I’m not sure what it is about magpies, but they look not just dangerous but like they hate you. I do like them, though, even though they have reputations for swooping and causing terror.
Maybe not in a flock so massive.
Grandma comes back in and washes her hands.
“You are mad!” Grandpa grumbles, stomping his boots as he follows her around. “We had a good thing with the gulls.”
“A good thing? Do you remember how many there were? I had to hose the lawn down, there was so much shit on it.”
“But magpies? They’ll peck out your lovely eyes, darling. We need to get rid of them. I love your eyes.”
“Nonsense. They will just chase your damn seagulls elsewhere. And thank you, honey, you have lovely eyes, too.”
He huffs and spots me, a massive grin splitting his face. “Oh, Cordelia. You look so pretty today. Pack life clearly suits you.”
Sebastian lifts a hand and waves. “Gwanpa,” he says around a mouthful of food.
“You are a poor excuse for an alpha. I thought we taught you better. Look at this hot mess. There’s chocolate on your forehead, Sebastian. You aren’t two anymore. It’s a wonder he even managed to pull a beautiful omega like you.”
I blush, but one look at Sebastian with chocolate on his face and fingers, I wonder about it, too, until I remember he’s my Bas.
“Grandpa, you wound me.”
“I do not, you ratbag. When are you going to come and help me paint the house? I’ve got plans, and you promised.”
“I can come down this Friday. We can do it in one day if I bring Devon, Mack, and Elijah.”
“You should bring your alphas, too. Fox and Katsu, right? They should be the ones to come,” Grandma points out. “Besides, I’d like to meet them.”
“What for?” I ask, then wince when everyone turns to look at me.
“Why, to make sure they are good enough for you,” Grandma says with a toothy but savage smile.
“Me?”
Sebastian rolls his eyes. “You didn’t think they were worried about me, did you?”
Well, yes, I kind of had.
Oh, this makes me feel all kinds of vulnerable. It’s so sweet and mildly alarming.
“All right, sit down.”
I sit obediently and watch as Sebastian flops down into his seat and tilts onto the back legs of the chair.
“Tell me, are you happy with the alphas?” Grandma says as she passes me a muffin that is not chocolate. I inhale, and my eyes meet hers in surprise. “Orange poppy.”
“How did you know they were my favourites?” I murmur.
“I know everything,” Grandma says easily and sits opposite me.
“Yes, they are kind and funny, and perfect. Oh, this is delicious.”
“Okay, so, what’s this about Lynn Marino?”
I take a breath, feeling my chest ache, and then I tell her the whole sordid tale from start to finish. Somehow, she manages to coax me into eating two while I tell the story, and with delicious orange poppy muffins in my belly, everything doesn’t feel quite so hopeless.
She stays quiet when I finish, staring out the window behind me, her eyes distant.
