“Yeah. We noticed.” His tone was loving and gently possessive.
“Where’s KitKit and George?”
KitKit was Molly’s not-familiar, because witches do not have familiars. It’s simply not done. Except for Molly. And George was Angie’s bassett hound.
“Dropped ’em off at Bedelia’s.” Bedelia was Molly’s mom, and I wondered why the kids weren’t there too, except that Bedelia was getting on up there in age and might not be up to having the pets, Carmen’s little one, and Molly’s three around. “I’m hungry,” Evan said, interrupting my thoughts. “Eli got food?”
“Pork shoulder and all the fixins in the fridge. Leftover pizza on the counter.”
“Good.” He didn’t move away from me. I met his eyes, mine asking what was up. “Don’t know if I ever said it. But I’m sorry I was an ass.”
“I’m sorry your family was placed in danger just by being my friend.”
“Life’s a bitch, ain’t it?” he said. “We’ve said all this before. Think we got it out of our systems this time?”
“I think if we say it any more we’ll have to hug.”
“God forbid.” Moving like the boulder he sounded like, he rolled on toward the kitchens. Over his shoulder, he added, “Soon as I eat, you need to try to reach Edmund. As leader of your own fanghead clan, you should be able to touch his mind.” He paused, his eyes scanning the floor and walls and high vault where his daughter had turned in a circle studying the inn. “This will do for a circle.” Then he walked on.
Angie had stood in the center and said,“Magic...”Precognition?I crossed my arms and shivered.
Kitssss,Beast said.
So soft it was little more than a breath of air, I said, “Family.”
CHAPTER 4
Beast Needs Dead Cow for Magic
The kids ate enough pizza and sweets to have a sugar high, but crashed in the Charles Frazier Suite, two of them smelling of chocolate and marshmallows, all three on the king-sized bed, hemmed in by rows of pillows, what their mother called a bumper, with chairs pushed around the edge to keep the kiddos from falling off. The infant, my namesake, was at the foot of the big bed, sleeping like the angel she was, her bow-shaped mouth puffing with each breath. Their parents stood on either side of the bed, drawing protective workings over them, healing, warnings, love, and prayers. The magics they drew were blue and purple and golden and they shimmered like a holy net across the big bed. It was a magic anyone could see in the parents’ eyes and it woke in me a longing I didn’t understand as they closed the protective circle that placed the kids in safety. Molly and Evan met at the foot of the bed and clasped hands, bowing their heads in prayer. I left quietly, knowing I was intruding on a moment that was just for the two of them. And wondered where the nearest church was. It had been a long time for me.
In the open area of the main living space, Eli was unrolling a rug he had carried in from one of the furnished bedrooms. It was thick, dark blue, and had buff fringe on two sides. Simple and manly enough to be a rug from his own room. He placed it directly beneath the wrought-iron lighting fixture. I assumed that Alex had overheard Big Evan’s plans and not that Eli had ESP and mind-reading ability. He disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a beer, which usually meant that he was off guard duty, but tonight he was still wearing weapons, so maybe he was relaxed but not. The former Army Ranger was often a mystery to me.
I setle breloqueand the Glob on the rug and wasn’t surprised when Eli came back, toting oversized pillows from the TV room. “One of these is sticky with chocolate and marshmallow.” He dropped three pillows and carried one off, saying, “The kids are charming but messy. Told you we’d need washable shams.”
I vaguely remembered that. So maybe he did have ESP. “Where’s Shiloh?” I called to him.
“In your tub.”
“Oh. Yuck. You coulda put her in a guest bath.”
“Babe.” He stopped and looked back at me. Took a pull on his beer. There was an almost-smile on his mouth. “I certainly could have.”
I stuck out my tongue at him, as if he was my big brother and I was a brat. And once again, I didn’t hurt quite so much. I had family. I had clan. I had kits. Life could have been a lot worse.
***
Big Evan half fell, half rolled onto the pillow, his legs bent uncomfortably, and told Eli, “You know you’re going to need a forklift to get me up, right, dude?”
Eli gave a faint smile. “I’ll manage.”
“I’m still weak from childbirth,” Molly said, taking her seat. “If I can roll to my knees and get to my feet, you can, too. Stop whining.”
Evan said to me, “She’s been this way ever since she gave birth. Bossy.”
“She’s always bossy,” I said.
“I’m sitting right here,” she said. “In the room with you.”
