“Of course not. Insecure is not in her vocabulary.”
Tolly grinned. “I could take her.”
Stovos laughed and kissed her hand. “I know.”
Kel grinned. “If you think you can.”
Tolly blinked. “What?”
“That is not a woman, that is wild magic in a living body. She doesn’t want what you have, so it is a non-issue.” Kel grinned. “Stars are very linked in to destiny. You two have already found yours. She would have no interest in it.”
Orvis muttered, “I don’t know whether to be insulted or not.”
Krys smiled. “Think of it this way. You two have exchanged energies so many times, you taste wrong.”
Stovos chuckled. “That is mildly less insulting.”
Orvis looked at him. “Okay, I was stressing over your party, but now I think it’s going to be fun.”
“I have told you time and again that it isn’t necessary every year.”
“I know, I know, but I am figuring one in ten should be good. And when we have kids, you are going to celebrate the moment they notice that you don’t have parties.” Orvis prodded his chest with two fingers.
“The very moment?” He caught her fingers and kissed them.
“Well, around this time that year. Kids like looking forward to celebrating things, especially when they realize that being old means a bigger cake.” She grinned.
Stovos pressed his forehead to hers. “I notice you are speaking in the plural.”
“Well, if the first one is a fluke, we need to try again to see if it can be managed without intervention.”
He grinned. “I stand ready to test the theory.”
“Yeah, I thought you might. A houseful of little girls would suit me.”
“Let’s see whose genes win out. I am eager to meet you on the field of battle.”
She laughed. “You bring the marshmallows; I will bring the honey.”
The room full of folks laughed, but they sat in their own little world, head to head, and imagining the future in a house full of tiny harpies.
Chapter Three
Bethany left Jill at two in the morning and headed back to her car. She drove it to a safe neighbourhood, but one that wasn’t too fancy, and she parked and locked up for the night.
Living out of her car wasn’t her idea, but it was the easiest way to keep off the consortium’s radar. She could ward a car. Even if they grabbed it and hauled it around, she would be safe in her metal fortress. Sleeping in her car had made finding a job difficult, but she had rented a post office box, and that gave her a fixed address for payroll. That had gotten her the job with Nessa.
She unfolded her blanket and curled up in a ball in the back seat. She set her alarm for six so she could be on her way before school started. After that, she would drive to a parkade and fill her car with shadows. It was the routine that had kept her going in the last few months. She showered at a women’s shelter and got ready to go for her afternoon shift.
Bethany went to sleep with a smile on her lips. She was going to see Abra soon. A few days and they could be together. They were not close, not like the other pair of stars. Abra was different. She was light and hope and terrifying darkness. She was great. Delphine. Bethany had almost forgotten that name. Bethany’s own name was nearly lost. Delphine knew it. Bethany looked forward to remembering it again. She knew it was pretty, but it resonated through the air and called to those who were looking for her.
Bethany slept, knowing that her life was about to kick into high gear.
Sharp banging on her car window woke her up. Bethany sat up and looked at their auras. It wasn’t the police. Warlocks. Fuck.
She picked up her phone and started calling. It was four in the morning, but Abra picked up.
“Bethany?”
