Ross shook his head and looked about, trying to spot his boyfriend.With a over a hundred people in the house, not including a victorious Mari Lwyd, it proved something of a challenge.Glenn’s house was large enough to accommodate them all, but only just.With the music playing—not that Ross recognized the music—and the people talking, and all the distractions around him, he didn’t have a prayer of even hearing his boyfriend’s voice.
What were the odds Glenn had his phone on him.That was the question.
“Ross?”
He froze, stiffer than an abandoned popsicle left in the freezer for a decade.That sounded terribly like his mother.Please let that not be his mother.Ross hadn’t actually wished for anything this Christmas yet, he still had the power of a wish left, so Santa, listen.Let that not be his mother.That was all he asked for.Deal?
Ross turned by inches, eyes growing wider and wider with horror as he spied his mother standing uncertainly just inside the door.In her hands was a plate of cookies, her favorite white winter coat on, a tentative smile on her face that looked stiff and on the verge of cracking.
Imani’s eyes kept darting here and there, taking in the coblynaus as they raced like children through the foyer, so obviouslynothuman.The kitsune who was happily munching on fried chicken that went up the stairs, tails swishing in a merry rhythm.The masquerade masks fooled absolutely no one.
They were the only two humans within sight.
“Ross?”she repeated, voice going high and thin.“What is this?”
Ross stared back at her, torn between panic and resignation.Wasn’t there supposed to be a handbasket?Things had certainly gone to hell fast enough.His mother’s knees looked on the verge of going out from underneath her.He went straight to her, wrapping a supportive arm around her waist, and started hauling her towards Glenn’s study.It was the only quiet place on offer.The clan knew better than to go in there.“Come on, Mama.I’ll explain, but we need to get to a quiet place first.”
“Ross?”
He turned his head to see Bobo standing just inside the door, shifting from foot to foot.He looked between them, worrying at his bottom lip.“Was I not supposed to show her here?”
Well.That explained how his mother had arrived precisely at the wrong place at the wrong time.“It’s fine, Bobo.”The hell it was.“Take the plate of cookies to my house, will you?”
Bobo’s worry melted into relief.“Sure.”
Imani released the platter of cookies readily enough, her eyes still darting around in confusion.“Child, what is this?”
How did he answer that?How did he even begin to frame this in a way that she could easily wrap her head around it?He had no idea if it was even possible, but the cat was thoroughly out of the bag now.All he could do was try and hope he didn’t make a muddle of it.Ross answered even as he hauled her through the front rooms, navigating his way around the party-goers.“You remember when you used to take me down to Louisiana for summer holidays, and Grandmama would tell me stories of voodoo and creatures that lived in the swamp?”
“Those were just tall…tales…” Her voice trailed off as she spied the werewolves stretched out in front of the fire, drying out after their epic snow fight outside.With their dogs.
“None of it’s tall tales, Mama.”Ross reached the office door with relief, opening it quickly and escorting them both inside before someone could try and catch him with a request.He got the door shut in record time before escorting her to the couch.
Imani sank onto it like her strings had been cut.She stared at Ross as if she’d never seen him before.But behind her shock, under her disbelief, her mind whirled into high gear.“What is this place?”
Ross sat opposite her on the coffee table, looking her in the eyes and judging how to say this.Facts would likely be best.“Clan Ó Riagáin, a home to one hundred and twenty-six supernatural beings from all different mythologies, cultures, and countries.”
“Supernatural,” she whispered breathlessly.“Like those too-big dogs.Those weren’t dogs.”
“No, they’re werewolves.”
“And the little ones, that looked like strange children?”
“Coblynaus.They’re mining gnomes from Wales.”
“And that beautiful one, with all the fox-looking tales?”
“A kitsune, a nine-tailed fox from Japan.”Ross couldn’t figure out if she was taking this well or not.She seemed to be in the early stage, the one Ross himself had been in, where disbelief warred with the need to understand.To have all the facts so he could make a judgement call, one way or another.
“And the one who showed me to the house?”
“He’s a half-orc, Bobo.Sweet guy, as you can probably tell.Not too bright, but nice enough.”Ross might wring his neck later.
Imani’s eyes closed and she took in a deep breath.“You just turned my world upside down.”
“To be fair, you did that.”Ross shook his head.Of course it hadn’t gone according to plan.Since when did anything Ross plan out actually work as it was supposed to?“Glenn and I wanted to have a quiet dinner with you and start slowly easing you into the idea.Not just throw you into the deep end.”
Her eyes were sharp again, no longer looking as dazed.“And what is Glenn?”
