He sighed.“She holds more anger than I do.She hates her sister loudly and I have a hard time hearing it.”
“I see, and I’m sorry.”
“Me too, sweetie.Me too,” he said.“So, what are the two secrets you need to tell me?”
EIGHT
Our First Guest
“Oh, right.”I wiped the tears from my face.The secrets.“They’re kind of connected.You remember my boyfriend Declan, right?”
“Sure.Tall, good-looking werewolf who has hearts in his eyes when he looks at you,” Uncle John replied.
I grinned to myself.“That’s the one.The first secret is that he’s a magical null.”
I heard an intake of breath over the phone.“The Goddess found you your perfect mate.”
“She did.I can touch him, and I don’t see anything.A little seawater and my magic is reset.”
“I’m so happy for you,” he said.
“Thanks.He also allows me to sleep without nightmares, assuming he’s holding me.”It really was a miracle.
“Thank goodness.”
“I know.Anyway, I don’t think anyone other than Mom and Bracken know, but Declan built us a home over his workshop, right down the road from my gallery.Do you remember the old derelict arcade with the merry-go-round?”
“Sure.You kids loved that place when you were little.”
“Right.Well, he bought it.He’s an amazing woodworker.The ground floor is his workshop and showroom.The second floor is our new home.”
His voice lightened on a quick laugh.“You’re living together?No one told me.”He paused.“Tell me the truth, Arwyn.”His voice had grown serious.“Do you love him?Is he the one?”For most of my growing up years, Uncle John had been more of a dad to me than an uncle.How quickly he’d slipped back into that role.
I curled up even tighter on the couch, like I was trying to protect the warm glow in my chest.“I love him very much.”I paused for a moment, remembering.“I don’t know if you’ll recall, but we talked years ago about my life.I told you I didn’t expect to live long.Cassandras never do.I wasn’t happy, but I was content.I had my art and my sea creature friends to keep me company.”
I shook my head, still not believing it.“Everything’s different now.I’m happy, Uncle John.I have a life now I never thought was possible, one I never even dared to dream of because I knew I could never have it.Now I have this incredibly kind and loving man bending over backwards to please me.Mom and I are actually getting along.I’m getting to know my dad.I have my own gallery.And, um, secret number two.I’m pregnant.”
I heard a quick intake of breath.“How do you feel about that?”
“I’m excited and scared.She’s always in the back of my thoughts—or the front of them.She’s part of this crazy life I never thought I could have.Part of me worries she’ll be another Cassandra.I mean, I think she’s unprecedented.Cassandras don’t live long enough to reproduce.”
“Who would know better how to raise her if she was?”he asked.
I grinned.“Yeah.I keep telling myself that.She’s also half werewolf.Declan is a Quinn, the origin line.She might shift into a cub in her crib.Declan didn’t start shifting until his adolescence, but she’ll also be part wicche and part fae, so who knows?
“I was hoping you could come check on her and see what you feel?Mom said her pregnancy with me was a normal nine months.Declan said natural wolves gestate for about two and a half months.We have no idea if this pregnancy will be shortened or not.We’re hoping if you could monitor me, we’d have a better idea of when she’s coming.”
“I’d be honored to, honey.”He cleared his throat.“You keep sayingher.Are you guessing or do you know?”
I snickered.“My dad is the one who told me I was pregnant and he referred to her as a girl.Today at the Council meeting, both Mom and Faith said girl, so we’re assuming girl.”
“Faith?”he asked.“Is little Faith on the Corey Council now?”
“She is.”
“Well, good for her and good for the Council.Faith and Frank are both wonderful kids.Okay, when would you like a visit?”
I thought about it and what I’d seen of Uncle John in that vision.“Are you busy now?We’ve been pretty nervous about the whole thing.And Declan went to pick up an Italian food feast.You can have dinner with us, then check on her progress.”
