“Cute, cute? I think you are using the wrong word. What I think you mean to say is they are fucking adorable,” Arietta squealed and bent down against the nursing pool to stroke the head of a hatchling that was hanging out of the pool.
“We are never going to be able to get anything done, these guys are amazing,” Isabeau giggled.
Maeve laughed and looked around. She couldn’t see Dave or Jessica around, and she knew they had had a very busy night bringing all of the hatchlings out of their eggs and into the pools. There were still so many eggs left to hatch, Maeve worried they didn’t have the room.
Leaving her cousins cooing over the hatchlings Maeve went in search. She found the cave that had been kitted out forJessica to rest in for when she couldn’t make it up to the house, she couldn’t help but smile at how nice Dave had made it feel. Maeve had been initially worried about him, worried he would leave Kracken’s Hole in his search for a place to belong and a mate. But as she rounded the corner and went through the cave entrance that led out onto the small beach and cove, all worries she had just vanished.
Dave was in his massive Kracken form playing catch with a highly entertained and very happy Jessica. Well, by her screams of laughter, Maeve assumed she was enjoying herself. Had Dave found the one meant for him? She smiled and lifted her face to the sun. Maeve thanked the goddess as well as her godmother and friends. Because she was sure they had something to do with the series of events.
As far as they were aware, Maximus, Brutas, and Dave had been some of the few Krackens left. So, for them to leave to search for a mate may not have been a fruitful search. The fact they could now shift had, in short, opened up doors for the evolution of their race.
With the addition of the hatchlings, Krackens would no longer be on the verge of extinction. It also meant Kracken’s Hole would always have Krackens and, in turn, the guardians would always have protectors.
For the first time in a while, Maeve’s heart felt light. Gentle hands slid around her waist and wrapped her in a hug. Lips pressed against her neck before her mate and the love of her life settled his chin on her shoulder.
“Well, I didn’t expect that,” Will admitted.
“I did.” Maeve chuckled. “That girl is obsessed with Krackens, what better mate than a Kracken shifter?”
“Does Dave feel the same way?” Will enquired, pulling her tighter against his chest. Maeve would never get enough of herpirate. Even now, he gave her butterflies and a simple touch from him could send her into a weak mess of emotions.
“What do you think, my love?” she questioned. “Just look at him. When was the last time you saw him this animated in Kracken form? For the last month or so he’s been so quiet and kept to himself, I was starting to worry.”
In silence, they stood and watched, voyeurs of the cleanest kind. They both couldn’t help giggle as Dave launched Jessica into the air, but when Dave spotted them he started to wave his tentacles, forgetting about Jessica. Her scream and then sudden splash made the look of worry and guilt on Dave’s face so funny, both Maeve and Will couldn’t stop laughing. Even as he fished her out of the water and gently set her on a rock.
Maeve knew, possibly even before Jessica and Dave knew, that they were meant to be together.
Call it witchy instincts or fate.
It didn’t matter, what would be, would be.
14
The swings were empty,so was the small roundabout and the climbing frame, but on a bench overlooking Kracken’s Hole sat Baba Yaga again. She usually would be on the swings, but today she didn’t feel in the mood.
Sometimes swinging just wasn’t enough.
Sometimes, she needed to make like a big girl and watch the world from her bench. Only, her world revolved around this town and the people and creatures within. She never, not in all of her long years… and when she said they were long, she meant she had knickers that were older than the coastline itself never mind the town…
She digressed…
She had never, not in all her “long years”, expected Kracken’s Hole to become so important to her. The long line of witches who guarded Merlin’s Gate had always impressed her, but the Moonchild cousins, now they were family. She was after all, Godmother. So, this town had gone from being under her watch to being hers to care for. The magic that had created the new Krackens had not been her doing. She smiled.
She had heard Maeve give thanks, although why she included Fate, she didn’t know, the wench had nothing to do with it. She was currently off in Benidorm getting a tan on her pasty arse.
But yes, she had heard Maeve, and as much as she would usually take credit she couldn’t. Whatever master plan the universe had for them had nothing to do with her, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t keep a close eye on things. The fact all three girls were owning their roles as guardians made her smile.
Baba Yaga was not sentimental, she might be a tad emotional now and again, but sentimental was not her thing but… in her old age she felt she appreciated the little things more.
Like watching those hatchlings being born, and Blackbeard out in his glory, she sighed. She always enjoyed that one. But what hit the most, was the fact that Kracken’s Hole, the Hollow, and Merlin’s Gate, was now a home. The magics were no longer erratic and things had settled into a happy thrum of life. She no longer worried, because her girls had it covered.
But that also didn’t mean she didn’t want to get involved. Smiling, Baba Yaga clicked her fingers, and her outfit changed. Gone were her eighties themed leg warmers and tutu, instead she was dressed as a very sexy pirate. Think Kate Beckinsale in Van Helsing but sexier.
Adjusting the corset, she grinned before she clicked her fingers again and vanished in a cloud of glitter.
A trip to the pub first, and then she would visit the family and maybe have a look at those hatchlings… maybe even adopt one… or two… noooo… maybe an army.
Dave felt bad for dropping Jessica into the ocean, but he was happy to see Maeve and Will, and he hadn’t felt this happy ina long time. There was one reason for that, and she was sitting across from him drying her long hair on a towel. As soon as he had fished her out, he had shifted back to human and got dressed, although the shift felt easier this time but that may have been because he had Jessica to focus on.
