His sister peered into his face. “You really look like shit, you know.”
“Thanks. You always know just the right thing to say. Follow me. I want the baby to play with this woman I met last night.” He moved Yolanda onto his hip and she pulled at his hair, so he conjured an imaginary small ring of keys and let them float just beyond her grasp.
“A woman?” Kathy frowned.
“Trust me.”
She followed him into the sunny parlor.
“Do you think this is a good idea? We’ve generally kept her away from the public until she gets some of her more interesting talents under control.”
“Her magic won’t be a problem. I’m counting on some sparks.” Jack laughed and lifted the baby high into the air and she squealed.
Zoe must have splashed some water on her face because instead of a red nose and puffy eyes, she gave them all a bright smile. The sun came through the window making her eyelashes sparkle with beads of water. It took some effort to look away.
“Kathy, meet my untrained mate choice, Zoe Burton.”
* * *
Zoe’s mouth dropped open at Jack’s introduction.Untrained mate choice?
Kathy gave her brother an incredulous stare and mouthed, 'Are you insane?' Then turned back to Zoe with syrupy sweetness. “So nice to meet you.”
Zoe wasn’t that clueless. She heard the insult in Kathy’s tone but the baby was sugar-sweet. The cutie waved her pudgy little fists, and to Zoe’s surprise, pushed a burst of energy–and a wet magic baby kiss–into the air. When it landed on her face, Zoe tentatively tried to blow the same energy back.
A slight breeze blew across the room and landed on the baby’s forehead. The baby giggled, clapped her hands, and a torrential rainstorm covered the parlor, complete with thunder and lightning. It appeared to soak her audience.
“No.” Kathy lightly tapped the baby's hands. “Make nice day. No rain.” She cleared away the storm with a wave of her hand, turned to Zoe, and muttered a snotty, “Sorry.”
Jack laughed it off and shook his head. He stared Zoe up and down until her panties all but melted off. “I’ll leave you ladies alone.”
She blushed as he ran up the stairs.
“Babies can really do magic?” She tried to break into the silence which his sister, obviously, had no intention of doing.
“It’s an illusion. What are you, human?” Kathy’s face showed every ounce of disdain possible.
She wasn’t sure how this kind of training was going to be helpful. What was up with the hostility? After all, none of this was her idea.
“Jack called you his mate,” Kathy said, placing Yolanda on the floor and scattering toys around her.
Zoe shrugged. “He seems to think so.”
“Untrainedmate?” Kathy’s eyes were large now, as if she had just had a terrifying thought. “Did he say the oath?”
“Yes.”
“Shit.” Kathy looked like she was about to burst a gasket.
Zoe added quickly, “But it wasn’t his fault. He just assumed I believed in your ways. I don’t.”
The baby stood on shaky legs, then sat down with a thump and giggled. Moving her pudgy arms in the air, she made giant spiders appear.
Zoe cringed and reminded herself that it was only an illusion. She was never going to get used to this.
Kathy cleared away the insects. “He’s holding off the madness until you have some chance of mating? That’s why he wants me to train you?”
Zoe shrugged and studied one of the many ferns in the solarium.
