Page 30 of From the Edge

“Thank you. You know they terrify me.”

Mell smiled. “You will face an entire yard full of magic users and teleport me out of my mate’s arms, but you are afraid of Yorkshire pudding?”

Rowan shrugged. “Everyone has their weak point.”

She filled her cup with lemonade and started eating.

There was silence for a few minutes, broken only by the clatter of knives and forks on porcelain. The baby was making squeaky noises, and it made the adults around the table smile, one by one.

When the platters were empty, Rowan had them stacked and returned to the kitchen, where they were replaced with pie and ice cream.

She segmented the pie and put it on plates, then scooped some ice cream on hers and delivered it to herself. “Dessert is up for anybody.”

Yorwell shot to his feet and got two slices of pie with ice cream. Lucia grinned and leaned her head against him when he gave her both pieces. “He gets me.”

Everyone laughed, and coffee and tea appeared on the sideboard.

One of the orcs asked, “Miss, how is it that you can use so much magic without any signs of strain?”

Rowan smiled. “That one is easy. I am using the casual lust you guys are throwing around to move things around. That’s the witch part of my designation. For me, residual sexual energy that I can just collect is for moving stuff... usually. Usually it’s off the guys, but the couples in here are crackling with power. I just take a bit off the top.”

Several of her guests were looking at her in surprise, and she shrugged and sipped her lemonade. “I also have batteries stowed around the house and property that let me do this kind of thing. They look like bowling balls on little stands.”

The healer smiled. “Sensible. Lady Mell, what are you going to name your son?”

“Well, Norec and I have gone over a few options today, but for different reasons, we came to a conclusion. He has to be Rowan.”

Rowan blinked. “What?”

Norecayet smiled. “It’s tradition to name one’s child after the greatest warrior in their family. Mellwyn and I agree that it must be you. There is no one else who demonstrates more ferocity and determination. You are an excellent namesake for our little one.”

Rowan stared. “You are joking.”

Mell smiled. “We are not. We had a long chat during our afternoon. A lot of that will be discussed with you later, but for now, he is little Rowan, and you are big Rowan, until he outgrows you.”

“So next year then.” She forked up some pie.

The folks at the table laughed.

The orc mage sitting next to Mik smiled. “How did you come to have such an expansive home?”

“Oh, I am an only child. My grandparents left me this place and the funds to maintain it in a trust. They said I needed a place to be me, and here we are. I invited Auntie Aspen to live in the carriage house. I did restoration projects, replaced all the pack beds and bedding, and I got the kitchen in usable shape with new appliances.”

Mell smiled. “And so many gadgets.”

Rowan laughed. “Yes. And I have a day job that can cover the expenses here, so this place isn’t dragging me down.”

Mell and her mate smiled. “We are going to be paying rent for the two rooms.”

The healer nodded. “I am moving in as well. This place is close to the clinic and hospital, and I have a major crush on the gym.”

Rowan smiled. “Use it all you like, but clean it up afterward. I don’t want to drown in musk or pheromones when I go down there. If my blood gets up, it really fucking hurts.” She smiled brilliantly. “More pie?”

The orc mages didn’t need to be asked twice.

Chapter Six

By the end of the evening, she had seven roommates. Three orc mages, one healer made of vines, Mell, Norecayet, and baby Rowan.