“No, my brothers can come in at any time,” Quin replied.
“So this is a secret?” asked Theo.
“Yes.”
“Oh…okay, what about my bedroom? Do you care if pooh bear knows?” asked Theo.
“He won’t tell anyone, will he?” asked Quin.
“Not if I ask him not to.”
“Then that’s okay,” Quin whispered, giggling.
“Oh this is so exciting,” said Theo. “Isn’t it, Ki?’
“It is. Can I have a hint?” asked Kieran.
“Good idea, Ki,” Theo concurred. “What about it, Quin, can we have a hint?” Theo asked.
“Uh-huh,” Quin whispered, so faintly that no one other than Theo and Kieran could hear him. “I need your help in making a dream come true.”
Theo’s mouth formed an ‘O’, matching the shape of his eyes. “Oh. My. Goodness. We are going to be fairy godmothers, just like in Cinderella!”
~/~/~/~/~
“You’re awfully quiet this morning,” Maximus said during their chopper flight from San Francisco. “Is everything all right?”
Reaching out, Oracle intertwined her fingers with her husband’s. “Am I? Sorry, I guess I am just woolgathering.” Then turning to look out the helicopter’s window, she saw they were about to land at the Blackwood Pack house. Noticing a motorhome parked in the driveway, she said, “The cousins have arrived.”
Peering over his wife’s shoulder, Maximus said, “So they have.” Then sitting back, he studied his wife, noticing the tension in her face. He wondered if it had anything to do with the cousins, but he knew better to ask, so he did what he always did at times like these, sent her all his love through their mind link, hoping it would ease her worries.
Steel watched as his parents climbed out of the helicopter, then, stepping off the porch he headed to help them with their luggage. Receiving his father’s text a few moments ago, he followed its instructions to meet his parents by himself. The unusual request had raised his curiosity as well as Jackson’s, but they’d have to wait to see the reason for it.
“Hi sweetie,” Oracle said, giving her son a hug and a kiss. “How’s Daniel?”
“Getting into trouble every day. I thought my son was supposed to be like me instead of my brother,” replied Steel, returning his mother’s hug.
“Danielislike you, dear. Have you forgotten all the things you did in your childhood?”
“Uh-uh. You’re confusing me with Slate. He was trouble with a capital ‘T’.”
“You just keep thinking that, son.” Maximus laughed, embracing Steel.
“No…wait a minute. All the shenanigans were always Slate’s ideas and I was just trying to keep him under control,” replied Steel. Seeing his parents exchange smiles and knowing looks, he said, “Forgetting my trouble-making brother for a moment, why did you want to see me alone?”
“Don’t look so worried, son, your mother just wants to go to our suite without anyone seeing her,” Maximus said.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Steel blurted out, “Why?” Then realizing his mistake, he said, “Not important. Dad, you and Mom can enter your room through the French doors leading to your patio. Just follow that path. Everyone is still eating, so no one will see you. I’ll take care of your luggage and bring it to your room shortly. Do you want a pot of tea and some toast?”
“That would be great, son,” said Maximus. “Your mother and I ate breakfast at the hotel before we left but we could always use a cup of tea.” Taking Oracle’s hand, he then led her down the path Steel pointed out.
“It’s good to see you again, sir,” Robert, the pilot, said to Steel. “I’ll get the luggage.”
“C’mon, Robert, I’ll help you, and then get Mom and Dad their tea.”
~/~/~/~/~
Waiting for his muse to appear, Fionn stared at the blank piece of paper before him as he’d done since coming back from showering. Finally, throwing his pencil down in disgust, he stood, too upset to draw; the bond with his mate had grown stronger when he went home to shower.Now, all he could think of was his mate and his need to be near him. It was driving his dragon crazy and Fionn wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep him from forcing a shift.
