Fifteen minutes later I’m downstairs with the rest of my family, including Nana, who keeps shooting me funny looks. It feels like she wants to ask me something but doesn’t have the nerve to do it.
Surprising, I know. Since when does social etiquette stop my grandmother from anything?
My mother’s wearing a blue wrap dress that cinches at the waist, and my dad’s in a blue shirt with a sports coat over it.
Mama steps up. “Are we ready?” Oh, I hadn’t noticed her strappy heels until now. They’re adorable. Almost as cute as mine.
Just kidding. They’re cuter.
“Wait.” I clear my throat. “We’re waiting on one more.”
“Who?”
The doorbell rings and Dad walks to it. “I guess this is our mystery guest?” He opens the door and pauses. “Devlin. What a surprise to see you.”
Every head turns to me. Even Chelsea and Dallas, who already knew about this, of course. “I invited Devlin. Addison told me that I could bring someone.”
“But I thought you’d be bringing Storm,” Nana whispers in my ear.
I’d elbow her if I could—old or not.
Mama approaches Devlin with a wide smile on her face. “Devlin, good to see you. Everyone, say hello.”
All five of my sisters give a round ofhellos,and Devlin greets them in return.
Mama clasps her hands in front of her. “Are we ready then?”
Devlin threads his way through my sisters to stand by my side. “You look pretty,” he whispers.
“So do you,” I say with a wink.
He grins and little bluebirds flutter in my stomach.
He’s showered since I last saw him. His hair’s brushed back and his shirt collar lies open, revealing just enough tanned skin to make me want to see more.
Before I’m allowed to think too much about Devlin’s naked flesh, my mother says, “Then it’s time to leave.”
She claps her hands, and a halo of magic drops on me. I’m sucked from my spot in the middle of my living room.
Next stop, the castle on the hill.
27
“Blair, it’s so good to see you.” Addison kisses my cheek as we hug. “You look beautiful.” Her gaze swishes from me to Devlin and she beams. “And you brought my favorite wizard.”
Devlin grins and hugs her. “Good to see you, Addison. These are for you.”
He produces a dozen yellow roses and she gushes. “Thank you. That’s very thoughtful. Come in. Come in, everyone. Feylin’s outside with Ryals. I think they’re playing hide-and-seek.”
We head through the castle that’s all vaulted ceilings and tall windows, out to the garden, which is lush with blooming magnolia trees, fragrant gardenias and colorful crepe myrtles, not to mention the many rosebushes and hedges that make the space absolutely delightful.
Feylin picks up his little cousin, Ryals, and places him on his shoulders. Then he makes his way over to us, beaming. “I’m just getting the barbecue started. Who wants steak?”
There are manyyes,pleasesto that, and Feylin puts Ryals down so that he can properly greet us. When he gets to Devlin, he invites him and my father to help him with the barbecue.
“Someone said trucks keep dropping onto Main Street, just appearing with magic instead of driving in,” Dad murmurs to Mama before walking away. “Sounds dangerous. Reminds me of how dragons act.”
“Yes, dear,” she says, patting him on the shoulder. “Go do some manly cooking.”
