31
Iwalk into the open kitchen taking in the details that I failed to notice last night. Cream colored cabinets and countertops are set against exposed brick walls. There’s a mixture of old and new throughout the entire house, and it somehow feels perfect and complimentary.
The sisters are leaning against the counters in the kitchen conversing about something that has their hands flying around passionately and the looks on their faces intense. I perch against my own counter space and try to catch on to what they’re talking about, but as soon as I’m spotted, the conversation dies.
“Hello my love, how are you doing this morning?” Birdie asks me, her sweet smile and kind eyes running over me, assessing the situation herself.
“I’m good. One dramatic freak-out down, and hopefully not many to follow.” I offer casually, punctuating it with a slightly hollow chuckle.
Adelaide’s smile turns empathetic, and she tilts her head just slightly to the side, as she takes me in. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, Love. With everything that’s happened, all of it in such a short amount of time, it’s a wonder that you’re handling it all as well as you are.”
We all fall reflectively silent for a couple of seconds.
“So, what’re you ladies talking about?” I ask, grasping for something that changes the subject and steals me away from my thoughts about everything that’s happened since I ran into the paladin almost two months ago.
The sister’s shoot each other a loaded look, and it’s as if I can see the silent conversation that’s playing out in their gazes. Lila takes a deep, fortifying breath and looks at me in a way that tells me she just selected the short straw.
“We were talking about Lachlan, Love, and the others, and what we’re going to do.”
I nod my head even though I have no idea exactly what that means.
“Lachlan, Keegan, and Silva all left about a week ago to pursue some leads. The house is empty, and aside from keeping it clean, there’s really no need for us there at least not while they are gone. But we’re discussing whether or not we should stay when they return however long that may take.”
I look at them confused. “Why wouldn’t you stay? I thought you’d been working for the Aylins for a long time?”
Birdie nods at me and her smile grows pained. “We have, that’s true, but given everything that’s happened, staying there while Lachlan behaves the way that he does feels like we’re giving our permission, and that doesn’t sit right with us.”
I look away from her earnest blue eyes and process her words. I can’t help but wonder what the leads are that Lachlan and the others are looking into.
“Was Lachlan’s paladin title stripped?” I ask, suddenly recalling what Becket’s bitchy mom insinuated at the dinner from hell.
“He was given a demotion for behavior not in line with the beliefs of the paladin. When the elders wouldn’t sanction reopening Vaughn’s case, he stepped down altogether.”
I reign in the snort that tries to tumble out of me at Adelaide’s mention of the beliefs of the paladin. So far, the majority of paladin I’ve met reek of sexist, controlling bullshit. Lachlan’s behavior seems right in line with that.
“Why aren’t you married?” I blurt, since apparently every thought that pops into my head now has to come out of my mouth. “I mean, you can tell me it’s none of my business, and I’ll shut up, but I thought caster females are supposed to be rare and precious and all of that--not that I really think anyone actually believes that. At least, I haven’t seen any evidence that casters revere females. Doesreveremean control here? Is there a language barrier that I’m not aware of? Doespreciousactually mean commodity in caster?” I look over at the sisters’ bemused faces and realize I’m rambling. “Yeah so, how did you get out of the wholeencouragedbinding thing?”
The sister’s chuckle and their previously troubled features smooth out with their tinkling amusement.
“We’re Nulls, Vinna,” Lila tells me, as if I should know what that means.
Reading my baffled expression, she continues. “We have almost no magic. And no magic means no interest in binding with us or forming a coven.”
My eyebrows crinkle, and my mouth falls slightly open with the frustration I feel for Lila’s statement.
“But you’re fucking awesome!” I exclaim. They all give me a sweet smile, and Adelaide just shrugs her shoulders. “How is that overlooked and buried under what your magical abilities may or may not be?”
This time Lila gives me the shrug.
“Fuck casters then, let’s go find you ladies some silver foxes of the human variety.”
I push off the counter like I’m ready to go get them some love right this minute, but their chortles make me pause, and the fact that none of them have moved to follow me also clues me in that maybe they’re not as into my plan as I am. Bastien walks into the kitchen takes in my expression and the laughing sisters and walks over to me like he’s my reinforcement for whatever’s going on.
“What’s got the sisters all a cackle?” he asks me, before pressing a kiss to my temple.
Knox, Ryker, Sabin, and Valen all pour into the room, Evrin and Aydin bringing up the rear. Their synchronized arrival makes me momentarily wonder what they were all doing together. Last we spoke, everyone was heading off to get dressed before breakfast. But the sudden group entrance makes me feel like I missed some kind of impromptu meeting. The sisters’ giggles taper off, and it distracts me from my suspicious thoughts.
“We like our life, Vinna. We’re happy with what we have, and no male, human or otherwise, could make things any better.” Lila tells me with a warm smile.
