“The days have a funny way of blending into one another now, don’t they?” I said.
“They do,” she agreed.
Cassie lent me her support as I carefully sat up. My vision stayed steady.
“I’m okay now. Would you know any women interested in newborn baby clothes?” I asked.
“Not really,” Cassie said. “Most of the fey with women have been going out for baby supplies on their own. Angel told me that Shax had a whole baby room set up and stocked before she met him. Your best bet is to talk to the single guys.”
I looked at Brooke. “Did yours have a room already stocked?”
“Not a room, no. The fey’ve figured out it makes some women nervous if they come over and see a nursery all set up. He has loads of stuff in the basement. Not food. If you had that, my man would be your guy for trading.”
If I had food, I wouldn’t have left Tenacity.
“Look, Terri,” Brooke said. “I know they freak you out, but they’re really nice and wouldn’t harm a hair on your head. Just talk to them. You’ll see.”
“This isn’t a social visit. I just want to trade for food and go back before I’m missed.”
“Grandma knows where you are,” Brooke said. “You won’t be missed. Come on. I’ll help you negotiate. You might even get a free lunch out of the deal.”
We skipped lunch most days in our house, so the possibility of a meal tempted me more than the trade, which would be split nine ways once I returned. Yet, the idea of facing so many of them again set my heart racing.
“I’m not sure I—”
“It won’t be a big crowd again,” Brooke said quickly. “I think we learned our lesson there. What if we went door to door? Would that be better?”
I flushed at the open acknowledgment of my fear of them.
“Maybe? I don’t know.” I sighed. “I just don’t want to offend anyone.” How many times could I rudely faint at the sight of them before they ripped my head off? I shuddered at the memory.
“I have an idea,” Cassie said. “Come with me.”
I followed her out of the room and up the stairs, where I heard a lot of childish giggling.
“More!” a little girl squealed.
Cassie held her finger to her lips and motioned for me to peek into a doorway. What I saw nearly stopped my heart.
Three of those huge fey were crowded into a modest bathroom. One knelt next to the tub, his hands wrapped around the waist of a little boy, who was grinning up at the foam tower on top of the fey’s head.
“More!” the little girl, no more than four, shouted.
One of the fey scooped a handful of suds from the tub and plopped it on the kneeling fey’s head. The baby clapped his hands and squealed, kicking the soapy water with his feet. The fey holding him grunted.
“His strength is endless. He will be a fierce fighter when he is grown.”
I tried to slowly retreat, but the one who had carried me here looked up just then. Our gazes locked and his pupils did that terrifying narrowing again.
A small sound escaped me.
“Okay, I think that’s enough fun time,” Cassie said, stepping around me. “Kerr, you have more soap on you than the kids. They need actual washing.”
“How can I wash him and hold him at the same time?”
“That’s why I sent these two up here. How can three fey not handle two children?” She didn’t say it meanly but with a hint of humor-filled exasperation.
“Move over, Papa. Let me show you how it’s done.”