Trick and Bram both grumble, then head out the door; I nod and then crack on with what I am doing; most of my favourite meals are bang it in and hope for the best, Yorkshire puddings, which is one of the few things I measure out. I used equal parts Milk, all-purpose flour and eggs – so when it was just me, I would get 2 matching mugs, and put 3 medium eggs in one, then fill the flour in the second to the same level, pour the eggs into a big jug then fill the milk in the first cup to the same level as the flour then put them both in the jug, or if doing a big batch 1pint of milk, 1pint of flour and 1pint of eggs and mix until light and bubbly – you need all-purpose flour NOT what you use for cakes as they don’t puff up right. Using a metal muffin tin, put a teaspoon of oil in the base of each hole, Elise liked using goose or duck fat and stick in the oven until the oil is sizzling ' this part you need to be quick but safe ' when the oil is hot enough, slide the shelf forward so you don’t take too much heat away half fill each hole with the batter, it will spit because of the oil and then put back in the over, my 3 egg batch took 30 minutes to cook on a medium heat in an electric oven but a bigger batch will take a bit longer, so I keep an eye on these, I have never cooked with a gas oven before or such a large batch, when they are brown and puffed up they are ready, take them out and repeat the process if you need more, which I do. I made 48 and then stick another 12 in after a quick thought as I know what Trick is like, I pick one up tear it in half and then dunk it in the gravy and hand to Alma, she grabs another and repeats when I raise an eyebrow she just shushes me and says these will become a regular, then proceeds to correct my measurements as I learned from Elise who makes with British ones, I chuckle as Alma writes it all down step by step on a recipe card and files it away.
Maykal
I don’t like that Ember cooked tonight's meal, but after checking in with Alma, she’s not done as much as she was originally planning. As Alma got bored after doing some jobs, she got it done quicker than normal, not stopping to sort lunch and doing other things at the same time. The table is laid out similar to Christmas, there are two of each meat, chicken, beef, lamb, pork and even Venison as dad caught one yesterday. There is stuffing with sausage meat mixed in with some, as well as some without. What Ember calls pigs in blankets, chipolata sausages with crispy bacon wrapped around them. There are also two gammon joints, mashed potatoes, new potatoes, roast potatoes, two bowls of roasted winter veg as well as carrots, suede, green beans, sweet potato, peas, sweetcorn, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, parsnips two huge bowls of cauliflower and broccoli cheese, one with chopped up bacon in it, two large mounds of Ember’s Yorkshire pudding things and jugs of gravy dotted about, there’s also some home-made mint sauce, hollandaise sauce and a honey drizzle made with some meat juices for the Gammon. Ember walks in with two more bowls of mash; one is mixed with cheese, and the other smells of mustard. We all get seated quickly. Jenson, who is a really picky eater, is bouncing in his seat, stops and looks at Ember.
“What the hell is that?” he asks. I can't see, but a few people chuckle.
“Brussels sprouts!” Ember states bluntly, then points,
“Those are normal boiled ones; these are thinly sliced and fried with bacon, you don’t have to eat them, but you do need to have some veg”, she tells him before filling her own plate minus the sprouts.
“I don’t like cabbage or sprouts, but others do, so I made them, here try this” she blows on her fork and holds it out to him, shocking everyone; he doesn't even ask what it is, just opens his mouth willingly as Ember puts some cauliflower and broccoli cheese in his mouth, a happy moan slips out of him, and heplonks a spoon full on his plate, normally there is chatter and a buzz while we eat, this time, other than a few questions or the odd comment, everyone is silent. Ember glances at Bas and Timber as they hog the honey drizzle and the plate of Gammon.
“Try it with some of the mustard mashed potatoes”, Ember smiles at them. Kodi is watching them with a smirk as he had spotted Ember combine them and already has a generous helping of it,
“OMG, Alma, I want this for my birthday meal. Ember, you’re a genius; marry me?” Timber moans out, his eyes playful, but it does get him some growls, which he laughs off, and then looks sad when he notices Kodis' reaction
“Sorry, Timber, I don't think you’re the bear for me; I’ve already stolen two of my brother's best friends; I think it’s best to leave Bas with his” Ember smiles and tucks back into her meal; Bas sits chuckling
“You can keep the Grumpy Alpha Em; I think Dec’s the one hurt most about you getting in the way of his bromance” Trent tries to hide his chuckles from Declan and, when he notices, he goes to say something, but Ember to the rescue “Alma, if there is any left” Ember glances at the table and shrugs; it is mainly veg and potatoes left “Bubble and squeak might go down well; basically, it’s all this mixed together and then fried off in a pan; just make sure there is mashed potato to hold it all together”, Ember finishes off her plate as Timber speaks up.
“That sounds good”, patting his stomach.
“Can we have that for breakfast, Alma please” Bas chips in, giving a cheeky smile while patting his own tummy.
“With some extra cheese”, Kodi tags on at the end, swiping the last of the gammon off Timber's plate and aiming a huge smile at Alma, who just rolls her eyes and nods. Alma picks a few of the boys to clear the table and bring dessert bowls and plates out. Ember disappears and helps Alma bring out the desserts; well, they bring out a cake shop’s worth. Ember plonks a pound cake, jelly roll, apple crumble, rhubarb crumble, something called a spotted dick, chocolate fudge cake and finally two more bowlsof something that I’d never seen before. I ask Ember, “What are they?”
“Eton mess and Eve’s pudding. Don’t start yet, though, there’s more to come,” she replies, hurrying back into the kitchen.
She and Alma go back to the kitchen and come out with custard, chocolate custard, which Ember makes a point of putting far away from Jenson, cream and ice-cream. She then goes back to the kitchen and comes back with a smaller jug of something and places it in front of Jenson. Alma comes through with tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and once again, everyone goes silent.
After the pudding is demolished, there are only Empty dishes, not even crumbs left; Pops says something to Ember in Latin, which I only know odd phrases in, and she nods, gives a pause, looks around, then answers him, but most of us frown, only having heard half of their conversation.
“At least Ren and Creed, as they are directly involved, you’d best explain to Dad, Lily and my brothers too, as Bray is one of Ren’s Betas, if they want to explain to the others, it has two people that can”, she says, not looking at anyone. Pops stands.
“Nikoli, I’m borrowing your office”, he says, looking at Dad, then rolls his eyes.
“Go get a comfortable seat, Nic, Luc, Mika, Lily, Bray, Bas, and Declan. Go get comfortable; Ren, Creed and any others of Ember's mates that may want children with her in the future, come to Nikoli's office, please”.
I know my daughter has 10 mates, but I didn't expect 9 of them to be sitting around this table right now. Her eyes go wide, and then she looks at me.
“Papa, someone will have to relay this to Saint, too,” she says, looking nervous; I nod and kiss her temple. I notice Ren, Creed, and Jenson exchange words with her, all serious, so I’m guessing they have an idea of what this is about. My only guess is that it’s to do with the Demon Prince.
As we leave the kitchen, Xander asks Ember if he can talk to her in private. She shoots us all an unsure look, but then nods, andthey headoff together.
Ember
I follow Xander into a small sitting room. It’s comfortable and has various photos of the guys around.
“Dominic set this up for when new fosters arrived, instead of an office or somewhere more public,” I give him a nod as I look at the photos; most are of the guys when they first arrived at the chalet. I decide I’ve stalled enough, and I take a seat next to Xander.
He takes my hand and places a file on his lap.
“I’ve done your blood work on a deeper level than what would happen for a DNA test, and I think I have some answers for you.” I give him a nod, and he opens the file.
“You are already aware your blood shows human, wolf and mage DNA. What is also shown at a deeper level is Angel, but that was really small when I looked deeper into Mika’s and Nikoli but only your dad had it, so it must be from your grandmother’s line. Mika’s was also small, and I have a test running to see how far back it could be,” he’s pointing at marks on the page, but nothing there makes sense.
“You have ancestors that were elemental and earth mages, as well as one that had soul magic,” I get a nod. Soul Mages are where stories of Grim Reapers and Necromancers come from. Depending on the strength of their magic, they could reanimate the dead for periods of time to find out how they died, they could also see souls, and how close to death they were.
