“Just look at him!” Seri called over the hair dryer, and the wolf’s eyes rolled back in ecstasy as hot air fluffed his hair. “He’s a natural!”
“Like a dandelion gone nuclear.” With raised eyebrows, Cas stared at the cloud of gray fluff.
“Terrifying guardian.” Koa squinted at the wolf’s blissful expression. “Loves blowouts.”
“Boy’s got priorities, Alpha Boom.” I thumbed a scar along Brummy’s flank.
“Alpha Boom?” everyone chorused.
“Maybe Brum-Brum thinks Koko is our bomb expert or something.” I shrugged, havingno ideawhy Brumous bestowed Boom on Koa.
“And what is Simmy?” Seri asked as she held the wolf’s face and kissed him between his eyes.
“Alpha Sharp.” I watched as she and Ko nodded, not even questioning it, while Casimir scowled. “Hey, at least he didn’t call you Alpha Sparky or Alpha Blondie.”
That got a giggle out of Addison, who was chewing his thumbnail nearby. When the dryer cycled off, Brumster ambled over and shoved his fluffy head under the kid’s hand, and Addison’s lips twitched up a little. Just enough to make Seri grab Koa’s hand withwide eyes and a muffled squeal, like a mama bird watching her chick fledge for the first time.
Getting to my feet, hands on hips, I surveyed the scene with a satisfied grin. More than half the wisteria still surviving. Pergola still standing. Ko kissing Seri senseless. Seri laughing against his lips. A scared shitless boy smiling. A dire wolf pup broadcasting one word,happy, and thinking it smelled like bacon. Oh, and Cas lunging for the hair dryer before it fell into the koi pond.
It was pure found family meets disaster squad energy.
And I never wanted it to end.
13. Fracture Between Them
Foster Collins
When I slipped through the open door, I discovered that Arabesque’s office still smelled like blood and brimstone from yesterday’s demon summoning. I’d been summoned myself, this time for something mundane: Her pre-departure instructions while she gallivanted off to Chicago for her witch conference.
Her eyes flashed with promised violence if I failed her, which would have been terrifying if I hadn’t built immunity to threats after years of living without my wolf at the surface. Hard to fear death when you’re already half-dead inside.
“Foster.” She packed an ancient grimoire into her sleek leather briefcase. “It’s unlikely Amabel or Eluned will listen to you, but remind them of my orders if they try following me to Chicago. Maybe one will live long enough to regret it.”
“Do you want them alive?” I asked.
“That’ll depend on the scope of their ambition.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I kept my tone neutral, hands clasped behind my back like a good little soldier. “I’ll remind the twins of your directive should they inquire or attempt to depart.”
“See that you do.” Arabesque’s pale green eyes dissected me like I was a particularly disappointing specimen. “The conference is for established witches only. Not children playing at power.”
I bit back a smile. If Amabel and Eluned were “children playing at power,” then I was the tooth fairy. Those two were vicious intheir own unique ways, Amabel a calculating chess master and Eluned a tornado in a trailer park. But I kept my thoughts to myself. Surviving Arabesque Harrow meant knowing when to shut the hell up.
“The rogues will need supervision this weekend as well,” she continued, snapping her briefcase shut. “I trust you can manage both responsibilities?”
“Of course.” I gave a slight nod, just enough deference to stroke her ego without appearing pathetic. “The pack respects my authority, however temporary.”
That got a thin-lipped smile. She loved being reminded that she’d managed to collect a wolf shifter with alpha blood to do her bidding. What she didn’t know was that my loyalty had never been anyone’s but my own.
“This conference is vital,” she said, turning to gaze out the window at the Michigan countryside. “I’ve spent years cultivating relationships with key covens across the country.”
“Building alliances is always wise,” I offered, fishing for more.
She took the bait, preening slightly. Arabesquelovedexplaining her own brilliance.
“Not just alliances, Foster. I’m creating a network. A hierarchy of covens, each with specific territories and responsibilities.” Her eyes gleamed with ambition. “A witch mafia, if you will. Each ‘family’ answering to me.”
I raised my eyebrows, feigning impressed surprise while my mind filed away this information for my next report.
