“I can’t believe it’s over,” Elon states pensively, and we all kind of float on that thought for a moment.
“There’s still a lot of political moves to be made in the next year as the mancer community recovers. Our smear campaign did its job, which is great, but it’s going to take a lot of time to bounce back and rebuild from the level of corruption that was uncovered. The news says the High Council high-rise was pretty fucked up after that angry mob got done with it. Reports are saying that Sorrel and her two right-hand men are on the run, which will embolden some of their supporters,” Rogan points out.
“Good, let it embolden them. Makes it easier to cut them out like the cancers they are. People have their eyes open now, and they’re not going to tolerate the same crap as before. There will be elections and hopefully a lot of changes in the near future. And of course, we’ll all be there to try to steer things in the right direction,” Elon declares.
“Well, not us, we’re still renounced. Once a renounced witch, always a renounced witch,” Rogan states like he’s reciting a famous slogan.
“You don’t think they’ll lift it?” Tad asks, confused.
“No, we’d have to tell them what really happened, and there’s no chance in hell I’m risking that information. Between that and keeping a lid on how Lennox got demon magic, we’ve got plenty of secrets to protect, which means we stick to the shadows and keep our noses out of things,” Rogan tells him, a tired chuckle punctuating his words.
“Fair point,” Tad concedes, sneaking a quick look over at Prek.
Yep. There’s definitely something going on there.
Another bone-tingling yawn takes over me, and I feel Rogan laugh against my back. I’m enjoying the catch-up session as we all wind down and try to decompress, but I’m so tired I feel like I could sleep for a week. And now that we don’t have a war to fight, I’m really hoping I can.
“What did Riggs say when you called him to tell him the war was off?” Elon asks Rogan.
“He was oddly bummed out,” he admits with a deep laugh. “Several of the packs were ready to go balls to the wall against the High Council. Riggs said leave it to Lennox to steal everyone’s thunder.”
I laugh and shake my head. “You know what they say: no balls, no babies,” I declare, pretending to be all macho and savior-like.
“What? Who says that?” Prek demands, looking at me like I’ve lost it.
“Wait. You want babies?” Elon adds, a cheeky smirk on his face.
I blush and immediately start panicking. “What? No. I didn’t say anything about me wanting babies, it’s a saying,” I defend.
“That is definitelynota saying,” Tad taunts, totally calling me out.
“I mean, if you want us involved in discussing such an important decision, just say so. You don’t have to make up a saying and make things all awkward,” Elon jokes.
I flip everyone the bird and then turn to Rogan. “I didn’t say shit about wanting babies,” I reassure him, and he shrugs, not bothering to hide the amused glint in his eyes.
I get up off the couch and shoot everyone a glare. “I am going to bed, and each and every one of you can fuck right off. Also, I would just like to point out that in the future, when I save all of your asses, you can thank me with soft clothes and blankets and your undying love and devotion.”
“Naturally,” Tad scoffs like that’s already a done deal, and I give him a wink before abandoning them all and fleeing for the comfort of a hot shower and a soft bed.
“I’m going too,” Rogan announces, which is peppered by a series of sniggers.
We make it to the bottom of the stairs, and then Prek yells, “Don’t forget: no balls, no babies!”
Laughter erupts from the living room, and I bury my face in my hands in total mortification.
“And just when I was starting to like that guy,” I grumble, my cheeks on fire. “I swear that’s a saying,” I tell Rogan over my shoulder, and he just laughs and swats my ass as I start up the stairs. “I’m not even close to thinking about kids, okay? I want you to know that, just in case you’re silently screaming inside and freaking out.”
“I’m not,” he tells me evenly, but I don’t miss the mirth twinkling in his eyes.
“Good, because neither am I.”
“Yeah, you just said that,” he points out, and a cheeky smile slinks slowly across his face.
“I don’t even think I want kids. Plus, the whole immortal thing, that doesn’t exactly work as a parent. Plus, we just won a war, and we’re still getting to know each other.”
“I thought you weren’t thinking about it,” Rogan teases.
“I’m not, obviously. I’m absolutelynotthinking about it.”
