grumble, and Archie giggles.
“Colbie said a naughty word. She needs a time out.”
I look hopefully at Gracelin, but she shakes her head.
“Colbie is an adult who is allowed to say those words,” she says. “I’ve told you that when you’re an adult, you can do the same.”
I sag back into Brodie, who chuckles beneath me. “Fine,” I mutter, and the others laugh.
“Come on, pamper day will be fun,” Violet enthuses. I wrinkle my nose, and she laughs.
“Hunter, your dad wanted to speak to you as soon as you arrived regarding the outpost. He said to tell you and Micah to head over to the barracks when I saw you,” Lucas tells him.
“Will do,” Hunter replies, and he comes over to give me a quick kiss. Micah does the same, then they both leave the room.
“Eww. Am I going to have to do that?” Archie asks. He lost interest in the various knives strapped to Titus’s body. I watched Titus gently push his hand away every time he reached for one.
“Do what?” Adam asks.
“Kiss Colbie like that? On the lips? Is that what sidepieces do?”
Everyone chuckles, and I shake my head. “Nope, only cuddles and lots of games,” I assure him, and he returns his attention to Titus’s arsenal, satisfied with my answer.
“Here.” Titus holds out his hand, a small, child-sized dagger appearing on his palm. He hands it to Archie. “Mine are far too sharp and dangerous for a young warrior to learn with, but this one is perfect for you to practice with.” He bends it slightly, showing Gracelin and Adam it’s rubber before handing it to the boy.
Archie’s eyes widen with excitement and glee. He takes it and suddenly thrusts it into the air. “Die, die.” He slashes it around, and Gracelin groans again, glaring at Titus.
“You’re on my shit list,” she tells him, but Adam grins and nods his approval.
“Archie, you will have lessons with me once a week to learn how to use it. You’re a warrior now, and that means you need to learn to be responsible with your weapons,” Titus explains, and the boy stops stabbing invisible people and nods solemnly.
“Okay, I need to learn how to protect my sidepiece.”
“Well, your sidepiece doesn’t need protection at the moment. We are going for mani pedis and a massage. The staff is waiting for us.” Gretchin holds out a hand and tugs me off Brodie’s lap. He releases me reluctantly. I lean in and give him a kiss before doing the same to the other remaining five.
“Jesus, it’s not like you won’t see them later,” Gracelin complains, and before I can say another word, the three girls bundle me out of the office, through the palace, and to a Roman bath style area. I still don’t have the whole layout of this huge place, but from the looks of it, I’m going to spend a lot of time in here. There’s a large communal pool with statues of women holding jugs with water flowing out of them. I see massage tables and chairs in a separate room with one-way glass for us to see out, but no one can see in. On the other side of the glass is an outdoor pool area, but it’s miserable outside, with snow flurries drifting through the air.
“Oh wow, winter has arrived,” I murmur as they hustle me into one of the massage chairs, and I stick my feet into the foot spa.
“Not quite. We will have a few days like this before the snow finally sticks to the ground. Thankfully the colosseum has retractable roofing, so if it’s like this tomorrow, no one will get wet.” Gretchin takes the seat next to me, Gracelin sits on my other side, and Violet takes the one next to her. “Now tell us everything that happened over the last few days, and don’t leave out any details.”
I watch as four beauticians approach us and take seats in front of the spas. I don’t ever remember having taken the time to have a pedicure before, so this will be interesting. I’m also kind of worried about sharing everything with the girls, because I don’t really want the four strangers to hear everything.
