“About Fia—”
“Not another word about Fia. I’m trying to be fair, but I’m this close to telling Christopher to kill her.” Meggie held her thumb and index finger slightly apart. “Please stop bringing herup. You like her but if you like heralive, you’ll heed me.”
He nodded.
A little snore emanated from the other bed. Stepping to the side, she saw that Axel was asleep, too.
Meggie squinted. Her son’s fingers gripped the comforter so tightly, they were turning white. She swore his eyelashes fluttered.
Another snore, much louder this time.
Shaking her head, Meggie backed away until she stood in front of Kaia and placed a finger over her lips.
“Have a good night,” she said, walked to the door and closed it.
Folding her arms, she waited.
“That was close, K. The Blonde Warrior—”
“Is right here,” Meggie snapped, stalking to Axel’s bedside.
Axel’s eyes widened, then he scrambled out of bed—fully dressed—stretched his arms out in front of him and started walking. “I’m sleeping a lot,” he said in slow tones. “I don’t know I’m out of bed.”
Kaia snorted a laugh. Unable to help herself, Meggie laughed too.
“Why were you pretending to sleep, son?”
Hands still straight out, he glanced over his shoulder and opened one eye. “I’m sleepwalking, Mom. How am I faking?”
Meggie glared at him.
“Oh brother. You’re good. You get a man to confess his crimes with just a look.” He marched back to the bed and grinned at her. “You’re so pretty, Mom. Cool, too. So cool you’d never punish me cuz I need to talk to Kaia.”
“You need to talk to Kaia?” Meggie didn’t understand his reasoning. “That’s why you didn’t want me to wish you goodnight?” she asked, hoping for clarity.
Axel ran to her and hugged her. Unable not to respond, Meggie returned her son’s hug and kissed the top of his head.
Tipping his head back, he grinned. “You’re forgivable so you won’t hold a grudge and stay mad.”
“Forgiving,” Meggie corrected.
“Yeah, that.”
“You still haven’t told me why you pretended you were asleep and why you’re fully dressed.”
He glanced down at himself, then looked at Meggie again. “A wizard knocked me out. When I came to, I had my clothes on again.”
“Axel,” Meggie gritted.
“I was going to get ice cream float stuffs for me and Kaia, then see if he wanted to walk outside a little while. I forgot my robe and it’s chilly outside.”
Meggie accepted the explanation. He got into a lot of mischief, but he didn’t lie. “If Kaia doesn’t want to walk outside, you can’t go.”
“But I’m not afraid, Mom.”
“Promise me, Axel Caldwell.”
“You’re hitting me with the double name. I should probably quit while I’m in front.”
