Catherine glanced back at her.“And don’t you dare touch your brother’s dessert.”Staring at the tabletop, she added, “I need to find out more about Sybil.I thought she was like this one.”She gestured vaguely to Milena.“A helpful assistant to the real power, Mary.I haven’t heard of anyone else stepping up, so she must be the head of the Corey Council now.I’ll see soon enough.The Wicches’ Council is in a few days.It’ll be interesting to see if they bother showing up, given I’ve charged Bracken with black magic.”
Milo chuckles but Milena looks worried.
Catherine stands.“Yes, fine, I’ll make a stronger spell.Milo, this time, it needs to be you.Your sister’s hopeless.Bracken is living at the gallery, so the wards being stronger there makes sense.Drop the curse where Sybil’s brat is living with the woodworker.I hear he might be a werewolf.I need to find Logan.He’s Alpha.He’ll know if this Declan is one too.It’s best to know who we’re dealing with, children.”She smirks, considering.“Mary’s probably rolling over in her grave, having a Corey take up with a werewolf.Then again, if the girl has no magic, Mary might not have cared.”
She pins Milo with a dark look.“You’ll take care of her.Here.”She takes a black candle off a shelf holding a book and an athame.“Take this one.It’ll bring us good luck.”
When I opened my eyes this time, my Uncle John was sitting on the bench across from me.“Hey, when did you get here?”
His eyes brightened as he smiled.“Hello, you.”He pointed at the bag in my lap.“Declan said you had a black magic spell planted at your new home.Are you okay?”
I nodded and caught him up on what the Swans had been doing as Declan poured seawater over my finger.Was Uncle John a member of the Corey Council?No, but who cared?I trusted him completely and he needed something to think about other than his dead wife and daughter.
“Is there anything I can do?”he asked.
I thought about it.“I don’t think so, but please make sure your wards are strong.If you’re not sure, Bracken and I can come over and shore them up.Now that you’ll be visiting regularly, they might decide to take an interest in you.”
His eyebrows went up.“I’ll be careful.My wards should be good.Sybil and your gran came to strengthen them when we realized Ca—when we realized who the sorcerer was.”
“Do you have cameras?”I asked.
He nodded.“I do now.”
“Can we come back now?”Osso grumbled.
“Not yet!”I called back.To Uncle John, I asked, “Are you here to check on me?”My hand went to my stomach.
“I am.”He looked between Declan and me.“Is this an okay time or should I come back later?”
“It’s a perfect time.Let’s go inside for a minute.”I turned to the law enforcement.“We’ll be right back.Talk amongst yourselves.”
Uncle John followed us into the studio and closed the door.“You seem like you’re in a better mood today.No morning sickness?”
I waved away the suggestion.“I still get that.”I looked at Declan, then back at John.“I had an oracular dream.The Goddess showed me our family.A daughter?—”
“Quinn,” Declan put in.
“And later, a son,” I finished.
Declan grinned broadly.“Mac.”
“Those were the names in the dream.”I shrugged, unable to dim my smile.
John took my gloved hand and squeezed.“I’m so happy for you both.”He held up his other hand.“Can I see how Quinn is doing?”
I nodded.When John put his hand on my lower abdomen and closed his eyes, I whispered to Declan, “Every time we use those names, we’re getting more locked in.Are we sure we like them?”
He leaned down and kissed me.“After you told me about them, I can’t see them any other way.They’re Quinn and Mac.Can you draw them for me?”
I nodded, taking Declan’s hand in my free one while we waited for word on the baby.
THIRTY-THREE
That Damn Baseball Again
The corner of John’s lips turned up.“She’s strong.And she’s bigger.I’d guess a week or so bigger than when I checked a couple of days ago.”He dropped his hand and stepped back.“She’ll arrive sooner than nine months.Given how much she’s grown already, maybe two more months?I’ll keep checking, though.It’s too soon for me to guess with any certainty.”
Declan laughed and kissed me again.“Dining chairs are being put on hold for cribs and changing tables.”
