Sirena blew smoke rings and let out a satisfied sigh. “You’ve outdone yourself, Cliona.”
Moira lit hers, took a few puffs, and passed it over. I stared at it for a moment. “What the hell,” I whispered, and joined in, passing it to Rowan when I was finished. Mom had her own, so Rowan passed it back to Moira.
Mom snapped her fingers. A small firepit appeared in the middle of our makeshift circle. Another snap and a cheery blaze lit, the sound of wood popping and crackling lending a cozy feeling to our gathering.
“Now we’re talking,” Moira said, coughing a little before she passed the joint back over.
We were silent for a while. I was digesting the night’s events and wondering what our next steps should be when a slow, languorous feeling crept through my body. All the stress and worry fell right out of my head.
“Oh,” I whispered. “That’snice.”
Rowan’s chest rumbled with a laugh. “How much would you charge for this?” he asked Mom.
“Family is always free,” Mom said. Her words were a little slower and her eyes a little more glittery.
Sirena clicked her tongue. “And me?”
“Full price,” Mom said. “Plus fifteen percent.”
Sirena showed her teeth. “Honestly, Cliona. You can’t possibly still be mad after all these years.”
Mom sighed. “I can’t be mad at much of anything right now. Ask me tomorrow.”
Moira snort laughed. “What did you do to her?”
Sirena sighed. “I flirted with her boyfriend.”
I gasped. “Dad?”
The siren rolled her eyes. “Yes. In my defense, everyone flirted with Cernunnos.”
“Were you friends before this?” I looked at Mom, who watched Sirena with the intensity of a leopard about to pounce from the brush.
When Sirena winced, Moira let out a chortle.
“Noooooo,” I breathed. “Were you two besties?”
Mom took another hit and squinted at the siren. “Besties. I’ve never heard that word, but yes, we were what the humans called best friends.”
“Sirena, you ignorant little cow,” Moira murmured.
I belly laughed. Rowan’s amusement rumbled against my back. He shifted and brought up a knee, allowing me to lean back a little further. I laced our fingers together. Rowan stroked his thumb over the back of my knuckles, sliding down the back of my hand toward the wrist.
I felt good. Relaxed, happy, and secure. I can’t remember the last time I hadn’t stressed about anything. This stuff Mom brought was dangerous. If I had access to it, I’d never get anything done. I’d curl up with Rowan and waste the day away.
I tilted my head up and watched him. He dropped a kiss on my nose. “Feeling good?” he asked, his voice a low rasp.
“Mmmm.” I liked hearing him talk. With my other hand, I reached up and stroked the line of his jaw, my thumb sliding over his bottom lip. He was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
Rowan’s eyes crinkled. “We have an audience,” he whispered. “But I’m not going to care if you keep looking at me like that.”
“You make me feel safe. Cherished. I love who I am when I’m with you.”
Rowan’s eyes turned gold. He bent to kiss me when magic flared against the wards.
His head jerked up. Mom let out a soft curse.
“We have company.” She rose and straightened her skirts, approaching our unwanted guest. “Lord Caelan, we are in the middle of a private gathering.”
