THE VEIL
Sabina wasn’t sure why Raijin insisted she come to his headquarters. Kehlani was currently getting ready for her first sleep over, and Sabina had been helping her pack. All the while laying down the rules of the dos and don’ts of sleeping over.
Do enjoy yourself, do not hex anything living.
She’d tried her best to allow Kehlani the freedom of using her magic, but her daughter enjoyed testing the boundaries of her gift. She was going to be a handful once she learned how to use her magic correctly.
Entering the building she was surprised to see both Eliza and Oye. She smiled greeting them, “I wasn’t expecting to see you two.”
“Yo,” Oye said in way of greeting giving Sabina a tired look. “I wasn’t planning on being here, but Castian legit dragged me from the bed and said he’d try to cook if I didn’t come.” She gave a small shudder. “So, I had no choice.”
“You don’t like his cooking?” Eliza asked casually as she finished signing into the building. She had stopped hiding her surgical scars. The love of her werewolf gave her abundant confidence.
“It’s more like he gets frustrated and usually he does because he has no limit to his insanity. I’ll walk into my kitchen to find a destroyed oven or fridge. And the kids devouring sweets. I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced hyperactive Elves but it’s not pretty.” Oye said a dead look in her eyes.
Sabina laughed at this, “Well at least they listen to you to some extent.”
Oye grumbled, as they made their way to the elevator. “That’s another problem. They are starting to take on Castian’s traits. I raised them with love, and reason and they decide out of all the people in the world to emulate they should emulate the man who looks up death curses for fun. I also still check in on my father every once and while to make sure he isn’t dead.”
“Ha-ha.” Sabina entered the elevator and sucked in a quick breath. Slowly releasing it, she sighed. “Well at least you don’t have your kidneys being kicked around. I swear this child is either going to play soccer or come out a natural born Tae Kwon Do black belt with the number of times he kicks me.”
Eliza laughed. “You don’t have much longer. Your kidney’s will be free soon.”
“I can’t wait,” Sabina said with feeling. “Imagine, my stomach will no longer belong to someone else.”
“Ah, well I might not be free for long,” Oye whispered her head down.
Both Eliza and Sabina looked at her then down at her stomach.
“There isn’t anything yet,” she snapped, her embarrassment clear. “But you know, as a Witch, I can just tell.”
Eliza pressed a hand to her own stomach. “How?”
Oye and Sabina shared a look sometimes they forgot that Eliza had grown up predominantly in the human world and when she had finally come to the Shade she’d been designated a dub Witch.
Oye’s expression remained thoughtful. “Well, for me, I have metal that runs through my blood. So, it felt odd that the metal flow seemed to avoid my middle. As if something was pushing it back. My first thought was perhaps something was broken while fighting with Castian.”
Eliza’s brow creased. Just what kind of fight would those two have where she’d thought she’d damaged her stomach? Maybe what Malcolm had said was true, the two were a blood thirsty couple.
Sabina shrugged. “Well with me, I inadvertently leak magic and most of the time it has a bland aroma. With Kehlani it took on a cinnamon scent. I think with this one, it was nutmeg.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully, “either way Lanias complained because she wasn’t’ really into sweets.”
At the mention of her deceased sister the other two grew somber. Realizing what she’d done, Sabina waved her hands. “Don’t do that. You don’t have to worry, I’m fine.”
Oye nodded. “As long as you are fine.”
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking and you’re right. Lanias wouldn’t want me constantly thinking about the past,” Sabina said with a smile. “She’d be irritated if she saw me.”
The elevator released a ding as the doors opened on the fourth floor.
“Damn right she would be,” Oye muttered, entering the hallway.
Eliza followed the two, wondering mildly if they had always been this strong. She’d tried finding a way of her own to mourn, but she couldn’t stop feeling guilty. She spent most of her energy focused on her mate Malcolm and his nephew struggling to grow strong after much loss Although she enjoyed the mothering role it was new and the adjustment was intense.
“Well, let’s hurry this along. I want to get some sleep as soon as possible,” Oye said as they reached the meeting room. Pushing the door open she boldly entered only to come to a sudden stop.
Sabina who’d been right behind her came to stop as well, her hands jerking up to cover her mouth in shock.
Eliza noticed their expressions and searched the room to find the source of their shock.
