Seri
I swirled my pencil across the notebook page, adding tiny whiskers to Brumous’ sketched face. The library around me was quiet except for the occasional rustle of my wolf pup shifting positions on the plush rug beside my chair.
“You like my drawing, Brummy?”
I tilted the paper so he could see the sketch of him chasing a bunny. His tail wagged against the floor, eyes bright as he looked up at me. I smiled and reached down to scratch behind his ears.
“Thanks, my baby, but I should really be studying.”
My gaze drifted to the ancient, leather-bound tome resting on the desk. Celestine’sTheories on Lunar Magicbeckoned with secrets I should be absorbing, especially since my ward against siphoning was still so incomplete, but the symbols swam before my eyes whenever I tried to focus.
All I could think about was how my three husbands had exchanged strange, serious looks at breakfast.
“We need to check something in the security room,” Casimir had said, his voice measured and calm as always. “Then we’d like to speak with you, Seri.”
Zane hadn’t even cracked a joke. That worried me most of all.
“What do you think they want to talk about, Brummy?” I added a fluffy cotton tail to the bunny, and he huffed in reply. “Are you suggesting they want to talk about treats?”
But my stomach twisted with worry. Had I done something wrong? Was I not fitting in at Evermere the way they’d hoped? Maybe they’d realized I was too damaged after everything with my stepfamily. Too empty after the siphoning. Too worthless…
The sound of footsteps in the hallway made me quickly flip my old notebook closed and straighten in my chair.
Casimir entered first, commanding the space as always. Koa followed, his dark eyes scanning the room before settling on me. Zanesauntered in last, hands in his pockets, but none of his usual mischief animated his features.
“Hi,” I said, my voice coming out higher than intended. “Did you fix whatever needed fixing?”
“For now.” Casimir nodded.
The three of them settled around me, Casimir taking the wingback chair opposite me, Koa perching on the couch to my left, and Zane hovering behind me.
“What’s this?” He plucked my notebook from my hands. “Secret diary?”
“Just some sketches,” I mumbled, heat rising to my cheeks.
He flipped it open, and his eyebrows shot up.
“Hey, these are pretty good. Look, she drew Brumous chasing a rabbit.”
When Koa held out his hand, Zane passed him the notebook.
“That’s charming, Seri.” He flipped to another page, showing Casimir, who studied it with sharp eyes.
“You have talent, little wife.”
“It’s just doodling.” I ducked my head. “I know I should have been working, but…”
“But it’s boring as sawdust,” Zane finished for me, grinning.
“I think I know something that might make itlessboring, though.” I chewed the side of my mouth, wondering if I should ask. There were only three blank pages left in my notebook, but I wasn’t sure I should ask for a new one. It was just for doodling, nothing important.
“Name it, Seri,” Koa coaxed. “Don’t even ask. Just say what you want, and it’s yours.”
“You’ve been so generous already, and it isn’t like I really need—”
“Shut. Your. Beautiful. Mouth,” Casimir said through clenched teeth. “Never accuse us of being generous again. We are your husbands. You are our wife. We provide what you need just as you provide what we need.”
“And what do I provide, Casimir?” I tilted my head to the side, studying his flashing green eyes.
