“Simmy?” I squeaked as I stared.
“I read a book.”
“You read a book?”
“Several, actually. I acquired every option available as far as product. I assume you’ll have a preference, but in case you wish to explore alternatives, you have them. As for Toxic Shock Syndrome, it’s a rare, but serious condition caused by—”
“We had anagreement, Serafina!” Zane paced behind us. “Operation: No Oopsy Babieswas clear! Cas, how do we stop this?”
“You want to stop the natural biological function of the female body?” Casimir raised a single brow.
“Yes! No! I don’t know!Night’s teeth!” Zane threw his hands in the air. “I just know I am not ready for kids!”
“I’m heading down to wash—” Koa paused at the closet doorway, arms full of stained sheets, and took one look at Zane spiraling and the blood sliding down Casimir’s chest. “Pest! Stop overwhelming her! And you, Doctor Cimmerian, take the poor girl to her moon-damned bathroom! You can talk her ear off while she showers! And send her nightie down with Zane so I can wash it, too.”
“Oh.” Casimir blinked. “Yes. Of course.”
Once I was standing under the spray of hot water, I tuned out Casimir as he cleaned himself up at the sink while lecturing me on tampon safety. Dropping my forehead against the tile, I let out a giggly sort of sigh.
Three powerful, terrifying monster hunters absolutely undone by my period.
I was used to their chaos now. Maybe Ishouldbe concerned more often than I was, but mostly, I just felt loved.
Then a cramp twisted low in my abdomen, making me wince. It had been nearly a year since my last cycle. I’d almost forgotten what it felt like. The discomfort, the mess, the inconvenient timing… Although, to be fair, I supposed there wasnevera convenient time.
Still, I wasn’t upset. If anything, it was just another sign of how far I’d come. Three months ago, I’d been frail, exhausted, my magic barely a whisper inside me.
Three months.
Three months of unexpected, but nearly perfect happiness with my husbands.
Casimir still had bad days. Times where doubt clouded his sharp eyes, where he woke in cold sweats, fingers trembling as he reached for me, for Koa, for Zane, just to make sure we were still there. But he cracked a joke every once in a while. Twice now, he’d let Koa take the lead on short day hunts. He didn’t step in front of Zane as often, didn’t stiffen every time I left his line of sight. Small things, quiet things, but they were proof that the wounds Amabel had left on him were no longer fresh.
Brumous and I had healed a lot, too. Both of us were at healthy weights again. In addition to five or six zoomies a day, Brummy was now up to morning walkies, afternoon walkies, and evening walkies as well as playtime with Addison, wrestling with Zane and sometimes Koa, and daily training with Casimir.
As for me, my mental fog had lifted and, while I still had a few gaps in my memory, I didn’t lose time anymore. With the constant exhaustion gone, I could focus and concentrate again.
I had asked my mates to train me, and they were. Zane focused on rebuilding my strength with physical therapy and exercises. Casimir taught me how to handle firearms with infinite patience. Although they weren’t my favorite, I wanted to know how to use a gun in case of an emergency. Koa walked me through technology until I could navigate devices a lot more confidently than before.
Best of all, my magic had returned. My reservoir was brimming over, power humming beneath my skin in a way it hadn’t for far too long.
I hadn’t forgotten Arabesque. How could I? My stepmother had left an indelible mark on me, and we all knew her evil was only escalating in her attempt to seize a crown, but I was stronger now than I had ever been. I had my magic back.
And I had three husbands, monsters who’d fight fang and claw for me, standing by my side.
#
The night was crisp and clear, the sky an endless stretch of velvet black, the perfect backdrop for July’s buck moon. I stood in the center of the lawn, Koa watching me with curiosity, Casimir with caution, and Zane with excitement.
Casimir had onlyjustrelented, finally acknowledging that my magic was fully restored. That meant tonight was my first real chance to show them what I could do.
I exhaled slowly, centering myself. Magic leapt at my call, eager, waiting. I reached out, searching for the moon’s light, feeling the cool, distant pulse of its energy. And then, with a small flick of my fingers, I called it to me.
A soft, silvery glow coalesced in my palms, forming a perfect sphere. It shimmered like captured starlight, shifting with the faintest movements of my fingers. I turned my hands slightly, shaping it, molding it. The light obeyed me effortlessly, bending to my will.
Koa let out a sharp breath. Casimir’s arms crossed, his eyes narrowing in thought. Zane, of course, immediately started yammering for me to do tricks, but Brumous came to my rescue, plowing into Zane’s chest and flattening him to the grass.
Alpha Fun play!Zane shared the wolf’s thought-speech with us via telepathy.
