A sizeable wooden table was centered to their left, with low benches on either side for seating, and to their right, several comfortable-looking wooden chairs covered in furs were clustered around a series of wooden children’s toys, including a couple long toy daggers and carvings of animals: a bird, a deer,and a wolf. There was a large blanket strewn halfway across the chairs, creating a dark hidden space underneath.
“Apologies about that,” Lara said, gesturing to the mess of furniture. “The kids were playing ‘Iblis in the Cave’ earlier so you might have to move some stuff if you want to sit down.”
Ena smiled at that. “No problem,” she said, wondering how exactly one played “Iblis in the Cave.”
Just then, Steig and Turner emerged from the open archway to the left. There was another archway leading off to the right, too, but this one was hidden by a wooden door. The bathing chamber, maybe?
“Ena,” Turner greeted, his blue eyes warming with a smile. He’d clearly bathed too and was dressed in similar garb as herself. “Are you settling in okay?”
“Yeah, I am, thanks,” she said, touched by his concern. Then she turned to Steig, who looked unhappy to see her as always, his dark eyes suspicious and cold.
Then the screaming started.
Two boys who must’ve been the six- and four-year-olds came dashing out of the room Steig and Turner had come from, yelling “Attack!” as they jumped on their father.
Steig put on a fake air of viciousness, grabbing them both at the same time and roaring as he flung each of them in turn onto a fur-covered chair. The boys erupted into fits of giggles as they landed on the chairs, instantly getting in position to attack again.
“Get the wolf!” the bigger one yelled, picking up his wooden toy weapon and holding it up to his father.
Steig snarled like a wolf at them, pretending to be distracted by the long dagger while the younger one jumped on his back.
“Arrgghhh!” Steig cried, feigning a wound and collapsing on the floor.
The two boys fell into fits of giggles as they pretended to triumph over the vicious wolf.
Lara laughed beside her, watching the show. Again, Ena was surprised by how captivating her laugh was—it seemed so lighthearted and free, so full of joy.
Ena turned back to see Steig laughing now, too, and it caught her off guard. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him laugh before.
She found herself staring at the playful domestic scene, somewhat in awe, and smiling to herself, when she heard the door open behind them.
Ty walked in, and her gravity shifted. His presence seemed to fill the room, like he was larger than it, and all eyes turned to him.
She noticed he was wearing the same clothes as when he’d left, and Ena realized that out of all of them, he still hadn’t had the chance to bathe and change his clothes since returning. She instantly felt annoyed on his behalf. Who in the Underworld was keeping him so busy that they couldn’t give him a few minutes to wash up after such a long journey?
But then he smiled at her, and her annoyance vanished.
“I see I’m the last to arrive,” he said, looking her over and taking in her new clothing and clean appearance. He came over to stand next to her, placing a hand on her lower back in greeting before leaning in to whisper in her ear. “I missed you,” he said, his voice low and rough. “Sorry I was gone so long. Everything go okay getting here?”
Ena nodded, finding herself rather tongue-tied all the sudden at his closeness.
He pulled back a bit, but she didn’t miss the way he briefly looked down at her leather bodice where her cleavage was on prime display.
“Like my new outfit?” she asked, teasing him.
“I like everything you wear, but yes, I am enjoying this particular view immensely. Will you turn around for me later so I can see all of it when there aren’t children present?”
Ena giggled—actuallygiggled—at that. She didn’t remember the last time she’d giggled.
Ty seemed to like it, because he smiled wickedly at her response.
“You know we also exist, right?” Turner asked pointedly from beside them, grinning at Ty.
“Of course, but you don’t look likethatin a leather vest, so excuse me for ignoring you,” Ty said jovially before clapping Turner on the shoulder in greeting.
Steig didn’t seem to mind as much, as he had descended into another wrestling match with his children. Meanwhile, Lara had disappeared into one of the rooms through the archway, from which Ena could smell the delicious scent of roasting meat wafting out.
“Is there a kitchen back there?” Ena asked, suddenly curious about the rest of their chambers. The kitchen was always the central part of a witch’s home. Ena practically grew up in the kitchen, grinding herbs for potions to help Heran and watching her sister cook. There were many times she could recall spending the entire day there, as other witches and visitors came and went, bringing potions and food in trade, laughing and talking.
