I reached out slowly, giving him time to move away, and took one of his cold hands between mine.
“My papa grew prize-winning apples. People come from all over the state, even down from Canada, to pick them by the bushels in the fall. Well, theyusedto.” I paused to blink back tears. “I hope someday I can get a few cuttings, maybe graft them with rootstock here, but maintaining an orchard takes work. Papa would cut back all the dead branches to make room for new growth. It seemed harsh sometimes, pruning back so much, but he said that’s how they grew stronger. Sure enough, the orchard always bloomed more beautifully in spring.”
I rubbed my thumb over his blunt fingertips, fully aware that his manicured nails could burst into claws longer than Brummy’s inside a heartbeat.
“Serafina—”
“How long do you think it will be before my magic comes back?”
He considered my question quietly for a moment, then ventured, “You’ve been drained thoroughly, so I’d say two or three months. Maybe more to regain your full strength.”
“Months?I can’t wait until the day I can call a single moonbeam again!”
“Don’t,” Sebastian cautioned. “It will tempt you like champagne bubbles, but pop one and you’ll want the whole bottle.”
“I’ll try to be patient,” I sighed. “Besides, it would worry my mates if I overdid it.”
“They’d do more than worry,” he laughed. “They’d wrap you in enchanted blankets and not let you out of bed for a month!”
And I giggled because it was true.
“It’s getting late,” Lucian observed. “We should head back before I can’t see the path anymore.”
“I thought Sebastian said vampiresarethe dark?” I teased with a laugh.
“So your husbands don’t scold us for keeping you out after midnight, then,” he amended.
By the time we returned to the manor, the sky had turned to black velvet studded with stars, and a yawn nearly split my face.
“Thank you both,” I said, hugging them quickly and hiding a smile at how still they were in my embrace. “Your care means the world to me. I hope you can visit me again sometime.” I fidgeted with the hem of my sweater. “I enjoyed today.”
“As did we.” Lucian’s eyes shone. “More than you know.”
“We’ll see you at breakfast,” Sebastian pointed out.
“Ha! My mates will be home by then,” I retorted. “I’ll be lucky to see you through all of their octopus arms!”
As he chuckled, I called Brumous and headed inside.
#
After my shower, my bare feet knew right where to go. My husbands’ closet door groaned open, revealing a treasure trove of familiar scents. My hands danced over fabrics until I found what I wanted: Casimir’s sweater, Koa’s sweatpants, and Zane’s t-shirt. The acid green one that read, “Surviving purely out of spite.”
With a sigh of contentment, I climbed into their clothing, swaddling myself in a cocoon of moonflower, evening primrose, and night phlox. Brumous hopped up and made himself comfortable against the footboard, watching me with eyes that I swore held amusement.
“They’ll be home soon,” I told Brummy as I climbed into bed.
He gave me a nod and a soft woof, and I imagined him saying, “Pack together again soon. All safe in den.”
Giving him a kiss on top of his head, I curled up and burrowed into my scent nest with a happy smile.
#
The mattress dipped like a stone sinking into deep water. My eyelids fluttered open to moonlight painting three silhouettes across thewalls. Brumous made a disgruntledwhuffas cold air rushed under the blankets, his fuzzy weight shifting away from my feet.
“Shh, my love,” rumbled the chest beneath my cheek, and Casimir’s calloused palm cradled the back of my head. “We’re home.”
“Look at this nest of pilfered laundry.” From my left side, Zane’s arm banded around my ribs. His fingers slipped under Casimir’s sweater, found the hem of his shirt riding up my back, and gave it an approving tug.
