“It’s a thing,” Anne said, trying to explain. “The neighborhood mom ran the house everyone went to. It may not have been the cleanest or even had the best toys, but it was always welcoming, and there were always seconds when it came to food.”
“Oh, gods. That was him,” Amelia whispered, covering her mouth with her hand in disbelief. “He’d fuss about taking your shoes off, made sure you had done your lessons, always had something on the stove, and was always there if you needed help.”
Nigel and Neil sniffed dramatically. “Mom!”
Kendrick whirled on them. “Now, don’t you two start.”
Ryuu smiled. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve come a long way from the bitter vagabond I met so many years ago.”
“I must say, I like seeing this side of you, Kendrick. I knew raising Keelan had changed you, but it’s wonderful to see the proof,” the queen added.
Thane smiled. “Caiden is the same. We’d visit, and there’d be kids everywhere playing with Amelia. I think he even owns an apron he wears.”
Amelia giggled. “I got that for him when I was three. I overheard him complaining that he kept getting stains on his uniform when cooking for me, so I asked Tristan to get it for him for Winter Solstice.”
Thane grinned. “Oh, we know.”
Kendrick sat back. “I can admit, that description doesn’t sound too bad.”
Meryn looked a bit sad. “I wish I coulda been raised with Amelia, then I coulda played with you all too.”
Brennus sat forward. “You would have been raised here in Éire Danu Meryn,” he reminded her gently.
“True, but I woulda at least spent summers there or something, to visit my aunt and uncle,” she said, pointing to Amelia. “We could have tortured Kendrick together.”
Kendrick shook his head. “Gods above.”
Nigel grinned at Meryn. “Us, Amelia, Serenity, Zoe, Laelia, and Radclyffe. That would have been amazing.”
“No. Just no.” Kendrick frowned fiercely. “There’s no way I could handle the lot of you.”
Meryn pointed around the table. “Aren’t you doing it now? Except we’re older, their magic is stronger, and we have access toAmazonand alcohol. If Keelan were here, then we’d have like all four elements covered.”
Kendrick paled.
The queen inhaled sharply.
Thane’s eyes widened.
Ryuu tapped his finger to his lips. “Interesting observation,denka.”
“Meryn, are we taking over the world?” Pip asked, in a whisper heard by everyone.
“Yup,” she answered.
“Can I play too?” Kincaid asked, looking excited.
“Sure, I think your magic is neat,” Meryn answered.
Pip looked sad. “But, I don’t have magic.”
Meryn took his hand. “You have the best magic of all Pip, you make people feel better.”
“I do?” he squeaked.
“Every day, buddy,” Neil answered.
“It is a superpower?”