Devil’s tail, they were pathetic. And Elyse loved every second of it.
She set down the last plate and twisted to face Killian. “I missed you, too,” she replied with a coy smile. She leaned backward, her back arching, as Killian held her around the middle and towered above her. His beautiful golden eyes were full of mischief and promises of more devious activities to come.
“If you two don’t keep your hands to yourselves, I suspect I’ll have some grandbabies running around here soon enough,” Mrs. Southwick called from where she reheated a pot of beans in the hearth.
Elyse's face burned so hot, she may as well have stuck her head in the fire. It was far too soon for any mention of children—even if Elyse had caught herself daydreaming a few times about a rascally toddler with Killian’s curls and her snark.
She moved to pull away, but Killian’s hands were firm on her waist. “Relax, Mum,” he huffed. “If anybody’s going to be havingbabies any time soon, it’s those two,” he said with a nod toward Manny and Sera.
Manny had been setting out the cutlery, but at the accusation, he looked up with astonishment. He glanced at Sera, then back to Killian. “Us? Definitely not. I’m far too good at pull—”
“Manny, no,” Killian interrupted, burying his face in his hand at the same time Mrs. Southwick exclaimed, “Manfried!”
Elyse didn’t bother to hide her laughter, especially as Manny shrugged and gave Killian a “You brought it up” look. Mrs. Southwick smacked him on the shoulder with her wooden spoon.
Sera, though, stood at the edge of the room. “Excuse me,” she murmured. Before anyone could say anything, she’d hurried away up the stairs.
The rest of them stared at one another, confused and trying to gather what had irked Sera so suddenly. Elyse moved to follow her friend, but Manny beat her to the stairs. “I’ve got it,” he told her with a solemn look.
Elyse nodded and tried not to worry as Manny disappeared up the stairs.
23
Killian
With the blindfold on, Killian could only see a slit of the hard-packed dirt beneath his boots. He knew he was in the training ring at the obstacle course by Elyse’s old shoppe. He also knew there were a dozen hay-stuffed target dummies surrounding the ring. He assumed that Manny was still standing beside him, also hindered by a blindfold, but he wasn’t entirely sure.
“Okay, I’m going to activate the dummies now,” Elyse called. She sounded like she was standing outside the ring.
“This feels ridiculous,” Killian groused. “There’s no way we’ll be able to protect ourselves.”
“I kind of like it,” Manny said. Based on his voice, he was indeed standing beside Killian. “This blindfold is giving me some ideas.”
Killian scoffed. “You’re disgusting sometimes.”
“Sometimes?” Elyse grumbled.
Killian smiled for a moment, happy to be among his friends. He wished Sera had joined them, but she hadn’t come out of her shared room with Manny all morning. Killian had cornered Manny the first chance he’d gotten and asked him the question that had been on his mind all night.
“Is she pregnant?”
Manny had gaped back at him, horror on his face. “What? No! At least…” He furrowed his brows as he pondered. “I don’t think so. I meant it when I said I’m very good at—”
“Please,” Killian interrupted him. “I don’t need to hear it again.”
But the question remained. If Sera hadn’t run off the night before because she was secretly pregnant, then what exactly about Killian’s comment had set her off? Or had it been something else altogether?
“Okay, the dummies are set!” Elyse announced.
Killian grimaced at his impossible task. “Seriously, how are we supposed to know where the attack is coming from?”
“It’s hardly an attack,” Elyse countered. “The dummies will shoot simple spells. It’ll feel like someone’s poking you. Now get ready.”
Killian bent his knees and spread his hands in a ready stance. “Okay, how are we supposed to shield—Ow! Manny!” He shoved Manny, who had bumped into him.
Elyse laughed, a feminine yet menacing sound. Killian both loved and hated how cruel she could be during training. It always paid off, pushing him to new skill levels, but he was failing to see how the blindfold would help.
“Let your magic guide you,” she called, no empathy in her voice.
