Asher’s mug clinks against the countertop. “Same-same.”
Orion laughs. “Yeah, pretty much.”
I pour myself another glass of juice and pass the carton to Wylder. He’s been quieter than usual, and I’m not sure if that’s just his way to process or if something is bugging him.
"We don’t have to be shifters to be pack,” Asher says. “Poppy and I have been pack for years. We just didn’t know it.”
“We should get tattoos,” Rowan adds.
Asher points his fork at her. “We definitely should, Ro. You and I will start working on the design. If anyone has ideas they want considered, let us know.”
“If we put your design idea within this symbol, it could also act as a brand against demon possession.” Wylder has the anti-possession brand symbol on his phone and holds it up for everyone to see. “I think we should all get one.”
Asher and I lean in to check out the symbol. “Agreed. I’m in for anything that protects us from demon possession.”
“I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that you’ve played bingo with the Goddess Mother,” Rowan says.
Laughter bubbles up and out before I can stop it. "Yeah, we had to learn the names of her entire lineup of lucky troll dolls and everything."
"What?" Wylder looks between me and Asher like we've both lost our minds. “Man, you should never meet your idols.”
I laugh again. “No, you absolutely should. Knowing that she wears overalls and plays bingo and likes to knit awful festive sweaters just makes her all the more magical.”
Orion pushes his empty plate away and leans back. “I want to hear more about this grotto.”
Wylder pulls out his phone to check a notification. “I want to hear more about Asher being Poppy’s guardian angel. What does that mean in terms of powers?”
He finishes reading his message and frowns, raising a finger. “Hold please. It's Mica. She says she can feel the Cinderheart Crucible calling to her and is calling the Brigade together for a mission.
My spine straightens. "Is she sure?”
He looks at me and shrugs. “I’m just the messenger.”
I exchange glances with everyone and stand. “All right. Let’s get ready to saddle up for a field trip. We’re off to find a mythical forge.”
Mica arrives twenty minutes later, with Clara and Lizzy in tow. The extra spring in Mica’s step has her teal, purple, and blue hairwhipping around behind her like a peacock's tail. “The scrying spell is working."
I finish tying my shoe and greet her. "You found it?"
"Not found, exactly. Ifeelit." Mica presses a hand to her sternum, her fingers splayed. "It's close. Pulsing in my veins, like a heartbeat just under my ribs. The Cinderheart Crucible ishere."
"Here? Like in Emberwood?"
"No, here, like in the country." She turns in a slow circle, her face tilted like she's tracking something invisible. "Southwest, I think. The pull is strong."
Asher strides in, his compound bow slung across his stomach, loading metal bolts into the harness as he walks. "Now that everyone is here, Sebastian is heading out to the stones. He says for Mica to come out as soon as possible so she can guide him to get us a portal target.”
“Awesome, thanks.” Mica lets off a squeal and hurries off toward the back of the house.
“Is Rowan coming down?” I ask.
“She’s on the back deck with Orion and Wylder.” He looks up to chat with me and fumbles with the bolt in his hand. It tumbles toward the floor and as he curses and stumbles to catch it, a surge of energy crackles in the air.
The metal bolt hits the floor, bounces once, and lands as a long-stemmed gerbera daisy.
He picks up the flower and looks at me. “Did you do that?”
I shake my head. “No, that was all you.”
